[spinning] Washing fleece

This past weekend I finally put together a mesh frame to spread out the lamb's fleece that I bought at VT Sheep and Wool a couple weeks ago:



4lbs of Romney lamb. I'm picking through the locks, layering them into a basket (three layers, separated by mesh):



I have two plastic tubs in the garage. I fill each with one bucket of hot water from the tap. Then I divide a stockpot of boiling water between the two, so they both super hot and the same temperature. One tub has about a tablespoon of dawn dish soap. Then I put the basket of locks in to soak for 15 min and melt out the lanolin wax.



After transferring the basket to the other tub (to water that is the same temperature), you can see how filthy the soapy water gets:



Here's an example of what the fiber looks like before washing (left) and after washing (right):



SO WHITE. Just want I wanted when I bought this fleece. I'm not super happy with the state of the fleece, there's a lot of undesirable junk in it (chaff and vegetable matter) but I think a lot of it will fall out when I start coming the locks.

Progress so far (you can see the unwashed stuff in the back):



Ugh. Lots and lots and lots more washing to do. Then lots of combing. Then lots of spinning. Then lots of knitting. I'm not sure I'll process too many more fleeces in the future, but at least I know how to now.