Caring for Wool
What is Merino Wool Felt?
Felt is wool. Wool is hair from sheep. It’s that simple. Of the many varieties of wool available, the one we use comes from a specific breed of sheep called merino. Merino wool is unique among all wool varieties and prized for its strength, flexibility, and softness. The secret of Merino wool is the ultra-fine fibers, which allow it 50% more flexibility than traditional, courser wool varieties. Merino fibers are typically much longer, creating density, structure, and highly reduced pilling.
Stain removal
What happens if I spill something on my felt product? First, don't panic. The Merino wool does not take color easily and most stains can be removed with a light soak and an absorbent towel. Here are the the ones our customer service team gets asked most frequently.
Water
Great news! Water will not damage felt. In fact, the material is able to wick away large quantities of moisture - which is why our coasters are so popular! Just let it air dry and, if necessary, lay the product flat with some weight on top just to make sure those wool fibers keep in place.
Wine, oil, and food
- Step 1: Wet the spot well with a mix of warm water and light detergent until saturated.
- Step 2: Massage the stain lightly to break up fibers - wait 2 or 3 minutes.
- Step 3: Pat – don’t rub - the area firmly with an absorbent paper towel to remove moisture.
- Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3 as necessary till stain visibly lightens.
- Step 5: Rinse and repeat until detergent clears.
- Step 6: Pat (again, don’t rub) surface well and lay flat to dry.
Dry stains
Lint rollers are the best first option for dry stains - a few passes with a good adhesive roller should reduce dry stains significantly and freshen up any felt product. We recommend doing that anyway with all products, it will get them looking like new.
Vacuum
What if I get mud on my bag? The most important thing to do with mud is let it sit and dry (that should be easy enough). Dryness is the key to releasing fine dirt particles. Once dry, lightly beat the felt to knock out the remaining dust as much as possible. Vacuum lightly to finish. Wait, vacuum? It may seem strange, but it works!
A few tips are: make sure hose attachment is clean; hold the felt securely in place; apply the vacuum with quick up and down motions to the affected area.
Cleaning & Care with Daniel
Watch a recent Q&A our co-founder Daniel Lantz did with our Graf Lantz Circle members
on cleaning and care for your Merino wool felt.
Dirty Labs for Graf Lantz
Instructions:
Use Dirty Labs Hand Wash & Delicates formula to spot clean your Graf Lantz products by diluting the detergent with water for a 1:1 solution. We suggest using a small amount (e.g. one teaspoon).
Apply a bit of solution directly onto the stain, using a cotton swab or small toothbrush to pinpoint the application.
Press area repeatedly with fingertips to make sure the solution works its way deeply into the felt.
Let stand 10 minutes to soften residue and break down oils between the fibers
Dab out as much solution as possible with an absorbent cloth or paper towel
Rinse the solution out by applying fresh water generously with a spray bottle or spray faucet to the affected area.
Dab again with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.
Repeat steps 6 and 7 until solution and stain is removed.
Lay flat until dry.
Have another wild dinner party, set an amazing table, repeat steps above post-party.
Everyday Maintenance
Will the felt start to pill?
Surface pilling should not be a problem with the merino wool felt used in our products. The long fibered felt is very dense and pilling complaints are rare. If you do happen to experience minor pilling on the surface or edges of your product, we suggest a few circular passes with a home fabric shaver.
Can felt lose its shape?
Under certain wet conditions, the pressure of a heavy or angular object inside the bag may cause the felt to slightly change shape. Running a steamer or iron lightly over the general area can help return the bag to its original form. After a few light passes of 2 to 3 seconds the area should begin to smooth out. Always err on the side of less passes and less heat. A little help with your fingertips to flatten the area never hurts.
Can I dry clean it?
Dry cleaning is a great way to refresh your bag season to season. Since most of our styles feature a mix of felt and leather, we highly recommend using a cleaner who specializes in leather products.
Can I machine-wash my felt products?
Absolutely not - seriously, don't do it.
