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Post by tracey on Nov 2, 2016 11:35:32 GMT
Hello all. I was wondering how many of you soak your pieces in dilute vinegar? I have always done this since learning how to felt from the web. I believe it returns the wool to it's original pH of acid. Will anything detrimental happen if it was just rinsed?
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Post by lyn on Nov 2, 2016 15:03:38 GMT
First let me say that I'm no scientist...
...but enough clever people have said that giving the felt a final rinse in vinegar water is a good thing because it ensures that the very last bit of soap will come away. Apparently soap residue can cause damage, over time, to the wool.
I have no way of knowing if this is fact or fiction, but white vinegar is cheap so I'll carry on doing it.
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Post by MTRuth on Nov 2, 2016 16:02:47 GMT
I use it too!
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Post by tracey on Nov 2, 2016 16:35:25 GMT
Thanks ladies, yes I will be sticking with it too.
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Post by jwugg on Nov 2, 2016 16:57:31 GMT
Yeah me too. We had this discussion just a few weeks ago & most of us said the same - we weren't absolutely sure it made a difference, but it's so easy & cheap we might as well do it! Just remember you do need another quick rinse after the vinegar rinse.
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Post by lyn on Nov 2, 2016 17:34:10 GMT
I don't do another rinse. However, my vinegar water may not be so strong as some others? I just put a 'glug' into a bowl of water.
The oldest felted item I still have is my tea-cosy (circa 2008) and that's in robust health after daily use.
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Post by Shepherdess on Nov 2, 2016 17:51:39 GMT
I never do. I rinse it spin it out and let it dry. I have some old pieces around and have never had a problem.
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Post by tracey on Nov 2, 2016 19:04:05 GMT
Oh sorry I did not know the subject had been done recently, maybe it was before I joined, not sure. Appreciate everyone's input.
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Post by lyn on Nov 2, 2016 20:21:35 GMT
Oh sorry I did not know the subject had been done recently, maybe it was before I joined, not sure. Appreciate everyone's input. Doesn't matter if a subject has been aired before - bringing things up again often sheds new light!
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Post by Pandagirl on Nov 2, 2016 22:24:35 GMT
I always use vinegar in the final rinse.
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Post by zed on Nov 3, 2016 11:20:03 GMT
When we were making felted soaps at the felting group recently, I made a joke about making sure they were rinsed well to get the soap out, and maybe soaking in vinegar, I got a few puzzled looks for a minute!
Sometimes I do, especially on really stiff thick pieces.
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Post by lyn on Nov 3, 2016 11:46:18 GMT
Duh! Of course - how did I forget. Felted soaps are one time when I don't use vinegar.
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Shana
Full Member
Posts: 108
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Post by Shana on Nov 5, 2016 17:34:38 GMT
Perfect timing! I was just looking to see who used vinegar as a final rinse.
My better half is a science guy. He explained that the soap tends to be alkaline due to the lye, a base. Rinsing with vinegar, an acid, neutralizes the base and returns the pH to the original pre-lye state of the olive oil (in most cases.)
So I was wondering if anyone is using citric acid as a neutralizing rinse instead of vinegar?
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Post by Pandagirl on Nov 5, 2016 22:35:07 GMT
Good to see you back Shana!
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Post by zed on Nov 6, 2016 11:55:55 GMT
I know a lot of spinners tend to use citric acid for dyeing instead of vinegar, Shana, but it also seems quite expensive unless bought in bulk.
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