Waterproofing wool

[big_swede]

Thought I would let you in on a product I found some odd weeks ago. I have been field testing it quite thoroughly now and the results are encouraging. The product itself isn't exactly aimed at outdoor clothing, but rather something more delicate, namely woolen diaper pants (!!!). Although on the swedish instructions woolen mitts and sweaters are mentioned.

It contains a high percentage of lanolin and is relatively easy to use. The company also supplies a hi-quality wool detergent and dry soaps for using on spots. After waterproofing my sweaters and a blanket shirt I can seriously say I feel a significant difference (to the better) in water resistance, wind resistance and dirt resistance. My shirt is more shower proof than my fjällräven clothes when they are newly waxed. It is almost fully windproof, and almost the best, stains, muck and dirt is easily removed with a brush or a damp sponge. I cannot recommend this product enough.

As I don't have any midget drunks (a.k.a. children) I can't say how it works with its original targets. But for me it is worth its weight in gold. (I've posted this on several outdoor boards, so sorry if I've mentioned this before )

Anyway here is a direct link to the product: http://www.imsevimse.co.uk/shop.pab?category=79&id=831 (yeah, I told you its for woolen diaper pants)

and to the company: http://www.imsevimse.co.uk/

 

[Celt_Ginger]

Good find B.S. It should work a treat on my swannie

 

[Toddy]

Match had a tub of this wash in over nappy (pilch) waterpoofer which he gave to me. I used it on a cloak and it's awfully good.
Modern mums call those nappy covers 'soakers' or 'wool wraps' and if you search for those you'll come across sites selling either spray on or wash in stuff.

If you prefer to use real lanolin to reproof wool then the method is to make up a soapy water solution with about 4-5 litres of luke warm water and either 2 tablespoons of soap flakes or pure soap rubbed up into a good lather. Take out a little in a cleaned jam jar and add a level tablespoonful of the pure lanolin. Heat in ten second bursts in the microwave until the lanolin has melted. Pour this back into the soapy water. The water should go very milky looking. Soak your just washed and still damp swanni or jumper or bushshirt or cloak in this mixture for at least an hour though longer is more effective. Move it around pretty frequently or add more lukewarm water. Finally squeeze out excess water and hang to dry.
Lanolin last cost me £6 for 500g from the local chemist. That's a lot of waterproofing

cheers,
Toddy

 

[treadlightly]

Thanks for all this great info. I'm going to try it out on my wool.

Do you think it would be OK to use it on dry clean only tweed jackets? It would be great to up their waterproofness but I'm worried something catastrophic might happen to them if I immerse them in water.

Match had a tub of this wash in over nappy (pilch) waterpoofer which he gave to me. I used it on a cloak and it's awfully good.
Modern mums call those nappy covers 'soakers' or 'wool wraps' and if you search for those you'll come across sites selling either spray on or wash in stuff.

If you prefer to use real lanolin to reproof wool then the method is to make up a soapy water solution with about 4-5 litres of luke warm water and either 2 tablespoons of soap flakes or pure soap rubbed up into a good lather. Take out a little in a cleaned jam jar and add a level tablespoonful of the pure lanolin. Heat in ten second bursts in the microwave until the lanolin has melted. Pour this back into the soapy water. The water should go very milky looking. Soak your just washed and still damp swanni or jumper or bushshirt or cloak in this mixture for at least an hour though longer is more effectice. Move it around pretty frequently or add more lukewarm water. Finally squeeze out excess water and hang to dry.
Lanolin last cost me £6 for 500g from the local chemist. That's a lot of waterproofing

cheers,
Toddy

 

[bushtuckerman]

would this stuff basically make your jumpers like guernseys? sounds brilliant. I might just try that process Toddy!

 

[treadlightly]

Toddy,

I'm glad you have a lanolin-friendly chemist. I tried six near where I live today and they hadn't even heard of the stuff. Internet here I come.

 

[Toddy]

Hmmm, if you can't get it let me know. Boots certainly got it in for me the time before last.

