A little jump in water like that wont remove the lanelin or whatever else is trapped in their wool. Lanelin is the oil they produce and is necessary to protect their skin and keep moisture out of the fleece, you dont want to get rid of it. If you handle sheep with a thick enough coat of lanelin, you can feel it melt in your hand. It's great for the skin and has a distinct smell.
All the mess collects in a layer on top of the fleece. When you shear sheep, the underside is surprisingly clean, pleasant to feel, and naturally crimped. Washing it by hand after shearing is a massive chore.
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u/Aggravating_Pie_8144 5h ago edited 5h ago
A little jump in water like that wont remove the lanelin or whatever else is trapped in their wool. Lanelin is the oil they produce and is necessary to protect their skin and keep moisture out of the fleece, you dont want to get rid of it. If you handle sheep with a thick enough coat of lanelin, you can feel it melt in your hand. It's great for the skin and has a distinct smell. All the mess collects in a layer on top of the fleece. When you shear sheep, the underside is surprisingly clean, pleasant to feel, and naturally crimped. Washing it by hand after shearing is a massive chore.