Washing Alpaca Fleeces
Finding A Time and Place
Laundry sink and plastic tray
I have to admit that washing the alpacas’ fleeces is not my favorite job. Alpaca fleece lacks the lanolin that sheeps’ wool has so you don’t have to wash them before spinning. Some people spin alpaca “raw” then wash the yarn.
I wash alpaca fleeces if I am going to process or dye them myself. Also, some people who buy my fiber in bulk/wholesale like it to be washed and I’m happy to oblige.
For months I washed it in our bathtubs. Yes, I stopped up the drains and made the Artist less than happy. He does not love having fiber all over the place as it is, but when it messes with the plumbing…
Fleece in the suds
Another issue I was having was finding time to wash the fleeces. There were always more pressing matters. But I have finally found a solution.
I have found that these plastic trays work very well to wash the fiber in. I can lift them up so the water drains out and they fit perfectly in my laundry sink in our laundry room. I bought mine on eBay.
The new process in the laundry room
This works well because I can put a screen over the drain to trap most of the stray fiber and debris, plus it is out of everyone’s way. The other thing I love is that I can keep the washing going as I do the laundry. With 6 people in our family I do a LOT of laundry, at least one load a day. So now I also keep a “load” of fiber either soaking or rinsing most of the time.
Fleeces in waiting
This keeps me from having to “find” time that I never have, and yet it is getting done! *Sigh* Happiness is a clean fleece!
What washing tips do you have for washing fiber? or fitting it into your day? Leave a comment and tell us.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:55 am
I wonder if that technique would have worked with my boys when they were little????
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October 15th, 2009 at 8:55 am
nice! good idea about the trays. i’ve just been using a laundry bag – but then i’m sure i have a lot less fleece to wash than you.
maya | springtree road´s last blog ..Boy Stripes Blue – 100 yards Romney handspun yarn
October 15th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Looking on eBay for similar trays but finding nothing. What are they called? As usual, you are a genius.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:34 am
So sweet Kathleen! I had to look for awhile on Ebay for them. I called them plastic trays. I remember keyword was plastic. I had to measure them too to be sure they would fit in the container I needed to use them in. If I wash in the whole bathtub I wasted too much water so I put a large plastic container in bathtub. But boy it will clog up on you. Lol.
Janet – now there’s an idea!
Maya – it’s just the volume… it was overwhelming but I feel like I have a handle on it – today. Lol.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Love those plastic trays. If I had a laundry sink, I’d be headed for eBay to get some right now.
I use a sifter-type set of cat litter trays in the bathtub.
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October 15th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
The trays are a great idea! I’ll have to keep an eye out for something like that. I have more stinky sheep’s fleece that needs washed before we can use it.
Melissa @ Oursuburbanhomestead´s last blog ..Children See, Children Do…
October 15th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
How COOL!!! guess we’ll be bidding against each other on e-bay! Hopefully, we don’t have the same sized laundry room sinks! I’d been using a Pampered Chef spinner.
October 15th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Mac and I looked all over for trays like
that and could not find any. We use laundry
bags now, but cat litter trays would be good. We use the tub in the second bathroom
and use a screen on the drain. The clean up
is something else. You use what you have.
I wash Alpaca after I spin and that is easyer.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I just bought some plastic grocery baskets on line. They’re just like the ones you grab for those few items at the store-I intend to use one in a large bin in the bathtub-just use like a sieve-it should work and at least keep the fiber in the basket instead of going down the drain.
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October 15th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Hey, tell your friend to email me… I have a ton of those trays. I use my kitchen sinks and a double boiler colander….. I like your trays better and I have that exact same sink in my barn.
katcoursey´s last blog ..Sat, September 12, 2009, 4:15 PM EDT
October 15th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Forgot to give my email addy kathryn@coursey.org My husband said he got me an email address that I couldn’t possibly screw up!
katcoursey´s last blog ..Sat, September 12, 2009, 4:15 PM EDT
October 21st, 2009 at 10:56 am
i would like to know how to convince my husband that alpacas are the way to go!
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