Meanwhile E45 is supposed to be mostly lanolin and paraffin wax. No reason why that ought not work too.........paraffin wax is the stuff that's used on wax jackets. If it's in tiny quantities and dissolved in the soapy water it I think that would work.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Toddy]

Link to suppliers

https://www.soapkitchenonline.co.uk/acatalog/On_line_store_Liquids___Gels_55.html#a617

http://www.baldwins.co.uk/perl/go.pl/shop/adv-search-results.html
Not cheap from them though
cheers,
Toddy

 

[treadlightly]

Thanks,

I've just been online and there seem to be quite a few lanolin wool wash products out there although I'll check out E45 first. Do you think it would work on tweed?

 

[Toddy]

Can't see why not tbh. I think though if you can get the woolwash I'd try that first.
If you can't get them let me know and I'll put some in tubs and post to you.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[crazydave]

I must have a faulty search engine all I get is nipple cream

 

[treadlightly]

Thanks again Toddy. Very kind of you. I asked about tweed because it is labelled dry clean only so I am reluctant to soak it.

 

[Toddy]

If it is tweed, real stuff, then it ought to be wool and it ought to be naturally dyed. It should also be properly fulled and not easily shrunk.
If you add modern soap liquids and warm water to a tweedlike fabric though, it might very well shrink.
Cool water ought not cause any grief, but for heavens sake don't tumble it dry.
There might also be an issue with the lining fabric.

If it worries you enough I think you might be better going for the spray on stuff rather than the diy lanolin mixture.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[treadlightly]

Good, I'll give it a go...

 

[BOD]

"Midget Drunks"??

Is that the Swedish term for children or do you start them on the booze early?

Seriously though, it's an apt term. I've always thought they stagger about like they have had a few.

What is the term in Swedish?

 

[crazydave]

had a look in morrisons and the e45 cream had lots of ingrediants but couldn't see parrafin wax or lanolin so I'll look up the other stuff. finally got the right track and found some interesting stuff from a chandlers as its also used on leather, canvas, pvc and so on.

 

[treadlightly]

I checked out E45 cream and it only contains 1% lanolin!

But if you google "anhydrous lanolin" quite a few things come up.

 

[Toddy]

Sorry for any confusion gentlemen, I've just checked the e45 cream I bought to use to proof wool (it's an old tube now, admittedly) but it only contains soft paraffin, liquid paraffin, water and anhydrous lanolin.

Does it come in different formulations ?


cheers,
Toddy

 

[treadlightly]

I found this on a website. No confusion Toddy and worth checking out. I'll now get what you recommended in the first place!

Drug class description : Emollients.
Generic Name : White soft paraffin, hypoallergenic anhydrous lanolin, light liquid paraffin
Drug description : E45 Cream: cream. E45 Lotion: lotion. E45 Bath Oil: bath oil. E45 Wash Cream: soap substitute.
Presentation : E45 Cream: White soft paraffin 14.5%, hypoallergenic anhydrous lanolin 1%, light liquid paraffin 12.6%. E45 Lotion: White soft paraffin, light liquid paraffin, anhydrous lanolin. E45 Bath Oil: Light liquid paraffin 91.0%, cetyl dimeticone (dimethicone) 5%. E45 Wash Cream: Light liquid paraffin 51.5%, petrolatum 28.0%.
Indications : E45 Cream: Ichthyosis, traumatic  psoriasis. E45 Lotion: Symptomatic relief of dry skin conditions, such as those associated with atopic eczema and contact dermatitis [ACBS]. E45 Bath Oil, E45 Wash Cream: Eczema, xeroderma, ichthyosis and senile pruritus associated with dry skin [ACBS].
Adult Dosage : E45 Cream: Apply two or three times daily. E45 Bath Oil: Add 15 mL to bath. Soak for 10 minutes. E45 Wash Cream: Apply to wet skin. Rinse off.
Child Dosage : E45 Cream: Apply two or three times daily. E45 Bath Oil: Add 5-10mL to small bath. Soak for 10 minutes. E45 Wash Cream: Apply to wet skin. Rinse off.
Manufacturer : Crookes Healthcare
Drug Availability : (GSL)

 

[tommy the cat]

£15.40 from boots at mine for 500g!!
Will have look at the links.Interesting thread
Dave
Oh yeah you got to order it.