Caring for Naturally Dyed Yarn: Why Soap Matters

When you choose to create something with naturally dyed yarn, you’ve set your intentions. This is a special project made from consciously crafted materials gathered from nature—sunny yellows from marigolds, moody purples from logwood, rich reds from madder root, and so much more.

What many people don’t realize is that how you wash that piece can directly affect the color the dyer worked so hard to create. When we wash our handknits, most of us fill a sink with water and grab some soap. Both of these things—water and soap—can impact color. To understand why, it helps to think in terms of everyday kitchen chemistry.

Gentle soaking in cool to lukewarm water helps preserve both the wool fiber and the natural dye bonds that give your yarn its depth of color.

What is Soap Actually Doing?

At its core, soap is designed to lift dirt and oils away from fiber. It does this by surrounding particles and allowing them to be rinsed out with water. But soap also has another important property: pH.

On the pH scale:

• 7 is neutral (pure water is close to 7).
  
• Below 7 is acidic, think lemon juice (highly acidic), vinegar (less acidic).
  
• Above 7 is alkaline, like baking soda (less alkaline) or washing soda (highly alkaline).

Most traditional soaps and many wool washes lean slightly alkaline.