A beloved household item is a wool blanket since of its unmatched warmth and great comfort. Wool blankets are a classic purchase from nice nights on the sofa to provide extra layer of warmth in bed. When it comes to cleaning, though, many folks get a knot in their gut. Often the fear of shrinking, pilling, or worse—that soft, lovely wool drives one to either skip washes entirely or turn to costly professional dry cleaning.
The good news is that you quite certainly can wash a wool blanket at home without damaging it. Your treasured wool blanket will come out of a wash looking and feeling new, soft, and ready for many more years of snuggles with the correct method, a light touch, and some patience. Whether you want to hand wash or run a machine, this thorough guide will lead you through all you need to know about how to safely and successfully wash a wool blanket.
Why Proper Wool Blanket Care Matters
Renowned for its breathability, insulating qualities, inherent resistance to odors and dust mites, wool is a magnificent natural fibre. Wool fibers have a complicated structure that lets them collect moisture vapor and release it, thereby controlling temperature and maintaining your comfort unlike synthetic materials.
These special qualities, nevertheless, also render wool vulnerable to damage if improperly cared for. The most often occurring offender is too much heat mixed with excitement. Wool strands can mat and irreversibly shrink under these temperatures, a process known as felting. Once felted, a wool blanket loses most of its insulating power, softness, and shape. Therefore, the lifetime and preservation of a wool blanket depend on knowing how to clean it properly, so preserving its luxury feel.
Before You Begin: Essential Preparations
A little preparation will help you to guarantee a good result before you start the washing procedure.
1. Check the Care Label
This comes first and most importantly. Refer always to the care label on your blanket. It offers particular manufacturer-provided directions.
- “Hand Wash” Symbol: This unequivocally shows that the best and advised way is hand washing.
- “Machine Wash Gentle/Wool Cycle” Symbol: If you notice this, you probably could machine wash your blanket on a somewhat specialized cycle.
- “Dry Clean Only” Symbol: “Dry Clean Only” can be challenging. Though many “dry clean only” wool products can be gently hand cleaned at home, proceed carefully.
Professional dry cleaning could be the safer choice if your blanket is a priceless treasure or very delicate. This advice addresses at-home washing, however note the hazards for “dry clean only” products.
2. Spot Treat Stains
Before running the whole blanket, take care of any obvious stains.
- Method: With a small amount of mild, pH-neutral detergent especially for wool, gently blot the stain with a clean, wet towel. From outside the stain, work inward to stop spreading. Steer clear of strong chemicals, scouring, or too much rubbing since this will destroy the wool fibers.
- Common Stains: Try to promptly blot as much as you can for spillage. Before spot treating dried stains, gently scrape off any extra.
3. Gather Your Supplies
The process will go more easily if everything is ready before you start.
- Large Basin or Bathtub: Essential for hand washing, a large basin or bathtub guarantees adequate room for the blanket to be completely soaked without feeling confined.
- Mild, pH-Neutral Wool-Specific Detergent: This cannot be negotiated. Regular laundry detergues include enzymes designed to break down wool fibres, therefore causing damage. Look for names like Woolite Delights, Eucalan, The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, or even a mild baby shampoo (make sure it’s really mild and odorless).
- Several Clean, Absorbent Towels: You’ll need many clean, absorbent towels to blot extra water from the wet blanket—which can be quite heavy.
- Drying Rack or Clean Flat Surface: Important for air drying—the only safe way to dry wool blankets—drying rack or clean flat surface.
Method 1: Hand Washing Your Wool Blanket (Recommended for Most)
Usually the safest and mildest method to wash a wool blanket is hand washing, which gives you more control over the process and reduces the chance of shrinkage or damage. For delicate or ancient wool blankets especially, this is advised.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Bath/Basin: Get ready the bathtub or big basin by making sure it is shining clean. Pour chilly or lukewarm water into it. Consistent water temperature throughout the wash and rinse cycles will help to avoid stress to the fibers, so preventing shrinkage. Steer clear of hot water entirely.