Canvas
We hand dye our canvas in small batches in LA and sew them at our very own factory. They are hand frayed for a relaxed look and trimmed in vegetable-tanned leather.
Cleaning
We recommend treating your bag before use with a fabric protector like Scotch Guard or Fabric Guard for waterproofing and stain proofing.
Spot clean any area that has a set-in stain. Our dyes are strong, start with a standard stain remover per product directions and timing to weaken the stain. Next, with a fine spray bottle or damp cloth, wet the area with a mild detergent solution and massage till the stain lifts. To rinse, apply fresh water and remove it with an absorbent towel repeatedly until the detergent is removed. Air dry.
Leather
Nothing to hide.
Like everything we do, there are reasons we choose Veg tan leather exclusively for most of our products. From a design standpoint, it’s hard to resist the perfect blend of beauty and utility. But it goes deeper. Along with our beloved wool felt, veg leather has been around and in heavy use for a very long time. It’s proven. It’s honest. It’s dependable. What’s not to like?
Vegetable tanning is the same process used for thousands of years. The A1 hides we demand are slow aged in a murky bath of roots, twigs, leaves and seeds that slowly release tannins and soften the leather. No added chemicals are needed, just lots of vegetable matter and patience while natural chemistry does its thing. After many months, each piece comes to us completely naked and exposed without a waxy finish, chemical coatings or protection of any kind. That is what gives it the potential of becoming something completely unique and personal. And that is exactly the point.
From the moment you meet our vegetable tanned leather it will begin to change and tell your story. Veg tan leather is always on a journey to find a perfect patina that is unique to you. With sunshine, rain and the warmth of your hand it will begin to darken and glow in deep amber as a slowly blending mosaic of the bumps, scrapes, spills and spots of everyday life. But not to worry. All is well. Nothing ages as gracefully as veg tan leather.
Care
Vegetable tanned leather is as old as civilization itself and still has no rival. Animal hides are tanned with a mixture of plant based materials such as tree bark, wood, leaves, fruit, and roots. The tannins from these natural materials slowly stabilize the proteins in the hide over a period of weeks and make the leather soft and workable. Since these types of hides only take a thin layer of surface dye and are not pigmented, only A grade hides get to become veg-tan.
Leather professional - The easiest and most sure way to take care of stains and scrapes is to ask a professional. Your local shoe repair will know exactly what to do for most any problem.
Even Coverage while treating - Whether its a simple wipe down with water and a damp sponge or the application of waxes, balms or oils, consistent coverage and distribution across the full face of the leather panel is key for even blending in the final look. Do not spot clean or spot spot apply.
Surface stains, smudges and dirt - Use a simple lime juice solution. A lime water treatment is the best way to clean light surface stains, but it is also used to maintain the original light hue for a longer time. Directions: Mix ½ cup water, fresh squeezed juice from 1 lime, 2-3 drops of bleach. Dampen a sponge or cloth with the lime solution and wipe evenly over the entire face of the leather panel. Do not spot clean. Let dry. Repeat as needed.
Waxes, creams, and oil treatments - When applying oils, waxes, creams or soaps the leather will naturally begin to look darker. Waxes and creams darken less because they are mostly surface treatments and tend to lighten with time. Oils go in deep and stay. The same rules of application apply. Smooth and even coverage is always the best method.
Face Mask
- Although we take all steps in keeping sanitary and healthy production please make sure to launder masks before using.
- Machine Wash Warm.
- Lay Flat to Dry.Do not Bleach.
- You may spray with alcohol to disinfect.
- Do not fold the nose band in half - to ensure its quality please only carefully bend the nose band. Folding it completely in half repeatedly will cause it to break.
Linen Masks
- Although we take all steps in keeping sanitary and healthy production please make sure to launder masks before using.
- Machine Wash Warm.
- Lay Flat to Dry.
- Do not Bleach.
- You may spray with alcohol to disinfect.
- Do not fold the noseband in half - to ensure its integrity please only carefully bend the nose band. Folding it completely in half repeatedly will cause it to break.