Thread: How do you Clean/Treat/Preserve your Swanndri (or similar) woolen kit?

My pre-china manufactured Swannys are starting to show some wear and tear that I want to get on top of (in order to save on splashing out for a replacements in the near term). At present I'm just doing mild soapy warm water hand washes as needed.

How are you all maintaining your older/classic woolies to ensure long term use? is anyone adding any form of treatment to renew or refresh the wool?

put in washhouse like all other dirty garments and they magically appear folded up clean and smelling fresh along with all other cloths a few days later on end of bed....isnt that how everyone does it???
once they get thread bare..they are buggered. the wee bits of wool fibre are gone for good. the less yo uwash them the longer they will last..... something in back of mind about using hair conditioner....to replump up tired wool or the jersey you shrunk with a hot wash...look it up and see what can find.

Been wondering this myself. I heard that if you wash them it washes out the lanolin.

Wash? That’s what rain is for. Seriously have only ever washed a swanni a couple of times by hand and then done a lanolin bath to keep them semi-waterproof. Back in the day used to through it in with wool fleeces to transfer some wool grease. Tend to think washing them just fks them.

Once they become worn they are less than useless. Them, bullers, mercators', torches with a penny in them (oldies will understand), orange plastic bivvy bags and Trapper Nelsons' all belong at Tepapa.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Once they become worn they are less than useless. Them, bullers, mercators', torches with a penny in them (oldies will understand), orange plastic bivvy bags and Trapper Nelsons' all belong at Tepapa.

but...but....but...but....nah nevermind

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

but...but....but...but....nah nevermind

Bullers Thar you heathen - bend over and beat yourself with an onga onga and akeake stick - how many hundreds of hunters and bushmen have worn those - best bush boot for North Island bush out bar none and Stewart Island--there is nothing on market to replace them- so those of us who still have them treasure them - so there

I must admit,,, Bullers were designed with Te Urewera & The Ruahines in mind
And even now.... If I see a set of Buller prints on the track, I get worried. Because someone's in front of me that knows what they're doing



Our swanndri's fell apart on our backs. They were never washed and the more blood & deer hair on them, the bigger our egos.
And if you rattled around in those packs, your find a Mercator, A torch with a penny in it, and an orange plastic bivvy bag

Originally Posted by Tahr

Once they become worn they are less than useless. Them, bullers, mercators', torches with a penny in them (oldies will understand), orange plastic bivvy bags and Trapper Nelsons' all belong at Tepapa.

Mercators will always have a place!

Originally Posted by Tahr

Once they become worn they are less than useless. Them, bullers, mercators', torches with a penny in them (oldies will understand), orange plastic bivvy bags and Trapper Nelsons' all belong at Tepapa.

Swanndies taught me to keep moving when i was wet.
Bullers taught me that wet feet didn't matter.
Mercators taught me how to sharpen a knife, and more importantly, keep it sharp.
Torches with a penny in them taught me to embrace new technology.
Orange plastic bivvy bags taught me to make a good camp with a tent fly.
And Trapper Nelsons taught me to travel light, and harden the Fu#ck up when I shot a deer.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Once they become worn they are less than useless. Them, bullers, mercators', torches with a penny in them (oldies will understand), orange plastic bivvy bags and Trapper Nelsons' all belong at Tepapa.

Tahr....I suppose you don't wear a black woollen singlet either? Bloody heathen!

Originally Posted by Ranger 888

Tahr....I suppose you don't wear a black woollen singlet either? Bloody heathen!

I was in hospital for septic blisters from Bullers once and they had to cut my Jackie Howe off me because over the previous 5 years my chest hairs had grown into it. I had canvas stockman's leggings on and when they cut them off I collapsed onto the ground. I had been wearing them so long they were the only thing holding me up. Tough times.

The last time I used a Mercator my arthritic hands locked around the silly slim handle and when I came out of the bush a week later they had to amputate 3 fingers to get it free.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I was in hospital for septic blisters from Bullers once and they had to cut my Jackie Howe off me because over the previous 5 years my chest hairs had grown into it.

The problem really gets worse removing ya black singlet [coz ya bride says ,"you isn't getting married in that !!] when you have rubbed goose grease in it to make it waterproof.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I was in hospital for septic blisters from Bullers once and they had to cut my Jackie Howe off me because over the previous 5 years my chest hairs had grown into it. I had canvas stockman's leggings on and when they cut them off I collapsed onto the ground. I had been wearing them so long they were the only thing holding me up. Tough times.

The last time I used a Mercator my arthritic hands locked around the silly slim handle and when I came out of the bush a week later they had to amputate 3 fingers to get it free.

You must’ve started with a lot of extra digits


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This might help https://www.swanndri.co.nz/clothing-care-guide

We use Earth Wise laundry liquid, obviously always cold wash and hang to air outside - need good airflow. Have found this is less abrasive than the more traditional laundry powder brands. We changed to this when my son was young and his skin was reacting badly to garments washed in the other stuff. Immediate change.