I obtained a beautiful heavy wool custom cooler at a tack sale. It is probably about 40 years old and is in good condition. How do I clean it? I imagine if I try to wash it that it will shrink? I can’t see a dry cleaner accepting a horsey smelling object for cleaning. Do I hang it on a fence and just rinse it off with cold water?
Front loader, cold water, Woolite
Agitation and heat will make it shrink. Front loaders don’t agitate. Spin and spin some more, then hang to dry. If you can drape it over a couple clotheslines in your basement or garage and put fans near but not directly on it, it will dry faster. That wet wool smell…
Dry clean only!
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Ha! I’ve been meaning to post the very same question! (Mine isn’t nearly so old, and isn’t really dirty - it just smells musty from being packed away.)
What if you don’t have a front loader and don’t want to pay a gazillion dollars for dry cleaning? Could the cooler just be soaked in a big tub outside?
I’ve just always chucked mine in the washing machine with wool wash rather than regular washing powder. I have a top loader, agitator. Never had one shrink. Use cold wash. Dry outside in the sun if possible - because then it will smell lovely!!
Well looky here. From a professional groom website. http://www.proequinegrooms.com/tips/…-wool-coolers/
Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Pure Castile Liquid soap helps with the wet wool smell and cleans really well! I have a few wool riding shirts for winter and hand wash with this. Have never had to wash one of my wool coolers - the pro groom tips are pretty spot on about that.
i send mine to the dry cleaner
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I am a heathen ! I use front load washer, the gentle cycle, cool water, and a small amount of whatever liquid laundry detergent I have on hand. Tug into shape, and hang outside to dry.
I also wash sheepskin half pads the same way. So far, they have survived
Wow. What a useful site. 
Thanks!
