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Mary Jane
1133 Posts |
 Posted - 05/26/2012 : 7:45:56 PM
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Our TB breeding male has extremely greasy fleece (to the point where we got knocked down from first to second in a fleece class because the judge said there was fly spray or something on it). I got a shipment of his yarn back today from a new mill I had tried. As soon as I touched it I knew they hadn't washed it enough. The yarn was sticky and not the bright, shiney black it should be. I have now washed the yarn 4 times, once in shampoo, and three times in Dawn. I'm still getting ALOT of black water out of the skeins. Anyone have any suggestions???
Mary Jane
Land of Legends Alpacas
2653 Swans Road
Newark, OH 43055
(740)345-2199
www.alpacanation.com/landoflegends.asp
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Littlecreek
37 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2012 : 9:30:56 PM
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If you haven't done so already, try soaking the yarn in very hot water (140 degrees) and removing it before the water has cooled very much, so that any grease that has melted at that heat does not congeal and resettle on your fiber as the water cools. I don't have any experience with grease in alpaca fiber, but with sheep wool, if the melted grease is allowed to congeal and return to the fleece it is incredibly difficult to get out, even with high water temps. You might want to address this with the mill.
Lynn Edens
Little Creek Farm Alpacas
North Salem, NY
www.lcfalpacas.com |
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rackapaca
634 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2012 : 09:34:50 AM
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Does it have a smell? One of our Blacks gets an odor - and is greasy. But I didn't get his yarn back so I don't know if it is greasy. If the first method doesn't work (the 140 degree water). I'd try a bit of Dawn diswashing soap or human shampoo both which do a good job on grease. Of course test it on one skein or a sample.
Ruthann
Racka Paca Ranch
Kila, MT |
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flytraps
33 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 09:44:37 AM
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| What about putting it on the stove in a pot that you can heat to whatever temp you want with the dawn in it? Maybe it needs to be above 140 to get rid of the grease. |
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fuzzybutts
56 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 6:18:51 PM
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I too tried the warm water method and removing the fiber before it cooled on an accoyo that we had which was greasier than normal. Worked fine - but I'm sure he's not as greasy as your boy sounds. Would love to know how it turns out always looking for new tips and tricks.
Nora @ Custer's Alpacas
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maryk
34 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2012 : 09:59:26 AM
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| Yes please keep us informed. My friend fills the washer full of hot water then puts the fiber in it, lets it soak, then washes by hand. |
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flytraps
33 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2012 : 12:12:19 PM
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| Hoping to hear how you got the grease out of the fiber. |
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Mary Jane
1133 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 10:51:15 AM
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Yarn update: I have washed the yarn a total of 10 times, the last two in Fels Naptha soap. I am still getting black grease out of the skeins. As a result, this yarn will be used for my personal use rather than selling it (or items made from it) in my shop as I don't want a customer to think this is my usual product.
The mill contacted me after reading my post. They have apologized and offered to send me some scouring agent they have to use on sheep wool. I declined their offer as I am afraid of how harsh (the reason they don't use it) they said it was. They also said they have never seen a fleece like this and want to learn from the experience. The mill was proactive in contacting me first, something that I was impressed with. Because I never named the mill, they could have just ignored me and let it blow over. Also the quality of the yarn spinning was very good and I have no other issues with them.
Land of Legends Alpacas
2653 Swans Road
Newark, OH 43055
(740)345-2199
www.alpacanation.com/landoflegends.asp |
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Pepperina
776 Posts |
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flytraps
33 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 1:31:26 PM
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| It's nice that the mill contacted you first. That says a lot about their company. There has to be a way to get that grease out. Hopefully they will keep trying and find a not so harsh way to get the grease out. |
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Ian Watt
909 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 3:06:55 PM
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A friend once told me that lifting the fiber out of the hot, soapy water was a better way to wash than to drain the water from the fiber - he claimed the water running off the fiber took the lanolin away much easier and more completely than the other way around. I have never had a fllece that ehavy in lanolin/grease/whatever but my concern is that the runoff is black - where is the color coming from I wonder? Cheers
Ian Watt
Alpaca Consulting USA
www.alpacaconsultingUSA.com
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Mary Jane
1133 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2012 : 9:39:55 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Ian Watt
A friend once told me that lifting the fiber out of the hot, soapy water was a better way to wash than to drain the water from the fiber - he claimed the water running off the fiber took the lanolin away much easier and more completely than the other way around. I have never had a fllece that ehavy in lanolin/grease/whatever but my concern is that the runoff is black - where is the color coming from I wonder? Cheers
Ian Watt
Alpaca Consulting USA
www.alpacaconsultingUSA.com
The color is from the sebum on his fleece. When I am done shearing him, my fingers that rub his body while holding the handset are covered with the black grease. I've had this happen on a few other black animals I've shorn, just not to this extent.
Mary Jane
Land of Legends Alpacas
2653 Swans Road
Newark, OH 43055
(740)345-2199
www.alpacanation.com/landoflegends.asp |
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Topic |
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Washing greasy yarn
