Last week our daughter's best friend was clearing out her mother's stash of crafts, long un-used and stored in boxes. So when T. suggested I take some of the yarn, I of course said "sure..I'd love a bit of extra yarn.."
H. kindly delivered the yarn to my back deck. It wasn't just a skein or two, or even a half dozen skeins. It was over 200 skeins of ragg wool. 85% wool, 15% nylon, and Google turned up the wonderful uses for it...outdoorsy types with warm, dry, woolen feet...endless snuggly afghans..this stuff is really useful!
I sent half of the mountain to our younger daughter who is now addicted to knitting too. I then spent 4 days trying to remove a ghastly odor from the wool. Keep in mind, this wool normally has a bit of natural lanolin in it, not enough to feel oily, just a teeny odor of it. Also keep in mind this wool has been stored in plastic, in cardboard boxes for apparently quite a few years. Generations of mice have potty trained their young on the plastic...the wool never had a chance to breath inside it...(can lanolin become rancid?) Other than the odor, the wool is in perfect condition.
I took out 6 skeins to experiment on the cleaning and deoderizing of it...and 4 days later, can attest that it is soap-proof, eucalan-proof, bleach-proof, Dawn-proof, fabric softener-proof, 3-minute miracle-proof and that no amount of soaking and drying has done anything to improve it. (If you ever decide to wash skeins of wool, try a bit of the Aussie 3-minute Miracle rinse on it, it makes it so nice!)
Our daugher, A. is enjoying this whole thing immensely! She piled her stash into a wooden box and threw in one of those air fresheners with its own fan.
The 6 skeins I've subjected to every punishment I can think of does smell "better"..but only in comparison. They smell like dirty socks now.
109 skeins to go and I'm not quite ready to give up, but honestly, I'm getting to that point. It just annoys my thrifty streak to toss it. It would've been wonderful to dye in deep, plush colors for afghans, and absolutely grand for warm woolen socks.
I think today, I will put another 6 skeins out in the sun and try this again. It's 109 skeins of wool, for pete's sake...and sheep do not smell like little flowers, but somehow, the wool is made nice. I can do this....it might require a PHD in Chemistry, but I know I can do this...
2 comments:
I of course came to visit your blog since you'd left a lovely message at Mine, Thank you so mmuch for visiting me, I see you've knitted the same hiking scarf that I Am currently working on. I'll be book marking your blog and will check it everyday :o)
Hmm...how about enzyme cleaner? If it can take away the "fragrance" of cat urine, I remain positive it can handle anything. I say this as someone who has never tossed an article of contaminated clothing.
You could also try closing it in a container with a massive quantity of kitty litter (unscented, with charcoal. Works for books.), baking soda or just straight charcoal to absorb the odors.
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