This is an easy, pain-free process! Once you get the swing of it, you’ll experience the beauty and versatility of wool as a moisture barrier.

It can be hydrogenated or liquid.

This is the same substance that is often used by nursing mothers for cracked or sore nipples, so you may have some already. If you don't have any it can easily found in your local health food store or online.

Using a heat safe glass mix the lanolin with about a cup of the hottest water from your tap.

Stir until the glob disappears. You will still see oily residue on top of the water, just make sure there are no solid bits.

Add a pump or two of clear liquid soap. This can be dish soap (just avoid blue dawn or strongly coloured soaps). I use castile soap, but use what you have.

Place your lanolin mixture in a sink or basin. Add some lukewarm water, if you are only washing one wool item you'll need an inch or so of water in the bottom. If doing several items you'll need a bit more water. The goal is to make a wool stew (not soup).

Squeeze the wool into the water to remove air bubbles. You'll want the wool side of your item facing up as the lanolin stays near the surface of the water.

Let soak for 20 minutes to add lanolin or longer to wash and remove staining. Add some soap directly to problem areas and rub gently. Rinse by swishing in your basin.

Do so gently, don’t wring or mishandle your beautiful wool.

Lay your wool on a towel. Roll up into a sausage shape and squeeze all over to remove lots of water.

Now hang your wool to dry. Depending on local conditions this can take a couple of hours or overnight.