How Do You Dry Alpaca Woolen Garments? (Prevent Shrinking, Felting, Stretching & Fading)

Washing alpaca wool garments requires care, but drying them properly is just as important. So what’s the best way to dry an alpaca woolen garment?

Always air-dry alpaca wool flat and in its original shape. After washing, gently remove excess water by rolling the garment between two dry towels. Lay it flat to dry on a clean towel or mesh screen. Avoid dryers, direct sunlight, or heat sources—all of which can damage the fibers.

The specific drying method may vary slightly depending on how wet the garment is and what type of item you're drying. So let’s dive into step-by-step drying instructions. 

Drying an Alpaca Wool: Step-By-Step

For your fool-proof drying method, follow the below steps (religiously!): 

1. Place the garment between two clean, dry towels.

2. Roll the towels with the garment inside, and gently press to remove moisture. Do not twist or wring.

3. Lay the garment flat on a dry towel or mesh drying rack.

4. Reshape it carefully to its original dimensions.

5. Replace the towel if it becomes saturated.

6. Flip the garment occasionally to allow even drying.

Important Notes Never hang alpaca wool to dry. The weight of water can distort its shape. Never use a tumble dryer. Avoid drying in direct sunlight or near radiators/heaters.

The more water you remove before drying, the faster the process. Be patient and avoid shortcuts that involve heat or friction.

Can You Make an Alpaca Woolen Garment Dry Faster? 

There are two ways to speed up the process of drying an alpaca wool garment, but in generally you will need to practice patience.

• The best way to dry alpaca wool as fast as possible is by making sure that as much water as possible is removed before putting it to dry.
  
  
• My second tip is to make air circulation your alpaca's best friend. Drying the garment in a well-ventilated area helps garments to dry faster.  

The Supertrick that WILL Speed Up the Process

The more water you remove before drying, the faster the process. This is best done by placing an alpaca garment between two towels. Gently roll up the towels with the garment in between to squeeze out the water. Repeat as often as necessary. 

While doing this, it is important not to stretch or pull the alpaca wool, as this can cause it to lose its shape. 

The SECOND Supertrick That WIll Make Drying Faster

What to Avoid When Drying Alpaca Wool

What you should do when drying your alpaca wool is almost as important as what you shouldn’t do. In short, you want to prevent an alpaca garment from shrinking, felting and losing its shape and/or color. 

Here’s a list of things to avoid when drying an alpaca wool. 

You Shouldn't Put Alpaca Wool to Dry in a Dryer

Alpaca wool should never be put in a dryer. Putting a woolen garment in a dryer can cause it to felt, shrink or lose its color. 

Alpaca wool does not respond well to friction, and in combination with heat and water, it is very likely that drying your alpaca in a dryer will damage the fiber. 

You Shouldn't Put Alpaca Wool to Dry in the Sun

You should never put an alpaca woolen garment to dry in the sun. The sun is a direct source of heat, and when alpaca garments are exposed to sun rays for a longer period of time, they can cause the fiber to become brittle and/or lose their color. 

You Shouldn't Put Alpaca Wool to Dry on a Direct Source of Heat 

An alpaca woolen garment should never be put on a heater to dry. While it might be tempting to place the garment on (or close to) a heater (or other direct source of heat), it is very likely that the alpaca fiber gets damaged when it is exposed to heat directly. 

When the alpaca fiber is damaged it can cause your garment to start felting, shrinking or lose its shape and/or color. 

You Shouldn't Hang Alpaca Wool Garments to Dry 

An alpaca woolen garment should never be hung to dry. The weight of the water (and of the garment itself, too) will cause gravity to pull it down, which in turn causes the garment to lose its shape. 

Alpaca wool should therefore always be put to dry laying flat, supported, on a flat surface. 

• In case you’re feeling discouraged, here’s a reassuring feature that makes alpaca wool so great: it’s water-repellent! Read more about it in one of my other articles: Is Alpaca Wool Waterproof?

How Long Does It Take For an Alpaca Woolen Garment to Dry?

A thick knitted sweater will take up to 48 hours to dry, while socks can take 5-6 hours. 

Obviously, how long it takes for an alpaca woolen garment to dry, depends on a few things: 

• the thickness of the fiber
• the thickness and technique that is used for the garment (woven textiles generally take more time to dry, thicker garments take more time to dry),
• how wet the garment is. 
  
  

Any wool item that has been washed is generally the “wettest” you will ever find alpaca. The below times are based on this: assuming you want to dry the garment after washing it. For anything "not as wet" as a washed alpaca, it will take less time :)

Drying Alpaca Wool That Is Damp From Steaming

When an alpaca woolen garment is just damp (like right after steaming it, for example) you only need to let it rest for about 15 minutes. Check if the garment is completely dry before you store it. 

Drying an Alpaca Woolen Garment That Is Damp From Light Rain

When you wear an alpaca garment in the rain, it is important that you shake off the rain drops as soon as possible. Give the garment a good shake and that should get rid of the majority of the rain drops before they have a chance to penetrate the wool. 

After that, you should let the garment dry properly before storing it. Depending on your wicking skills and the type of garment this should take about 1 hour. 

• Check out my other article about if you can wear alpaca wool in the rain: Can You Wear Alpaca Wool in the Rain? (COMING SOON!)
  
  

Drying an Alpaca Woolen Garment That Is Wet From Heavy Rain

If you’ve been caught in a heavy downpour or really bad weather, you will need to properly dry the alpaca woolen garment as soon as you’re home (and dry). 

Again, wiping and shaking off the rain drops as soon as possible is important, as this can prevent the fiber from absorbing more water. 

• Supertip: If the garment is very wet, you can consider squeezing out the water using two dry towels. Place the garment on top of a dry towel to dry, making sure it is flat and put in its original shape. 

Check to make sure your favorite alpaca item is completely dry before storing it. 

Drying an Alpaca Woolen Garment That Is Soaked After Washing

When alpaca wool is washed, it will have absorbed more water than in any other scenario (unless you’ve been swimming with it—which I’m not sure anyone would do XD). In this case, you need to make sure that you remove as much water before drying it. 

The more water you can remove before putting your garment to dry, the faster it will dry. 

Using Towels to Squeeze Out Excess Water from an Alpaca Garment The best way to dry alpaca wool that is really, really wet, is by placing it between two towels and then gently squeezing out the excess water. Make sure to use a color-fast or neutral color towel to avoid any dye transfer.  But, be careful! In order to protect your garment, you want to make sure that you're not pulling, rubbing, or twisting the garment. Doing so will cause it to felt and/or lose its shape. If the item is really big and/or really wet, be prepared to use lots and lots of towels!

 

Watch Me Dry My Alpaca Woolen Garment

If you’re more of a visual kind of person, check out my YouTube video below, in which I share with you how you can dry alpaca woolen garments the right way.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to hit that like button! :)

Ready for one of those water-wicking garments yourself? Check out my store! I sell products made of 100% alpaca wool that are also made to empower women in Peru. 

Check out the web shop here!

 

Pre-Drying Care: The Importance of Proper Washing

Before you even begin the drying process, the journey to preserving your alpaca wool garment starts with how it's washed.

To prevent issues like shrinking or felting that can complicate drying, always opt for a mild detergent. Harsh chemicals or improper washing techniques can compromise the delicate alpaca fibers, making them more susceptible to damage during the drying phase afterwards.

For a comprehensive guide on this crucial first step, be sure to read my article on How to Wash Alpaca Woolen Products: Step-by-Step Guide.