Q&A for How to Extract Lanolin from Sheep's Wool

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Can I turn the leftover wool into yarn?

Community Answer

If the wool has been steamed or kept just under a boil (so that the water doesnt ripple at all), then the wool should still be usable. A better option is to do at least two 30-minute soaks in small batches in water that is at least 130F. Pull the wool from the water, let it drain, and place it on a drying rack over a pan. Transfer the water from the first kettle to a larger kettle and boil it there for a while to remove most of the water leaving the lanolin. Do the same for the second soak and dump the water from the second soak into the larger kettle. Keep doing this as you progress through your fleece, and you shouldn't get any felted wool as long as you dont agitate it when submerging or pulling it out.

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Question

Does boiling the wool for such a long time affect it in any way? Can I still use it for spinning?

Community Answer

If you lower the temperature to steaming, you might be able to use the wool afterwards. However, when re-filling the pot, use hot water to avoid temperature shifts. A rapid boil or even a simmer for an extended period would likely felt the wool.

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Question

Is the wool any good afterwards?

Community Answer

It's generally not a good idea to boil wool that you plan to spin into yarn. It makes it harsher-feeling. For carding into batts for quilts, stuffing, or needlefelting, it would be fine.

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Question

Does a sheep suffer if extracting lanolin?

Community Answer

No. The wool is cut off the sheep, just like a haircut. No harm to sheep at all.

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Question

Why didn't the lanolin rise to the surface after cooling after using the method in the article?

Community Answer

In the directions above, you continue boiling until all the water is evaporated and there is only lanolin left.

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Question

Can I extract lanolin from sheep's wool after it's been spun?

Community Answer

If you boil the yarn after it's spun, it will most likely be unusable afterward. Spinning with a high degree of lanolin in the wool is pretty difficult, and you will have to thoroughly clean your wheel afterward.

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Question

Can I use dog fur as a source of lanolin?

Deb Klecker

Community Answer

No. Dogs do not produce lanolin. They do not have the glands that produce lanolin.

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Question

Can the fleece still be used for carding and spinning?

Community Answer

Yes, the wool makes no difference.

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Question

How much lanolin can I get from one fleece/pound of wool?

Community Answer

It depends on the breed of sheep - they all have varying degrees of lanolin in their wool. You can look up the clean wool yield for each breed. My Polwarths have about a 75% yield, meaning that about 4 ounces of lanolin and other impurities can be expected for each pound of wool.

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Question

How long will the lanolin last once extracted? Is there an expiration date?

Community Answer

If there are no impurities in the lanolin, and no water left in it, it will last indefinitely.

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Question

Does the yarn become waste or garbage after this?

Community Answer

No, it most likely cannot be used for spinning but can still be used for stuffing, needle-felting and batting in quilts.

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