Alpaca FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about alpaca and shopping PurelyAlpaca

Alpaca fiber is stronger, lighter and more resilient than wool. Finer than cashmere and equal or superior in warmth to Gortex. And of course it is 100% natural and good for the environment. Unlike wool, harsh toxic chemicals are not needed to process alpaca as it contains no lanolin oils.

Meet someone who has owned a quality alpaca sweater and they will tell you about its unique comfort, encasing warmth, breathability and soothing softness.

Alpaca fiber comes NATURALLY in 22 different colors! It also dyes very well, hold its color and blends superbly with silk and other fibers.

Alpaca is naturally hypoallergenic. It lacks the lanolin and other oils seen in other fleeces. Its fineness will be noticed as you don't feel the scratchiness felt with wool. Most people who are allergic to the itchiness or get a rash from wool will cherish being able to wear alpaca!

Alpaca garments are strong and resilient. Expect to keep your quality garment for years if you take good simple care of it. Most alpaca fine garments DO NOT need to be dry-cleaned. A simple washing in baby shampoo will do just fine. We provide simple care instructions with orders. They are also listed elsewhere in this FAQ and can be found on the main menu on the website.

Perhaps you, like many others can pass it down as a family heirloom. Alpaca garments dating back over 2000 years in Peru are still in good condition!

Alpaca is the true standard of clothing luxury. Still relatively rare and expensive (from $3 to $6 an ounce for quality raw fleece), the products made from alpaca are a breed apart.

Enjoy your alpaca garment and all it represents. 

We also shop directly in Peru and buy at fair prices from the local artisans there.

See more information in our articles section and this link in particular. 

The information below discusses how to clean your alpaca clothing.
You will find that with proper care, your valuable alpaca garment will become a personal favorite or perhaps even a family heirloom!

Here are some tips, gleaned from experts, on the best ways to keep your fine alpaca garment clean and in good shape for many years...

First, think of your alpaca sweater, socks, etc as fine yet strong hair, which is what it essentially is.

Care for SOCKS:

Socks are mostly pretty durable unless they are a fine loose knit variety. They can be gently machine washed and rinsed in the same cold of room temp water, perhaps use a laundry mesh bag for added security, then AIR DRY. The dryer is harder on real wool fibers than the washer. You don't want to felt or SHRINK the socks but if you do, see elsewhere in this FAQ for a fix. 

On the road, alpaca is essentially hair, so you can wash them just fine in the sink with your shampoo! Then roll up in a towel to absorb most of the water then sit out where they can get some air to air dry. They should be ready to go by morning!

For Fine Garments and Accessories:
Cleaning any natural animal fiber garment can be done in a washing machine with regular laundry detergent, as long as there is no agitation at all, but we don't recommend it for anything larger than socks. Felting can occur in the spin cycle, every bit as easily as agitation. The finer the fibers, the less handling it can take before felting.

Temperature changes between the wash and rinse water tends to be the most common cause of shrinkage. Make sure the water stays the same temperature. Lukewarm is best, about 100 to 105 degrees. Don't use extremely hot or cold water.

Laundry soap and dishwashing liquid can be too harsh for some fibers. We recommend baby or other mild shampoo to our customers (skip the stuff with lots of fragrance or conditioners added - cheap stuff is just fine). After all, these products are designed for gently cleaning hair fibers, thus it's fabulous for alpaca garments.

Swish your garment very, very gently in a (clean!) sink with the shampoo, let sit for just two or three minutes, and rinse in same temp water. Be sure to think in advance about how you'll get the same temperature water for washing and rinsing. Maybe a bucket transferred from the tub once the temperature is set. Try to handle the item as little as possible.

Leave it in the sink for a few minutes for it to drain, gently squeeze just enough water out so you don't soak the floor when taking the garment out of the sink. Lay it out on a towel and GENTLY roll up in the towel. Don't squeeze or press hard- you only want to have the towel absorb more water. Leave it in the towel for about 5 minutes. Transfer to a dry towel and let air dry. Turn over and place on fresh, dry towel every few hours (drying time is highly controlled by room temperature and humidity). Another nice, simple and inexpensive drying method is to use a sweater dryer rack. These allow you to lay out the sweater and provide good air flow around the garment. They typically cost around $10 at Wal-Mart type stores or online (search for: sweater drying rack).

Whatever you do, don't use Woolite! Even the "gentle" formula can be too harsh for some fine clothing.

Structured coats, jackets, finely woven or intricately detailed garments should be dry-cleaned.

Though not as susceptible as wool items, during the summer months, your alpaca garments should be stored away from possible moth infestation. We recommend using a sealed cedar chest, closed bag, or another moth protected environment.
Cleaning before storage is recommended as fresh stains that may not yet be visible could oxidize and become fixed during storage. 

With proper care, your alpaca garment will give you many years of soft warm enjoyment and you too will have an alpaca heirloom! 

If you have further questions about the care of your fine alpaca item, feel free to talk with us at:

1-877-PURELYA info@purelyalpaca.com