Learn something new...

IrishBaby · 05-13-2007, 04:26 PM

Did you know that certain fragrance and essential oils in a wool wash can cause dye bleeding and migration? 'Tis true. I don't have a list of offenders, but I recently found this out. I was washing some yarn in my normal way, and it was completely wash fast -- no dye run off at all. I decided to try some new wool wash I got to make the yarn smell yummy (after I had already washed it normally), and whoooooosh, there was color everywhere in the rinse water. I was surprised, since the wool had already been washed and rinsed very well. (And I'm relatively adept at setting dye.)

I washed it again and again, and every time I used the scented wool wash, I got color out. By the time I was done, the color had migrated all over the yarn so it was not even the same yarn anymore.

I tried another experiment, dyed two skeins of yarn in the same pot. Washed one normally in the professional standard wash, no color. Washed one skein in scented wool wash, lots of bleeding and migration.

After researching, I found that there is an actual chemical reaction with some scents and oils that causes that to happen. I'm still trying to find out if there are other wool wash ingredients (other than scents) that cause this to happen.

So there you go, just thought I'd share. Learn something new.

dandelions2 · 05-13-2007, 04:32 PM

very interesting. it'd be interesting to know what exactly causes it.

kezoo · 05-13-2007, 04:46 PM

Yes! I have a Northern Essence Chamomile Bergamot wool wash (which smells lovely, BTW) that has caused a LOT of bleeding (purewool worse than others). However, my citrus EO wash doesn't cause any probs. I also don't remember any bleeding w/ my (now used up) lavendar wool wash.

mamaofthreeboys · 05-13-2007, 05:23 PM

Yes, I have experienced this also Sharon

But, not with my yarn in a long time actually. I have heard citrus essential oil especially can cause this type of reaction. I am sure that there are others out there as well.

I mostly use Kookaburra and Doodlebottoms lavendar chamomile because I've never had a problem with either of them.

ambersparks · 05-13-2007, 05:28 PM

Very interesting!!! I've noticed some bleeding with my Lavender Eucalan wash. I had no idea it had anything to do with the wash I thought it was the dye used or how it was dyed. Hmmm.... So, what is your favorite wool wash then? and for soakers??

Seylah · 05-13-2007, 05:31 PM

Im glad I am not the only one with this problem! I have had this happen to me as well, though the bleeding did stop without ruining the yarn after I used Eucalan with lavender. Its a bummer cause you dont know what kind of wash your customer decides to use

It would be great to know which oils are the culprits! I'll have to check into that.

pamelamama · 05-13-2007, 05:40 PM

oh dear, this makes me nervous too.

IrishBaby · 05-13-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seylah

. Its a bummer cause you dont know what kind of wash your customer decides to use

EXACTLY! And I bet they would never think that the woolwash is to blame -- they would think it was your fault.

But I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had this problem, at least I'm not crazy!

gaelicgoddess · 05-13-2007, 06:26 PM

Very good to know. I think I had heard this mentioned before. I wish I new which scents/EOs caused this.

whitecalx · 05-13-2007, 09:46 PM

This is really good to know. I've had one or two people mention that their yarn bleed but most do not. I've not had bleeding when I do my final wash so I was surprised to hear it.

mhurst · 05-14-2007, 12:27 AM

I had this problem with kookubura (sp?) and a gorgeous skein of sea silk.

I wonder if it effects specific colors.

happymomma · 05-14-2007, 03:14 AM

Wow, that is very interesting. I'm very curious what your research turns up!

IrishBaby · 05-14-2007, 03:38 AM

Isn't someone here a chemist? I could've sworn...

That's what we need, is a chemist.

meritodd1221 · 05-14-2007, 04:11 AM

Sharon -- what scents/oils were in the wash that caused the running? Did I miss that somewhere?

IrishBaby · 05-14-2007, 05:04 AM

I don't know, Meridith. There is someone who said it was citrus, but I'm not sure what the culprits are. The ingredients aren't listed for the wash I was using, so it makes it harder for me to pinpoint.

Anyone ever had this problem with Eucalan? (That's not what I was using.) Eucalan seems pretty tried and true...

mhurst · 05-14-2007, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrishBaby

Isn't someone here a chemist? I could've sworn...

That's what we need, is a chemist.