- Add Detergent: Fill the water with a tiny bit of your selected detergent tailored for wool-specific use. To totally dissolve the detergent and produce a light sudsy solution, gently swish the water with your hand. Direct detergent addition to the blanket should not be done.
- Submerge the Blanket: Carefully and gradually dip your wool blanket into the water. Press down gently on it to make sure the soapy water is well saturated. Steer clear of dropping it in or causing splashes that can agitate the fibers.
- Soak: Let the blanket soak for ten to twenty minutes or so. You might stretch this to 30 minutes for very dirty blankets, but keep under this limit. The detergent should be able to pass through the fibers and lift dirt without extensive exposure.
- Gentle Agitation (Optional/Minimal): If the blanket is especially unclean, you could very lightly massage it a few times to assist remove grime—optional/minimal. Consider it as mild kneading of dough rather than towel wringing. Refrain strictly from any rubbing, scrubbing, twisting, tugging, or stretching. The main reasons of felting and shrinking are these acts.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Rinse very well. Scoop the soapy, dirty water from the tub carefully. Once more, consistent temperature is important; fill the tub with fresh, cool water and gently massage the water through the blanket until no suds remain. Until the water runs clean and soap-free, you might have to rinse numerous times, drain and refill with new water.
- Initial Water Removal: Once cleaned, softly press down on the blanket to eliminate as much extra water as you can. The blanket’s shape will be distorted and the fibers will be seriously damaged if you twist or wring it.
- Blotting with Towels: Carefully raise the wet blanket—which will be heavy—then put it flat on several fresh, dry, absorbable towels. Like a burrito, roll the blanket and towels together, gently pressing to soak extra water. Unroll, replace with fresh dry towels, then repeat this process until no more water is being absorbed. Reducing drying time and avoiding stretching depend on this phase, hence it is essential.
Tips for Hand Washing Success
- Maintain Consistent Water Temperature: Maintaining a consistent water temperature will help to shock the wool fibers, therefore creating contraction and feeling.
- Work Quickly but Gently: While you want to be thorough, avoid unnecessarily extending the washing cycle.
- Handle Wet Wool with Extreme Care: More delicate and likely to stretch or distort is wet wool. Support its weight equally as you move it.
Method 2: Machine Washing Your Wool Blanket (Use with Caution)
Although hand washing is generally recommended, some modern wool blankets are made for machine washing. This approach only makes sense if your washing machine runs a “wool,” “delicate,” or “hand wash” cycle and the care label on your blanket specifically allows it. These cycles are designed especially with very low agitation and temperature control fit for fragile textiles.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Load the Machine: Load the machine with your wool blanket just loosely in the washing machine drum. The machine should not be overfilled since this may cause improper cleaning and more agitation. Think about stashing the blanket inside a big mesh laundry bag for additional security.
- Select Cycle: Choose for your machine the “wool,” “delicate,” or “hand wash” cycle. This is especially important as these cycles replicate the mild motions of hand washing.
- Water Temperature: The water temperature is Choose either cold or cool water. Hot water should absolutely never be used since it causes most wool shrinking.
- Detergent: Add a tiny bit of your detergent tailored for wool to the detergent dispenser of the machine. Use no ordinary washing detergent, bleach, or fabric softeners.
- Spin Cycle: Choose the lowest spin speed allowed by your machine or, if it has one, a “no spin” option. High spin speeds can provide too strong centrifugal force that might deform wet wool fibers.
- Remove Promptly: Take the blanket straight out of the machine as soon as the cycle finished. If left for too long, leaving it to sit in the drum can cause extreme wrinkling or perhaps mildew.
Important Machine Washing Warnings
- Never use hot water: This will quickly damage a wool blanket.
- Never use regular detergent: Wool fibers suffer from the enzymes in ordinary detergues.
- Never use harsh agitation cycles: For wool, even light cycles or permanent press can be very harsh. Follow specific wool or delicate cycles.
- Avoid overloading: Steer clear of very heavy loads. Give the blanket lots of space to move minimally in the wash.
