Scouring raw wool can seem intimidating but it's actually quite easy. Here are the basic steps to getting your wool clean.

• Separate the fleece into locks or sections.

• Fill a dishpan with hot water 120°F - 140° F. For more greasy wool (like fine wools) 130° to 140° is recommended. For less greasy wool 120° is sufficient, especially with Unicorn Power Scour or Beyond Clean.

• Add your cleanser. I recommend Unicorn Power Scour. 1 tbsp per two gallons of water is all you need.

• Add your fleece. Press into the water gently. Let it soak for 10 - 20 minutes (depending on how dirty it is). You can gently press it down a few times during soaking but don't stir it or agitate it.

• Drain the dirty water. I like to put the wool into a colander to make it easier to dump the dirty water. Refill your dishpan with enough clean hot water to cover the wool and put the wool back in to rinse. Repeat if necessary until the water stays clear. If two rinses aren't enough, you might need to repeat the wash step using half as much cleanser.

• If you have one, use a salad spinner to remove excess water from the clean wool. Thumping your colander several times will also shake excess water out. Lay the wool on a towel to dry. Pointing a fan at it or placing it outside in the sun will help speed up the drying process.