That's Me! PM your research stuff and if I can't figure something out, DH can (he's super smart). Just let me know where to google...

mhurst · 05-14-2007, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrishBaby

I don't know, Meridith. There is someone who said it was citrus, but I'm not sure what the culprits are. The ingredients aren't listed for the wash I was using, so it makes it harder for me to pinpoint.

Anyone ever had this problem with Eucalan? (That's not what I was using.) Eucalan seems pretty tried and true...

I've only had trouble with kookuburra (sp), I think it has TTO in it. Eucalan has always worked fine for me, even the lavendar stuff. I hope it isn't the TTO as I love how it smells.

MandyWelch · 05-14-2007, 05:32 AM

Wow, that's interesting! I just washed woolies Saturday in my standard stuff, then I lanolized in my brand new scented stuff I got from Sudzndudz (hot apple pie). I noticed so much color bleeding mainly from my bright orange soaker and not so much from my green and yellow one. I thought it was just that the soakers sat longer in the lanolin wash - hence the color bleeding. I never would have thought it could be from the wool wash!

Mandy

kezoo · 05-14-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrishBaby

I don't know, Meridith. There is someone who said it was citrus, but I'm not sure what the culprits are. The ingredients aren't listed for the wash I was using, so it makes it harder for me to pinpoint.

Anyone ever had this problem with Eucalan? (That's not what I was using.) Eucalan seems pretty tried and true...

I haven't had any problems w/ either citrus EO or lavendar EO...

JNW · 05-14-2007, 06:43 PM

I just had a similar thing happen--I was soaking a pair of capris, no bleeding at all. Then I started using a wool bar (Summer Storm scent). Bleeding galore!

05-13-2007, 04:26 PM	#1
IrishBaby Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,952 Reputation: 17713 Rep Power: 398	Learn something new... Did you know that certain fragrance and essential oils in a wool wash can cause dye bleeding and migration? 'Tis true. I don't have a list of offenders, but I recently found this out. I was washing some yarn in my normal way, and it was completely wash fast -- no dye run off at all. I decided to try some new wool wash I got to make the yarn smell yummy (after I had already washed it normally), and whoooooosh, there was color everywhere in the rinse water. I was surprised, since the wool had already been washed and rinsed very well. (And I'm relatively adept at setting dye.) I washed it again and again, and every time I used the scented wool wash, I got color out. By the time I was done, the color had migrated all over the yarn so it was not even the same yarn anymore. I tried another experiment, dyed two skeins of yarn in the same pot. Washed one normally in the professional standard wash, no color. Washed one skein in scented wool wash, lots of bleeding and migration. After researching, I found that there is an actual chemical reaction with some scents and oils that causes that to happen. I'm still trying to find out if there are other wool wash ingredients (other than scents) that cause this to happen. So there you go, just thought I'd share. Learn something new. __________________ There's no such thing as too much yarn. Only not enough time.

05-13-2007, 04:32 PM	#2
dandelions2 Fluffo's Friend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Central California Posts: 4,301 Reputation: 8509 Rep Power: 219	very interesting. it'd be interesting to know what exactly causes it. __________________ Patti - Momma to Beth, Dom (ASD), & Lily

05-13-2007, 04:46 PM	#3
kezoo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 441 Reputation: 3690 Rep Power: 81	Yes! I have a Northern Essence Chamomile Bergamot wool wash (which smells lovely, BTW) that has caused a LOT of bleeding (purewool worse than others). However, my citrus EO wash doesn't cause any probs. I also don't remember any bleeding w/ my (now used up) lavendar wool wash. __________________ ~Kerry~ Mommy to Gavin (March '03) , Claire (June '05), and Oliver (April 24 '08 )

05-13-2007, 05:23 PM	#4
mamaofthreeboys Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Coast-Wool Artist Studio Posts: 2,393 Reputation: 8059 Rep Power: 190	Yes, I have experienced this also Sharon But, not with my yarn in a long time actually. I have heard citrus essential oil especially can cause this type of reaction. I am sure that there are others out there as well. I mostly use Kookaburra and Doodlebottoms lavendar chamomile because I've never had a problem with either of them. __________________ Kimberly Beemer Knits shop l HC shop l Etsy shop

05-13-2007, 05:28 PM	#5
ambersparks Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,710 Reputation: 9373 Rep Power: 209	Very interesting!!! I've noticed some bleeding with my Lavender Eucalan wash. I had no idea it had anything to do with the wash I thought it was the dye used or how it was dyed. Hmmm.... So, what is your favorite wool wash then? and for soakers?? __________________ Amber mama to four married to my sweet

