Like most natural fibers, dog hair needs gentle handling, otherwise it can matt and felt into an impossible mess. (As a dog groomer, I often see this problem right on the dog; usually bad news.) Putting your chiengora item into the washer and dryer is usually inviting disaster. But with a little caution you can handwash your chiengora accessory without a problem.

How to clean chiengora:

1. Fill a basin with warm water and a little mild detergent. Mix the detergent into the water.
2. Gently press your item into the soapy water. Let it soak for ten to twenty minutes, depending on how dirty it is.
3. Lift the item out of the soapy water, and then press it into a basin of warm rinse water. You can gently swish the item around, but don't be too vigorous - aggitation can caused felting. Repeat until your item is rinsed.
4. Squeeze the excess water out, then roll the item in a towel to blot out most of the water.
5. Lay your item flat on a rack and let it air dry. If it is a shaped item like a hat, you can put it over a bowl or something similar. Be sure to block the edges and any stretched trimming like ribbing tightly. Chiengora has very little elasticity and depends on the knitted structure to retain its shape.