I am using the method I found on YouTube.

First we’re doing Busters fiber.

As you can see he was a bit dirty. They usually suggest blowing out the Alpaca before shearing but she didn’t know which ones I would want and she actually doesn’t use the Alpaca fiber to spin so it wouldn’t matter if they were dirty for what she uses it for. No matter even with a blow out most fibers probably still need washed…they like to roll around and probably roll in poop at some point.

Actually scored 2 large mesh bags at Walmart on clearance for $2 each. You just open up the fiber a bit and pull out any large debris (prepare yourself because ya might find clumps of poop 🤢).

I filled a bucket up with hot water, about 115 degrees and added Dawn dish liquid. You could also use shampoo but like I said these guys were dirty!

Set my timer for 30 minutes and waited…

Pulled out the fiber and gently squeezed some water out. Look how dirty! Emptied the bucket for rinse #1.

Make sure not to run water over the fiber because it will felt. I have never felted anything before so I am curious but I also don’t want to lose my fiber or have a huge chuck of felt.

Rinse #1

Rinse #3 probably could have done one more but I was getting impatient 😂

I squeezed out as much water as gently as possible then rolled the bag into a towel.

After it was rolled I gently pushed out more water.

Nothing like a giant wet hair ball 😂 it was so creepy and gross. I thought it might come alive and try to attack me 😂😱

As I started pulling it apart I saw I should have done one more rinse because there were still some bubbles from the soap. You can’t really agitate it or hard core rinse it or it will felt. So I picked out some bigger pieces as I went. More will come out when I card it.

I spread it out on a window screen we have (don’t tell my husband I might get yelled at because we do use these). But these screens are actually fairly inexpensive. I think we paid $11 for this one. It’s next to the dehumidifier which will help the drying process.

Updates will come as it drys and I’ll post pictures of the other guy I got from.