My process for washing Tibetan Mastiff is the same as for alpaca.
Starting with skirted fleece, I use lingerie bags, sink bins, fiber wash, a salad spinner, and a clothes line.
My preference is to use a low-sudsing fiber wash, but I ran out over the summer and started using a dog shampoo that I won in a raffle last year.
The dog shampoo is a bit too fragrant for my preference, but I'm happy it is low-sudsing.
Since we live in an arid climate, I try to be conservative about how much water I use. Each change of water is just enough to cover the fleece and cool to lukewarm in temperature.
I soak each change for 15-20 minutes, or until I get back to check on it.
3-4 changes of water is usually sufficient to get the soap and dirt out.
Since I wash the yarn in the same fashion after spinning it, and again after completing the final object, I think the water below is clean enough.
If I have more fleece to wash, the I will add soap to the last change of the previous batch.
I spin the excess water using a salad spinner (marked for fiber use only). Then hang the fleece to dry. This goes a lot faster in the summer sun than it does
inside in the winter.
Neither chiengora nor alpaca have lanolin, so scouring is not necessary.
Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
