Those who live where snow makes a yearly appearance now may have a fringe benefit. A cursory search online right now will unearth endless clips on the latest thrifty laundry trend: snow washing.
It is a literal phrase and comes from the Swedish snötvätt, a technique originating from the times before Sweden had Ikea and Volvos. Yet, snow washing is making a modern comeback, thanks to an army of willing video stars.
Laying it Down
Naturally, the new phenomenon is surfing the wave of social media glory. As expected, influencers and lifestyle media characters are lining up to give it their verdict. For the terrestrial TV audience, Nathan Coleman demonstrates snow washing in a Weather Channel YouTube short.
Lying down a sheepskin rug and woolen socks on the fresh snow, Coleman proceeds to shovel powdery Quebec snow over the textiles. “There you go; let it soak; wait some time; just pick it up, and shake it off,” he says, revealing a rug that looks visibly whiter. “Just like Taylor Swift said.”
A Cost-Effective Solution for Cleaning Wool
While Tay-Tay probably won’t be using this technique at her palaces in Tribeca or Rhode Island, others might want to try. The cost of electricity continues to climb, and working families need all the help they can get. Moreover, fiber science experts at Cornell University testify that the process is effective.
Fran Kozen and Larissa Shepherd argue that snow washing woolen garments makes perfect sense, considering the textile’s fragile nature. The machine cycle can shrink and damage the fabric. Still, they do add caveats for anyone thinking of utilizing nature’s free washing machine.
“It must be very cold, and the item should be cold before it is put in the snow,” says Kozen. “The snow must be the fluffy, dry sort.” Shepherd also adds that scoured or mercerized wool is not ideal for this method, as the lanolin (the waxy oil natural to animals’ wool) is removed, preventing the bond between snow and stain.
Choosing the Right White Powder
That fluffy, dry snow type is a sticking point in snow-washing mastery. It may be tricky for some, as the United States has more than one kind of snow, depending on the region. Coastal mountain chains, such as California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, or the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest, get heavy, wet snow.
Meanwhile, the Rocky Mountain states get little natural moisture, which creates the dry, light snow that one can blow from their car. However, while most coastal Eastern mountains get the same water-heavy snow as the West, certain higher elevations can get the powdery stuff, falling most likely on their leeward side, not facing the precipitation.
No Snow Washing for the Rockies This Year
Ironically, the Rocky Mountains aren’t seeing much of the powdery stuff this season. In contrast to the 2024-2025 season, 2026 has suffered from a severe snow drought. The situation is so dire in Colorado, reports CBS, that it needs “five to eight feet of mountain snow just to break even.”
Sadly for Coloradans, Utahns, and Wyomingites, the snow-washing videos may need to wait until next year. For the Northeastern states, however, it can be a snow-washing free-for-all.