Patagonia merino, how wash?

there is probably an online site somewhere that provides a definition to those keys..??

I would just do a google search on, "laundering symbols and their meanings" or something to that affect.

Do it like all wool clothing, wash cold with woolite and air dry.

I throw my merino wool into the wash and wash it like everything else. Cold, hot, warm; I don't even look at the dial before I slam the "Start!" button and go do more interesting things.

When it's time to dry, I ask myself "Is it Tyvek?"

If the answer is no, I ignore the temperature dial completely, whip that stuff out of the washer, stuff it in the dryer, close the door with one hand and kick the button with my foot. GO! DRY! I don't care how hot it is, just spin until there's no more water!

Everything comes out fine. Smartwool, Patagonia, Ibex, Icebreaker, Arcteryx. Only my cotton seems to shrink (and I've lost like four shirts this way…)

I always just use atsko sport wash for all my hiking/technical clothes, including merino. Sport wash is the best as it's pure detergent, no additives or anything to gunk up your clothes.

As Max says, the new technical/fancy wool from Smartwool, ibex, Patagonia, stoic, etc. don't shrink (well, some, but barely) and don't need to be babied when washing.

You might not have to worry about shrinking so much with the treated wools, but you still want to be a bit careful, as wool is still very weak when wet.

+1 to Atsko Sport Wash, on cold/gentle, dry no heat/extra low. Sometimes I'll just hang dry my merino if I'm feeling patient.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

Bill D