• Always follow manufacturer's cleaning instructions.

• If getting them dry-cleaned, identify origin of spots and stains for special treatment

• If garments are labelled ‘handwashable’, wash in lukewarm or cool water using mild soap. Soak for 3-5 minutes, gently squeezing suds without twisting or wringing the garment. Rinse in cool water and dry away from sunlight and direct heat

• If garments are labelled ‘superwash’, wash in lukewarm to cool water and mild detergent on the machine's gentle cycle, then tumble dry 15-20 minutes without overdrying.

• Follow manufacturer's recommendations listed on the care label.

• Remember that chlorine bleach is damaging to wool and hydrogen peroxide must be carefully controlled.

• Do not machine-wash a woollen garment unless it is specifically labelled as machine washable. A combination of heat, moisture and friction will cause the untreated wool fibres to interlock and shrink, an irreversible process.

• If you are using real soap, it is a good idea to add some vinegar in the final rinse in order to neutralise lime residues from the soap. Compress the water out of the garment as much as possible without twisting it, and then flatten it out to its right size.

• These natural woollen garments have no anti-felting treatment. If you wish to wash these garments in a washing machine (although not recommended), anticipate the shrinking by choosing a good size at the time of purchase with allowance for shrinking. Do not put them in the dryer.

• Always use a steam iron on the wool setting. Avoid pressing wool totally dry.

• When possible press on the reverse side of the garment .

• Use a press cloth to avoid leaving a shine.

• Lower and lift the iron rather than sliding it back and forth.

• Prevent imprinting by placing heavy paper under folds, seams or darts.

• To repel moths, keep your packaging bags for storage (or use something similar). If your garments are not being used for any extended period of time, store them in the tightly closed plastic bags to prevent those little hungry critters from having a wool eating party!

• A method often recommended in the past for repelling moths is the use of various herbs and scents. Unfortunately, peppercorns, eucalyptus leaves, etc, do not repel clothing moths. This is not to say that clothes should not be stored with herbal sachets. They do add a nice scent. Just don't count on them alone to repel moths.

Sunning and airing your woollens before using them for the winter helps to get rid of the smell of the naphthalene balls you have used to store them. Besides, this little exercise of exposing them to light and shaking will destroy most larvae before they do damage. Sunning clothes will not kill eggs, but well-grown larvae will usually fall off.

Happy sunning and happy wearing!

— Chetna Banerjee