Merino care.

[nuyorican]

Not a cycling specific garment but the missus got me a lovely pure merino wool jumper from Allsaints last year. I wore it once then folded it away in my wardrobe. Getting a bit cold recently so got it out only to find it’d been attacked by moths! Loads of tiny little holes!

After I’d stopped fuming I decided to relegate it from best to cycling layer. Determined to at least get some wear out of it. Chucked it in the washing machine on a wool wash, and it comes out completely shredded! Loads of new massive holes to match the little ones!

So it’s gone in the bin. Would love to get another but this thing just wanted to die. Got me thinking that people who ride bikes wear a lot of merino layers. How the hell do you maintain and care for something so fragile and precious!?

[bigdom]

My cycling gear is either handwashed, or if particularly dirty/have a lot in winter added in the washing machine once I've removed all traces of fabric conditioner the missus adds to everything.

I have merino base layers and never had any issues with them. I've found them to be quite robust, even when completely soaked through.

[LimaDelta]

I basically live in my Rohan Merino base layers from October to March, and they get washed and tumbled regularly. Granted they are a 63% blend and not pure Merino, but they are really warm and durable.

[nuyorican]

Hmm, maybe the moths had weakened the fabric or something then, causing the bigger holes when i washed it. If you chaps are saying it's generally quite robust. Need to eradicate moths