A baby alpaca sweater asks for very little. It asks for it consistently.
Baby alpaca is a fine, soft fibre, and it is more forgiving than its reputation. It does not hold odours the way many fibres do, it is naturally low in lanolin, and it rarely needs washing. What it does need is gentle handling on the few occasions it does. These are the rules we follow with our own dogs' sweaters. Always check the care label on your piece first.
Wash less than you think
Air it. After a walk, let the sweater rest on a hanger-free surface or over a chair back for a day. Most of what a dog picks up outdoors brushes off once it dries. Spot-clean a mark with a damp cloth and a drop of wool detergent before considering a full wash. For most dogs, two or three washes a season is plenty.
How to wash it
- Hand-wash in cool water, around 30°C at most, in a clean basin.
- Use a detergent made for wool. No bleach, no fabric softener, no stain-remover sprays.
- Press, do not rub. Let the sweater soak for ten minutes, then press the water through the knit gently.
- Rinse in water of the same temperature until clear. A sudden change in temperature is what shrinks wool.
How to dry it
Never wring or twist. Lift the sweater out whole, supporting its weight, and press out the water against the side of the basin. Roll it in a clean towel, then lay it flat on a dry towel, reshaped to its original dimensions, away from radiators, direct sun and tumble dryers. Turn it after a few hours. It will be dry in about a day.
How to store it
Fold it. Hanging a knit stretches the shoulders. Keep it in the dust bag it came in, or in breathable cotton, with a cedar block or lavender sachet in the drawer. Never store it in plastic, and never store it dirty.
What about pilling?
Every natural-fibre knit pills a little where it rubs, usually under the legs and at the chest. It is not a flaw; it is friction. Lift the small balls off with a fine comb for knitwear or your fingers. Do not pull them, and do not use a razor.
A few things to avoid
- Machine washing and tumble drying
- Hot water, and any sudden change of temperature
- Hanging a wet sweater
- Leaving it on a radiator to dry faster
When in doubt, write to us
If you are unsure about a stain, or a piece has been through something you did not plan for, send us a photo on WhatsApp or by DM at @colettetgaston. We will tell you honestly what we would do.
New to baby alpaca? Read why we chose baby alpaca for dogs.