Laboratory experiments using samples of eleven Australian wools representing five different classes (merino fleece, lambs, merino pieces, crossbred pieces, and pieces and bellies) showed that the dirt could be selectively removed in a warm (35 °C) suint bowl containing nonionic surfactant and alkaline builder (modified suint scouring). Removal of grease was low, and in consequence the suint bowl liquor could be readily centrifuged to give good recovery of dirt as an easily disposable spadeable sludge. In a suint bowl without additives (control), the different wools displayed two distinct modes of behavior, which could be correlated with greasy wool characteristics. The fine fleece wools gave low dirt removal; the coarser wools gave much higher dirt removal and overall recovery. Only a small amount of recoverable grease was removed. This difference in the behavior of different wools may explain the varying ideas about the effectiveness of suint bowls in industry and provides an opportunity to improve the overall efficiency of the scouring operation.