Crossword Genius

Wash your hands of woollen top and avoids folding (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

disavow

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'wash your hands of woollen top' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'avoids folding' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'avoids' is 'disavo' which is within the answer.
A single letter 'w' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for disavow that I've seen before include "Disclaim" , "To deny support" , "To deny knowledge of" , "Refuse to acknowledge" , "Deny responsibility for (something)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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