Scouring fleece with Orvus Paste is one of those fiber-prep skills that separates a sticky, dusty raw fleece from a clean, spinnable cloud of wool. Whether you raise sheep, buy a raw fleece at a festival, or inherit a barn find, the goal is the same: remove lanolin, suint, dirt, and vegetable matter without felting the fiber. Orvus Paste has earned a loyal following among handspinners, felters, and fiber mills because it cuts grease effectively while remaining manageable in a simple hot-water bath.
Unlike harsh laundry detergents or dish soaps that can strip wool and leave it brittle, Orvus Paste is a concentrated anionic detergent designed for animal coats and delicate textiles. It rinses cleanly, works in hard or soft water, and can be used in a controlled, low-agitation scouring routine. The method is straightforward, but the details matter: temperature, dilution, soak time, and handling all influence how clean the fleece becomes and how much crimp, luster, and softness remain.
Why Orvus Paste Works So Well for Scouring Raw Wool
Raw wool is not just dirty; it is coated with lanolin, a waxy grease that repels water, plus suint, a dried sweat substance, and a mix of dust, hay, and sand. Water alone cannot break that bond. Orvus Paste lowers the surface tension of water and emulsifies grease, allowing hot water to carry away contaminants. Because it is concentrated, a small amount goes a long way, which makes it economical for washing multiple fleeces or a large skirted batch.
The paste format also gives you control. You can dissolve a measured amount into a hot bath before the wool goes in, ensuring even detergent distribution. That is important because pouring concentrated detergent directly onto fleece can cause localized stripping, felting, or residue. When used properly, Orvus Paste leaves wool clean, open, and ready for carding, combing, or spinning.
The Chemistry Behind Orvus Paste and Lanolin Removal
Orvus Paste is primarily sodium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant with a strong affinity for oils and grease. In a hot water bath, its molecules surround lanolin and lift it away from the fiber surface. The detergent also suspends dirt so it does not settle back into the wool. This is why multiple short baths often outperform one long soak: each bath removes another portion of emulsified grease before it can redeposit.
Temperature plays a supporting role. Lanolin softens and becomes easier to emulsify around 140°F to 160°F, but wool should never be boiled or agitated at those temperatures. Orvus Paste helps the water do the work, so you can keep handling to a minimum. The result is cleaner fleece with less risk of the fiber locking together.
Orvus Paste vs. Wool Scour, Dish Soap, and Laundry Detergent
Many detergents can wash wool, but not all are ideal. Wool-specific scours are often excellent and may include chelators for hard water. Dish soaps can be too degreasing and may contain additives that leave residue. Laundry detergents may have enzymes, optical brighteners, or fragrances that cling to fiber. Orvus Paste sits in a useful middle ground: powerful enough for greasy fleece, simple enough to rinse out, and widely available through farm and equine suppliers.
If your water is extremely hard, you may see better results by adding a water softener or using a wool scour with chelating agents. For most small-scale handspinners, however, Orvus Paste delivers reliable results without a complicated chemical cabinet. Test a small lock first, especially with fine breeds like Merino, and adjust dilution based on how much lanolin the fleece carries.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Scouring Fleece with Orvus Paste
A successful scour is built on preparation and patience. Before any wool touches water, skirt the fleece by removing dung tags, matted edges, and heavily contaminated belly wool. Sort the remaining fiber by quality and grease level. If you plan to wash a whole fleece, divide it into manageable batches so each one can move through the baths without crowding.
Set up a dedicated washing area with hot water access, a sink or tub, mesh laundry bags, towels, and drying racks. Wear rubber gloves because Orvus Paste can dry your skin, and keep the workspace free of drafts that could chill the water. The goal is to maintain a consistent temperature from wash to rinse, since sudden temperature changes can shock wool and cause felting.
Preparing the Fleece and Mixing the Orvus Paste Bath
Fill a basin with hot water, aiming for about 140°F to 160°F for greasy fleece. Add Orvus Paste at a rate of roughly one to two tablespoons per gallon of water, or about half a cup per five gallons, and stir until fully dissolved. If the fleece is extremely greasy, you can increase slightly, but start conservative. Place the sorted locks into a mesh bag or lay them loosely in the water; do not pack them down.
Let the fleece soak without agitation for 20 to 30 minutes. The water will turn cloudy and greasy as lanolin lifts away. Do not scrub, stir, or wring the wool. When the soak is finished, lift the mesh bag or gently press the fleece against the side of the basin to drain, then move it directly to the next bath. Repeat with a second Orvus bath if the water is still heavily soiled.
Rinsing, Drying, and Evaluating the Scoured Fleece
After the detergent baths, prepare two or three rinse baths at the same hot temperature. Use plain water, or add a small amount of white vinegar to the final rinse if you want to restore a slightly acidic pH. Move the fleece gently from bath to bath, allowing it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes each time. Continue until the rinse water stays clear and no suds remain.
Drain the fleece carefully and roll it in a towel to remove excess water. Never twist or wring the fiber. Spread the wool loosely on a drying rack with good airflow, turning it occasionally. Once dry, the fleece should feel open, soft, and free of greasy residue. You can then pick, card, comb, or store it in breathable bags until you are ready to spin.
With a little patience and the right technique, scouring fleece with Orvus Paste becomes a repeatable rhythm rather than a chore. Start with a small test batch, keep your temperatures steady, and let the detergent do the heavy lifting. The reward is a clean, spinnable fleece that preserves the character of the breed and makes every stage of fiber preparation more enjoyable.