Anyone have a gentle but effective way to clean surface dirt, grease, or general "grime" off the threads of pre-WW2 woolie patches? I do not want to soak the whole patch, just clean the surface of the threads.

 

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

Maybe woolite, it's gentle enough. Or mild dish detergent. You might have to get the whole patch wet though. Can't see getting away without soaking it. I've clean alot of patches this way and never had a problem. Other might have different methods.

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

 

Have you found any appreciable shrinking of the wool base material by getting the whole patch wet?

No shrinkage that I ever noticed.

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

 

Woolite works best. Just have to follow the directions. After the wash treatment, which doesn't take too long, rinse real good and place between paper towel and just press it to remove excess water and if you have to get another paper towel, no problem, then place it on a flat surface, not in direct sunlight or heat and let it dry naturally as there is no hurry to play with the patch. Would rather use Woolite as it is not harmful to the wool and is gentle as opposed to the modern cleaners. Most modern cleaners contain brighteners.