Woolite is one of the most familiar names in gentle laundry care, and the bottle has more useful detail than most people read. The maker sells several versions, including Woolite Delicates for wool, silk, cashmere and other fine fabrics, and Woolite Darks Defense for dark clothes. Knowing which version you have and how it is meant to be used makes a real difference to how your clothes come out.
The basic method is simple. Use the gentle or delicate cycle, keep the water cold unless the garment label says otherwise, and measure the detergent with the cap before the clothes go in. Always check the care label on each garment before you wash it, because that label comes first.
What it is
Woolite is a delicate detergent, sold in several versions for different kinds of clothing. The maker says it contains surfactants and no phosphorus, and that it has no bleach, phosphates or enzymes in the Delicates version. The full ingredient list was not available to us, so check the bottle for the complete list.
According to the maker
What to use it on
Delicate and fine fabrics
The maker says Woolite Delicates is meant for wool, silk, cashmere, cotton, satin and polyester. It is suitable for hand washing, regular machine washing and HE washers.
Use the gentle or delicate cycle and cold water, and check the garment label first. Always test for colorfastness on an inconspicuous area before a full wash.
Dark clothes and synthetics
Woolite Darks Defense is made for dark clothes, including synthetics and blends. The maker says it helps keep darks looking their best over repeated washes.
Sort your darks together and wash them on the gentle cycle in cold water. Test a hidden seam first if a garment is new or has a bright dye.
Damage-focused washes
Woolite Damage Defense is a 40 fl oz version that the maker sells for everyday washing. The product page makes fabric-care claims, including no fading, shrinking or stretching.
Those claims come from the maker.Follow the same steps as any other Woolite wash and check the garment label before using it.
5 steps
How to use it
- 1
Check the garment care label
Read the care label on each item before you wash it. The label comes before the detergent directions. Test for colorfastness on an inconspicuous area first.
- 2
Choose the gentle or delicate cycle
Select the gentle or delicate cycle on your machine. This is the setting the maker's directions call for. Use it for any load that includes fine or delicate fabrics.
- 3
Use cold water
Use cold water unless the garment label instructs otherwise. Fill the machine with water before you add the detergent. Cold water is the default in the maker's directions.
- 4
Measure Woolite with the cap
Pour Woolite into the machine using the measuring cap. The maker does not give an ounce amount beyond the cap, so use the cap as your guide. Add the detergent after the water is in the machine.
- 5
Add clothes and follow drying instructions
Add all of your clothes after the detergent is in. Follow the drying instructions on each garment's label when the cycle finishes. Hand washing and regular machine washing are both covered by the maker.
Where not to use it
The maker lists no fabrics that Woolite should not be used on. Its label tells you to follow each garment's care label and to test for colorfastness on an inconspicuous area first. If a garment's care label says not to wash it at home, take it to a professional instead of using Woolite.
Safety
Keep Woolite out of reach of children. The label warns that it is an eye irritant that may be severely irritating to eyes, so do not get it in your eyes and avoid contact with skin. If it is swallowed, do not induce vomiting, and call a physician or Poison Control; if eyes are exposed, rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and get medical attention if irritation continues.
Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or other acids, ammonia or rubbing alcohol. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
Versions the maker sells
Where to buy
Woolite Delicates
Sponsored links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product facts come from the maker's own instructions and labels.
Questions
Is Woolite safe for wool?
The maker says Woolite Delicates is suitable for wool, and it can be used in hand washing or a regular machine on a gentle cycle. Use cold water and check the garment label first. The maker does not list wool rugs, so check with the rug maker before washing one.
Is Woolite safe for silk?
The maker lists silk as a fabric for Woolite Delicates. Use the gentle cycle in cold water and check the care label first. Test for colorfastness on an inconspicuous area before washing the whole garment.
How do I use Woolite in a washing machine?
Select the gentle or delicate cycle, fill the machine with cold water unless the label says otherwise, and pour Woolite in with the measuring cap. Then add your clothes and follow the drying instructions on each garment.
Can I use Woolite on a carpet or upholstery?
The maker's directions on the Delicates page are for machine washing clothes. The carpet, upholstery and car seat products are separate items with their own directions. Read the label on the specific product you have before using it on any surface.
Does Woolite remove stains?
The Delicates page does not name any stains that Woolite removes. Darks Defense says it has ingredients to gently clean stains, without naming them. Check the care label of each garment and test on an inconspicuous area before treating a stain.
Can I mix Woolite with other products?
The maker's label does not include a never-mix warning. Do not combine Woolite with bleach, since the Delicates version contains none and the label does not say how it should be used with other products. Use it on its own in the machine, as the directions describe.
Is Woolite Darks Defense different from Woolite Delicates?
Yes, the two versions are made for different clothes. Woolite Darks Defense is made for dark clothes, including synthetics and blends. Woolite Delicates is made for fine fabrics like wool, silk and cashmere, plus cotton, satin and polyester.
Where it shows up in our guides
More product guides
How we know this
Every use, amount and warning here comes from the maker's product pages, labels and safety data sheets.