1) Spread the fleece out and remove any daggings (the bits of sheep muck). Then divide the fleece into 100g lots.
2) Fill a large plastic washing up bowl or box with warm water, add a little detergent then take some fleece and gently push it down in the water. Leave the fleece for 20 minutes to an hour. Do not agitate the fleece or it will felt!
3) Pour the water out of the bowl and refill with water of the same temperature to rinse the fleece. repeat at least 3 times until the water runs clear.
4) Gently squeeze as much water as you can out of the fleece and put it to dry. It will take a few days for the fleece to dry out.
Repeat steps 2-4 until the whole fleece is washed
If you would like to spin or felt fleece you can buy washed and carded fleece from the natural fibres pages.
