How Do You Remove Stains from Alpaca Woolen Items?

August 6, 2025

Alpaca wool stain-resistant? To a degree, but knowing how to remove stains when something is spilled on your alpaca woolen garment is still a good idea.

When you stain an alpaca woolen garment, wipe off the drops as quickly as possible. Use a (paper) towel to absorb the liquid that has been absorbed by the wool, pressing gently. If any stains remain, rinse the garment under cold, running water. NEVER brush or rub off stains.

When taken care of immediately, alpaca wool will barely show stains. However, the longer you wait to remove them, the harder it will be.

Step-By-Step: Removing Stains from Alpaca Woolen Garments

Imagine the worst possible scenario: red wine on white alpaca. Luckily it's not the end of the world, since alpaca wool naturally repels most stains due to its fine texture and tiny, tightly-packed scales, which prevent liquids from penetrating the fibers.

However, quick action is the best remedy to prevent alpaca wool garments from actually staining. Do these things when you spill something on your alpaca piece:

Shake off excess liquid immediately to prevent absorption into the fibers.
Wipe surface liquid gently with clean hands or a cloth.
Blot with a paper towel to absorb superficial stains. Pat, don’t rub.
Gently squeeze the towel around the stained area to lift remaining moisture.
Rinse under cold, running water to flush out any residue.
Blot dry with a clean towel, squeezing gently to remove water.
If stains persist, hand-wash the garment with mild detergent.
For stubborn stains, consult a professional dry cleaner.
Never brush or rub the fabric (this damages the wool.)

Shaking, Wiping, and Blotting

Since alpaca fibers repel most liquids, spills tend to sit on the surface rather than soaking in. Acting quickly is essential to prevent absorption, as stains become harder to remove once liquid penetrates the fiber.

Shaking off or wicking away the spilled liquid should ALWAYS be the first and most important step to protect your alpaca woolen garment from staining.

Depending on how much is spilled, the fiber might end up absorbing some of it and this will need to be removed from the core of the fiber. Luckily, the liquids will easily be absorbed by a kitchen towel or anything else absorbent.

By gently patting the fabric or the stain using a (paper) towel, you can remove a lot of the liquid from the garment. (GENTLY) Squeeze some of the paper towel around the fabric to get even more liquid out.

Do NOT brush or rub the garment to make the stain come off quicker. It will not help! Instead, it will make the wool fibers “jump out”, which causes a garment to felt.

Simply patting the garment should be enough to remove most (if not all) liquid and prevent a stain from forming. However, if the liquid has been absorbed by the fiber, there are some further steps you need to take.

Removing Stains from the Core of the Fiber

After patting the superficial liquid off the garment, you need to start rinsing out the core of the fiber to prevent stains from forming.

Rinse the garment under cold, running water to flush out the staining liquid. By replacing it with clean water, the stain will gradually fade.

Keep the water running until the stain has disappeared. Again, no rubbing or brushing here! Resist the urge the scrub the fabric and "just" be patient (and accept that you will be using quite a bit of water to flush out the stain.)

Make sure to dry the garment accordingly after rinsing it.

How Do You Dry Alpaca Wool Garments? Read about it here!

Spot Cleaning Persistent Stains on Alpaca Wool

Is the stain still visible? Then you can try removing it with spot cleaning.

Mix cold water with a drop of baby shampoo (or a natural, fragrance-free soap).
Dampen a clean cloth with the solution and gently dab the stain. No rubbing.
Blot with a dry towel to lift moisture and residue.
Rinse carefully with a small amount of cold running water.
Blot dry again and lay the garment flat to air dry in its original shape.
For stubborn stains, repeat once or twice.

If rinsing the garment doesn’t help to remove the stain, you can try washing a garment completely or use a reliable dry-cleaning service as a last resort.

Stain Removers for Alpaca Wool

As you can see on my YouTube Channel, I've experimented with quite some effective and ineffective stain-removers.

Here’s a quick overview of some example stain removers, but please take care when using them, as some can be harsh on delicate alpaca fibers. I’ve used these on 100% alpaca wool—blends may react differently, so always test on a small hidden area first to avoid damage.

Water

My favorite and go-to stain-remover: water. Just cold water is great for rinsing out fresh, water-based stains like wine, juice, coffee, or sweat before they set in. It helps flush out the stain gently without damaging delicate fibers.

Rinse stains under running cold water to gently flush out fresh spills before they set.

Vinegar

Vinegar’s great for tackling odors, sweat stains, deodorant marks, and light mineral buildup on wool. It can even help with mild mildew. Just make sure to dilute it and rinse well so it doesn’t harm the fibers.

Mix 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts cold water for a safe, gentle solution to use on alpaca wool.

Baby Shampoo

Baby shampoo is a gentle cleaner that’s great for removing light dirt, body oils, and mild food stains from delicate fibers like alpaca wool without stripping natural oils. Just use a small amount diluted in cold water.

Swirl your hand in the water to dilute the baby shampoo before you put the garment in.

Corn-Starch or Talcum

Cornstarch is perfect for absorbing fresh oil or grease stains on alpaca wool. Sprinkle it on the stain and let it sit for 15–30 minutes to soak up the oil. Then, gently shake or tap off the excess (I know, repetition is key!) avoid brushing to protect the fibers.

Yes, talcum powder is basically baby powder. Both work the same way to absorb oils and grease from fabrics. :)

Dish Soap

Use a small amount of gentle dish soap diluted in cold water for spot cleaning greasy stains on alpaca wool. Always rinse thoroughly and avoid scrubbing.

Remover	Effective For (Examples)	Caution
White Vinegar (diluted)	Sweat stains Deodorant marks Coffee stains Light fruit juices (apple, grape) Urine Mild mildew Odors	Must rinse well to avoid fiber damage
Cornstarch / Talcum Powder	Fresh cooking oil Butter Salad dressing Makeup oils Greasy sauces	Not effective on old or set-in oil stains
Baby Shampoo (diluted)	General dirt Body oils Light food stains (chocolate, sauces) Light mud Light grass stains	Excessive use may dry fibers
Cold Water (running rinse)	Fresh stains like red wine, coffee, soda, juice (orange, cranberry) Fresh blood and sweat	Ineffective on oil or old stains
Mild Dish Soap (small amount)	Grease spots from cooking oil, butter, salad dressing, cosmetic oils	Must be diluted and rinsed well
Professional Dry Cleaning	Persistent stains like ink, dye transfer, heavy grease or rust Unknown or stubborn stains Delicate fiber care	Costly; inform cleaner about alpaca wool

Washing the Garment

If rinsing the garment doesn’t help to remove the stain, you can try washing a garment completely or use a reliable dry-cleaning service as a last resort.

Read my complete guide on washing alpaca woolen products here: How Do You Wash Alpaca Woolen Products?

Or watch the YouTube Video I made washing my alpaca woolen hat!

Did you like that video? Check out my Channel and subscribe to stay up to date to everything-alpaca! >>> Yanantin Alpaca YouTube Channel

Did You Know? Alpaca Wool Is Stain-Resistant!

Alpaca fibers have very tiny, smooth scales that fit tightly together, creating a natural barrier on the fiber’s surface. This unique structure prevents liquids and dirt from easily penetrating the wool and causing stains.

Because the surface is smooth and less porous than other wools, spills tend to bead up and stay on the surface rather than soaking in. This makes stains easier to wipe away before they set.

It's like a natural shield repelling moisture and dirt to keep your garment looking clean longer. But don’t just take my word for it... Watch this video where I spill red wine on expensive white alpaca wool and draw your own conclusions: