What does 'scoured' wool mean?

Question

I bought some for spinning (first attempt), and was wondering what else I have to do to it before I start?

Answer 1

Scouring is washing (the first wash it will get) before spinning. Some spinners dont use this process, and the first wash is after spinning.

So, a scoured fleece has been shorn from the sheep/lamb and washed. You will need to card the wool first to make all the fibres lay the same way and also you may then comb it to remove short fibres.
carding uses 2 paddles with many fine wires sticking out, the fleece is transfered from one to the other by stroking the wires past eachother (without actually touching).
combing uses 2 coarse combs (looks like nails for teeth).

then you are ready to spin.

any of the above may be omitted, depends just what you want to end up with, fluffy, knitting or weaving.

there are many great web sites about spinning, heres just 1
http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/HowToDropspin.html

Answer 2

Wool taken directly from the sheep is called "raw" or "grease wool." It contains sand, dirt, grease, and dried sweat. To remove these contaminants, the wool is scoured (washed) in a series of alkaline baths containing water, soap, and soda ash or a similar alkali. Therefore, "Scoured" wool refers to wool that has undergone a cleaning process that removes the grease and foreign material.

Answer 3

This is the process of washing the wool in order to remove, grease, perspiration and debris.

Al wool goes through this process. Makes one wonder why it becomes a "selling point".