Drying Your Wool Blanket: The Most Crucial Step
This is maybe the most important step in washing a wool blanket. Whether you washed it correctly or not, improper drying will cause damage and permanent shrinking.
Stress air drying as the only safe way to dry wool blankets. Wool will shrink and felt in tumble dryers—even on a “low heat” or “air fluff” setting.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Pre-Dry with Towels: After washing, and before air drying, do the towel blotting procedure detailed in the hand washing section. This will drastically reduce water, therefore lowering the weight of the blanket and drying times.
- Lay Flat to Dry: The golden rule for drying wool blankets is lay flat to dry.
- On a Clean Surface: Lay the blanket totally flat on many dry, clean towels set on a bed, floor, or large, spotless table.
- On a Flat Drying Rack: If you have a big, robust drying rack meant to handle a lot of weight, this will work nicely. Make sure the blanket’s weight is uniformly distributed to stop stretching.
- Rotate and Flip: Every few hours, gently twist and turn the blanket to guarantee proper drying and stop moisture from becoming trapped, so preventing mildew.
- Ensure Good Air Circulation: Put the drying blanket in a room with good ventilation. To speed up the drying process, open windows, run a ceiling fan, or arrange a portable fan close by—not directly on the blanket but rather to move air.
- Avoid Direct Sunlight: Steer clear of direct sunshine; it can yellow white wool and fade colorful wool.
- Avoid Direct Heat Sources: Steer clear of direct heat sources; never lay your blanket next to radiators, heaters, or in direct heated airflow as this will shrinking.
What NOT to Do When Drying
- Never put a wool blanket in a tumble dryer: This is the most definite method to damage it by inducing felting and extreme shrinking.
- Never hang a wet wool blanket from a clothesline or hanger: Hang a damp wool blanket from a hanger or clothesline never from a line. The weight of the water will cause the blanket to perhaps warp irrevocably and stretch out of form.
The thickness of the blanket, humidity conditions, and air circulation will all affect the drying time—which can range from 24 hours to several days. Be calm! Store the blanket only once it is absolutely dry.
Post-Wash Care and Storage
A few last measures will guarantee your wool blanket stays in perfect shape once it is completely dried.
- Fluffing: To restore the blanket’s natural loft and softness, gently hand fluff it.
- Storage: Store your fresh wool blanket either wrapped in a fresh cotton sheet or in a breathable cotton bag or clean pillowcase. Steer clear of plastic bags; they can collect moisture and lead to mildew. Stow in a cool, dry environment far from direct sunlight.
- Pest Control: Wool is a naturally occurring fiber that may draw moths in particular. Directly lay natural repellents including cedar balls, lavender sachets, or cedar chips next to the blanket. Steer clear of conventional mothballs; their chemical smells might be challenging to eliminate.
- Regular Care: Periodically, especially in a humid environment, you should air out your wool blanket between washes. To let air flow, hang it loosely for a few hours or cover a chair.
Troubleshooting Common Wool Washing Issues
Sometimes problems develop despite best efforts. Here’s a quick review of typical issues:
- Shrinking: Shrinking is nearly always brought on by agitation combined with heat. Sadly, wool is typically irreversibly once it has greatly shrunk and felted. Important is prevention!
- Felting: Felting is the process of the wool fibers matting and densifying, therefore losing their distinct definition and softness. It comes from too much heat, excitement, or abrupt temperature swings. Again, usually it’s permanent.
- Pilling: Small balls of twisted threads called piling show up on the surface. Normal occurrence in wool as fibers rub against one another called piling. Pills can be softly removed using a fabric shaver or a dedicated wool comb.
Conclusion
Knowing how to wash a wool blanket at home will help you to save money and guarantee that your beloved textile will survive for years to come. The main lessons are clear: always use cool or lukewarm water with a wool-specific detergent; gentle is absolutely important; air drying flat is the only safe approach. Following these rules will help you to boldly approach the chore of washing wool blankets at home, therefore maintaining their softness, warmth, and beauty for many comfortable times. Love your just cleaned, immaculate kept wool blanket!