How to freshen wool without washing it

We say it often: don't wash wool too frequently. And it really works — natural fibres don't need daily washing, and over-wetting can actually damage them.

Wool has natural self-cleaning and antibacterial properties. It doesn't need frequent soaking to stay fresh.

But what do you actually do when your favourite sweatshirt, sweater or gilet starts to feel a bit stale? Here are a few tried-and-tested methods:

1. Air it out
The simplest and most effective method — hang your woollen piece outside in fresh air. Cool mornings are ideal: the fibres breathe immediately and light odours disappear. A few hours is usually enough to restore that clean, light feeling.

2. Freeze it
Sounds odd? It works. Put the woollen item in the freezer for a few hours. The low temperature kills the bacteria responsible for unpleasant smells, while the fibres stay completely undamaged. A great method for sweaters and gilets you'd rather not wash too often.

3. Lay it flat to dry
After airing or freezing, lay the piece flat or hang it so it keeps its shape. This stops sweaters, sweatshirts and gilets from distorting and helps them look newer for longer.

4. Gentle brushing
Every now and then, give your wool a light brush with a natural-bristle brush. It removes dust and loose fibres while bringing the fabric back to life — your sweater, gilet or sweatshirt stays fluffy and pleasant to wear.