05-13-2007, 05:31 PM	#6
Seylah Fluffo's Friend Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NW Washington Posts: 949 Reputation: 6388 Rep Power: 141	Im glad I am not the only one with this problem! I have had this happen to me as well, though the bleeding did stop without ruining the yarn after I used Eucalan with lavender. Its a bummer cause you dont know what kind of wash your customer decides to use It would be great to know which oils are the culprits! I'll have to check into that. __________________ Lisa ~ Knittin' for my 3 rugrats #3 born nov 24th, wonderful ubac! SELAH Handmade, hand dyed goodness!

05-13-2007, 05:40 PM	#7
pamelamama Your Host Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: woolywonder.com Posts: 8,237 Reputation: 6915 Rep Power: 226	oh dear, this makes me nervous too. __________________ Updated Perfection Pants and WonderPants Patterns available! See this announcement for deals! Pamela, mama to Sam and Eli, wife to Scott blog \| fiber arts avengers \| wooly wonder soaker discussion forum \| knit your own darn soakers \| boutique flickr \| facebook \| twitter \| ravelry knit your own darn soaker.

05-13-2007, 06:26 PM	#9
gaelicgoddess Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 175 Reputation: 1291 Rep Power: 30	Very good to know. I think I had heard this mentioned before. I wish I new which scents/EOs caused this.

05-13-2007, 09:46 PM	#10
whitecalx Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 1,831 Reputation: 6523 Rep Power: 154	This is really good to know. I've had one or two people mention that their yarn bleed but most do not. I've not had bleeding when I do my final wash so I was surprised to hear it. __________________ Megan Knits Blog My Ravelry Mama to dd(7), ds(4), and baby girl(1).

05-14-2007, 12:27 AM	#11
mhurst Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: OH Posts: 2,147 Reputation: 5700 Rep Power: 141	I had this problem with kookubura (sp?) and a gorgeous skein of sea silk. I wonder if it effects specific colors. __________________ Melissa wife to Charlie , mama to Charlie & Meredith My blog

05-14-2007, 03:14 AM	#12
happymomma Fluffo's Fiancée Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 236 Reputation: 552 Rep Power: 17	Wow, that is very interesting. I'm very curious what your research turns up! __________________ Alicia

05-14-2007, 03:38 AM	#13
IrishBaby Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,952 Reputation: 17713 Rep Power: 398	Isn't someone here a chemist? I could've sworn... That's what we need, is a chemist. __________________ There's no such thing as too much yarn. Only not enough time.

05-14-2007, 04:11 AM	#14
meritodd1221 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,121 Reputation: 2412 Rep Power: 64	Sharon -- what scents/oils were in the wash that caused the running? Did I miss that somewhere? __________________ Meridith -- mama of Jonathan and Emma and Josiah ~ Handspun Blog ~ www.sweetknits.com Proud to be an LTKnitter!

05-14-2007, 05:04 AM	#15
IrishBaby Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,952 Reputation: 17713 Rep Power: 398	I don't know, Meridith. There is someone who said it was citrus, but I'm not sure what the culprits are. The ingredients aren't listed for the wash I was using, so it makes it harder for me to pinpoint. Anyone ever had this problem with Eucalan? (That's not what I was using.) Eucalan seems pretty tried and true... __________________ There's no such thing as too much yarn. Only not enough time.

05-14-2007, 05:32 AM	#18
MandyWelch Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AL Posts: 640 Reputation: 8784 Rep Power: 185	Wow, that's interesting! I just washed woolies Saturday in my standard stuff, then I lanolized in my brand new scented stuff I got from Sudzndudz (hot apple pie). I noticed so much color bleeding mainly from my bright orange soaker and not so much from my green and yellow one. I thought it was just that the soakers sat longer in the lanolin wash - hence the color bleeding. I never would have thought it could be from the wool wash! Mandy __________________ Mama to Brady 9, Emily 8, Barrett 5, Ty 2 and Tanner 7-27-09

05-14-2007, 06:43 PM	#20
JNW Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 61 Reputation: 10 Rep Power: 5	I just had a similar thing happen--I was soaking a pair of capris, no bleeding at all. Then I started using a wool bar (Summer Storm scent). Bleeding galore! __________________ Huckleberry Knits - stocking the first day of the month

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