Liquid Detergent for Knitwear and Delicates
Wool, alpaca and cashmere are natural fibres, and harsh detergents are the quickest way to ruin them. Our Knitwear & Delicates Detergent is a gentle liquid wash made to clean, protect and extend the life of your most treasured pieces, from walking socks to fine jumpers.
It is designed for delicate fabrics such as wool, cashmere, silk and fine lingerie. It keeps fibres soft, helps prevent damage and stretching, and keeps your favourites looking and feeling like new, wash after wash.
Why it matters for your socks
- Biological detergents and fabric conditioners can break down or coat natural fibres, so socks lose their softness, warmth and breathability
- A gentle wool wash helps alpaca and merino keep their natural odour resistance and moisture control
- Looking after the fibre means your socks last longer, so you get more wear from every pair
How to use
- Machine wash: use a wool or delicates cycle at 30°C or below, and turn socks inside out
- Hand wash: dissolve a small amount in cool or lukewarm water, soak gently, then rinse in water of the same temperature
- Squeeze out excess water (don't wring), then dry flat or air dry away from direct heat
- Pop socks in our Washing Net Bag to protect them in the drum
Best for
- Alpaca and merino socks
- Wool and cashmere knitwear
- Silk and fine lingerie
- Anyone who wants their natural-fibre clothes to last
FAQ
Can I use normal washing liquid on wool socks?
We don't recommend it. Many everyday detergents contain enzymes that are designed to break down proteins, and wool and alpaca are protein fibres. A dedicated wool wash is much kinder.
Do I need fabric conditioner?
No. Conditioner coats the fibre and reduces breathability. Alpaca and merino are naturally soft without it.
Free delivery over £60
Fast shipping in 24 hours
Comfortable sock guarantee
Care Guide
Alpaca and merino are durable, naturally antimicrobial fibres. A little care keeps them soft and shaped for years.
Wash
- Cool or cold water, gentle/delicate cycle
- Turn inside-out and use a mesh laundry bag
- Mild knitwear/delicates detergent — no bleach, no fabric softener
Dry
- Lay flat or hang by the toe
- Never tumble dry on high heat (causes felting & shrinkage)
- Reshape while damp
Wear & Store
- Wash every few wears, not every wear (alpaca & merino stay fresher longer than cotton)
- Fold flat — don’t roll tightly or stretch the cuff
- Store clean in a breathable drawer; cedar or lavender deters moths naturally
Pilling?
It’s natural, not a fault. Gently remove with a fabric comb or pill shaver — never pull by hand. Pilling reduces after the first few washes.
Delivery
We dispatch orders within 2 working days. UK standard delivery is £4.50 via Royal Mail Tracked 48, or £5.80 for Royal Mail Tracked 24. Free delivery on orders over £60. See our delivery policy for full details.
Returns
We accept returns within 14 days of receipt — items must be unworn, in original condition, with packaging, labels and tags attached (postage costs are non-refundable). See our refund policy for full details.
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Real customer stories
"From Gallery Floors to the Apiary"
I spend my working days on my feet, guarding the nation's treasures at the Fitzwilliam Museum — easily 10,000 steps a day walking the gallery floors. Noble Crew socks have become a daily essential. They're warm, genuinely comfortable, and hold up brilliantly to hours of standing and walking without a second thought.
What I didn't expect was how well they'd suit life outside work too. As a hobbyist beekeeper, I wear my Noble socks whenever we do hive inspections — they're just as at home outdoors as they are on museum floors. Whether I'm on duty or tending the hives, my feet stay comfortable all day.
Thoroughly recommend Noble socks — for work, for the outdoors, for everything in between.
Chris Fitzwillaim
After forty years flying commercially, retirement hasn't kept me out of the sky. I still take my Tiger Moth up most weekends, open cockpit and all. At altitude, the cold bites fast — but my Noble alpaca wool socks keep my feet properly warm the whole flight. Lightweight, breathable, remarkably insulating. Simply the best socks I've flown in. Highly recommended.
Flynn — Retired Pilot
Salt Air and Sixteen Miles
I walk the old pilgrim paths along the North Norfolk coast most months — wind off the sea, mud underfoot, and never quite the weather you dressed for. These alpaca socks are the reason my feet stop being part of the conversation. Warm when the wind turns, dry even when the boots aren’t, and no blisters after sixteen miles into Wells-next-the-Sea. Simple as that: they let me think about the walk, not my feet.
JENNY H. — North Norfolk Coast Path
From Border to Bridleway
Half my week is spent on my knees in the borders, the other half out on the bridleways with the dog. I needed one sock that could do both, and I hadn’t expected to find it.
Noble socks have become the one I reach for without thinking. Soft enough for a morning of weeding, sturdy enough for a six-mile loop by the afternoon — no rubbing, no damp, no fuss.
They’ve earned their place in the boot rack. High praise from someone who owns rather a lot of socks.
LYNN M. — Gardener & Rambler
