I have been gifted some balls of wool - lovely quality which is hard to find these days. However, it has been stored in plastic bags in a cupboard I think. It really smells musty.

I have put it outside on the deck (away from sunlight) and will leave it overnight, but I think it is going to take more than that.

I was thinking of unravelling the balls into big loops and washing it, but envision tangles.

Or should I just toss it?

What do you think?

I think you should put it back in a bag with some baking soda sprinkled inside and leave for a day or two. You might need to repeat the process more than once, but I think the baking soda will absorb the smell. Or try Grans Remedy, the stuff you sprinkle inside smelly shoes.

Another idea, and I'm not sure I've got this right, is to borrow a 'Niddy-Noddy' from someone who spins wool. I think they use it for winding wool into hanks. I don't know if it works after the wool is already in a ball, but it's worth investigating. A hank of wool is looser than a ball, so having it in hanks hung in the fresh air will probably work.

Another idea if all else fails is to knit or crochet it up into squares then sew them into small blankets that you can then donate to your local vet clinic or animal shelter. I'm sure a musty smell won't worry the dogs and cats too much!

Progress....I have had the balls of wool outside since Friday, rotating them the sunlight and the smell is slowly going. I am not worried about fading as they were free anyway. If I still need to finish them off, I will try the baking soda.

Thanks Lorna

I wonder if you could have knitted them up then washed by hand with a fabric softner that gives a nice smell.