The best way to clean woollen clothes, whether it be merino or lambswool, is to air them out.
Hanging out your woollen clothes for a few hours when temperatures drop is an especially effective way of doing this. Steaming is also a good option, especially if you feel that airing out the product did not freshen it up enough. Small stains should be removed by focusing on the small area only and without excessive rubbing.
Wash a woollen product only if there is visible dirt on it. Follow the product's own washing instructions carefully so that the wool does not shrink or mat. Use a wool detergent and wash the product either by hand or in a washing machine. If hand-washing, bile soap and marseille soap are also good alternatives. When washing by hand, do not rub or twist the product to prevent it from losing its shape. After washing, gently mould the product to its shape and dry it on a flat surface.
Pilling is a characteristic of wool clothing and inevitably occurs, especially with prolonged use. Merino wool, however, is less prone to pilling than traditional sheep's wool. There are special wool combs for removing pilling that are designed to not damage the wool in the process. It is advisable not to pluck or cut the pilling, as this may cause the yarn to pull or, in the worst case, break.
If a loop of yarn becomes loose but the yarn does not break, you can try stretching it a little and the loop should pull back into place. If the loop is long, you can use a needle or crochet hook to hide it inside the product or in the knitting. This rarely renders a product unusable, but it can happen occasionally for example when a product gets caught on a jacket zipper or other sharp object.
Wool products should be stored in an airy and dry place. Natural fibres of all kinds are irresistible to pests such as the fur beetle larvae, so especially if you live in an older apartment block, make sure that the larvae don't get to feast on your treasured accessories. Check your wool products regularly for pests; small holes in the knitting are a sign that your cupboard has been visited by uninvited guests.