Want to Soften Your Alpaca Sweater Even More? Follow These Steps

Alpaca fibre is naturally soft and luxurious — but like any natural fibre, it benefits from a little care. Whether your sweater feels slightly stiff after washing or you simply want to keep it feeling its best, these simple steps will help restore and maintain its softness.

Step 1: Wash with a Wool-Safe Detergent

A gentle, wool-safe detergent is your first line of defence against roughness.

1. Fill a basin with lukewarm water.
2. Add a small amount of wool-safe detergent and mix gently.
3. Submerge the sweater and soak for 10–15 minutes — do not agitate.
4. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water until all detergent is removed.
5. Roll the sweater in a clean towel to press out excess water (never wring).
6. Lay flat on a dry towel to air dry.

Tip: Avoid hot water, which can cause shrinkage and damage delicate fibres.

Step 2: Apply Hair Conditioner

Hair conditioner is one of the most effective and gentle ways to soften alpaca fibre. The same ingredients that nourish your hair work beautifully on natural animal fibres.

1. Remove the sweater from the water and gently press out excess moisture — do not wring.
2. Lay the sweater flat and fully extended on a clean surface.
3. Apply a generous amount of hair conditioner evenly across the entire front of the sweater, working it gently into the fibres with your hands.
4. Turn the sweater over and repeat on the reverse side, ensuring full coverage.
5. Leave the conditioner on for 5 minutes to allow it to deeply penetrate the fibres.

Tip: Use a moisturising conditioner — the richer, the better. Avoid conditioners with strong fragrances that may linger on the fibre.

Step 3: Rinse and Gently Press Out the Water

After the 5 minutes are up, it’s time to rinse out the conditioner and carefully remove the excess water.

1. Place the sweater back into a basin of clean, cold water.
2. Gently swirl and softly squeeze the sweater to rinse out all the conditioner — do not rub or agitate.
3. Lift the sweater out of the water and gently press it against the side of the basin to remove excess water.
4. Delicately squeeze the sweater by hand to press out as much water as possible — never wring or twist, as this can distort the shape of the fibres.

Tip: Repeat the rinse if you feel any conditioner residue remaining in the fibres.

Step 4: Place in the Freezer

It sounds unusual, but cold temperatures can help soften natural fibres by relaxing the microscopic scales on the fibre surface.

1. Place the clean sweater inside a zip-lock bag and seal it.
2. Put the bag in the freezer and leave it for 24 hours.

Step 5: Remove, Stretch and Steam

After 24 hours in the freezer, your alpaca sweater is ready for the final step — and you’ll immediately feel the difference in softness.

1. Remove the sweater from the freezer and take it out of the zip-lock bag.
2. Lay it flat on a clean surface and gently stretch and extend it back to its original shape with your hands.
3. Feel the softness — the fibres will already feel noticeably smoother and more supple.
4. For an extra finish, lightly steam the sweater using a steam iron held a few centimetres above the surface — do not press directly onto the fabric.
5. Move the iron slowly and gently across both sides to relax the fibres further and restore a beautiful, soft drape.

Tip: Always use a low steam setting and keep the iron moving — never leave it in one spot on delicate alpaca fibre.

With the right care, your alpaca sweater will stay beautifully soft wash after wash. For more tips on caring for your alpaca pieces, explore our Care Guide.