By Angela Lauber
Introduction
Wool has been used in blankets and clothes since the year 10,000 BCE. Although wool blankets are a warm welcome against a cold winter’s chill in today’s world, not many people know how to properly care for them. This leaves these same blankets getting damaged and improperly cared for. Like with clothing, it is important to understand wool blanket care instructions to ensure a long lifespan free from damage and deterioration.
To start we need to consider how often wool blankets need to be washed. Most guidelines recommend washing wool blankets once every three months. Wool can withstand for a while without needing to be cared for, yes, but this recommendation also prevents over washing the blanket which can also cause damage. While this is a good rule of thumb, it is also important to first and foremost check the care label on the blanket first to see if it has any special instructions for how often the blanket is to be cleaned.
Equipment
Now that we know how often a wool blanket needs to be washed, we need to know what tools we need to wash them in the first place. Most washable clothes and blankets simply need a good washer and dryer and your trusty detergent. However with wool blankets it is a little more complicated than simply throwing the blanket in the wash and hoping for the best.
First you’ll need a soft-bristled brush known as a wool brush to aid in getting rid of any pilling that has gathered when it has been in use. A good example of what to look for is the one found linked below from Amazon.
Reviews remark that this comb works great and is easy to use and removes even years worth of pilling. This shows that even if you have a blanket that you’ve been neglecting for years, this comb will help with restoring it to its former glory and softness.
Next you’ll need a wool specific detergent or gentle soap. And yes, there is a difference between wool specific detergents and regular detergents. Wool detergents are specially made to be gentle and pH balanced whereas regular detergents contain various chemicals specifically to aid in cleaning regularly used clothes. An example of what to look for can be found linked below from Amazon.
Reviews state that this detergent not only smells good but gets rid of even the foulest of odors from a large variety of wool blends. They remark on how years of use were seemingly washed away simply by using this product and strongly recommend it to others for washing their beloved wool products.
Other, less specialized, tools used in caring for a wool blanket are towels, soft cloths, clotheslines, and drying racks often found in most homes already. Any standard versions of these tools will do, so long as they are large enough and robust enough to handle the weight and size of the wool blanket you are caring for.
Washing and Care Instructions
Step 1: Airing
Airing helps to freshen wool blankets. It also helps with loosening dirt and dust that has accumulated in the blanket. This helps with removing that dirt and dust in the following steps as well as can be a quick fix if your blanket just needs to be freshened up a bit after a lot of usage. This can be on a drying rack or a clothes line, whichever is easiest as long as it is getting fresh air outside that is away from direct sunlight to prevent sun damage.
Step 2: Brushing
Using a soft-bristled wool brush, this allows for any pilling to be properly removed without damaging the wool fibers. For this step, it is important to remember to brush with the grain and not any other way to prevent the blanket from being damaged while brushing. Any easy way to figure out which way the grain goes is by gently pulling on the blanket. The direction with less stretch is the way you’ll want to be brushing.
While doing this, it has the added benefit of also removing any surface soil or staining that the blanket has. This makes the washing process quicker and easier now that there is no need to worry about the dirt that is easily removed by this step. Brushing also gets the wool fibers nice and smooth while also in the same direction.
Step 3: Cleaning Liquid Stains
Wool is naturally stain and water repellent. This means the only liquid stains you’ll need to be taking care of is any staining liquids that have been left to soak for a few minutes. As with a lot of stains with regular blankets and clothes, it is important to not scrub when removing stains from wool blankets. With removing stains from wool blankets you are going to want to use warm water and wool specific detergent to clean the spot as soon as possible to prevent the stain from setting in. Soak the stained area of the blanket in warm water first. Then, using a soft cloth and the detergent, carefully blot the stain from the stained area until it is fully removed.
Step 4: Washing
When a wool blanket is soiled enough that it needs to be washed, check the care instructions first. Most instructions will note to use cold water, but that is not all that should be taken into account with washing a wool blanket. To start, make sure you are using the aforementioned wool specific detergent to ensure a clean and safe wash for the blanket.
While the most common option with wool is to hand wash, some may want an easier option in a standard washing machine. For this option, make sure your machine is washing with cold water and a cycle with minimal agitation and spinning. This isn’t just to mimic hand-washing but to also prevent shrinking and felting the blanket. Shrinking and felting are two types of damage that are irreparable and ruin the blanket. It is impossible to return a blanket back to its original size and un-felted state as it is permanent damage.
Step 5: Drying
With drying these types of blankets, avoid putting them in the dryer at all costs. This can cause significant damage such as shrinkage, pilling, distortion of shape, loss of softness, and color fading. As with washing, check the care label. However, the preferred method of drying a wool blanket is to first roll it in a towel to squeeze out excess water. While doing so, make sure not to twist or wring the blanket as this will cause damage. After getting rid of excess water hang the blanket flat over a clothesline or drying rack that can support the weight of the heavy wet blanket outside. While drying outside, avoid direct sunlight to help prevent the blanket from drying too quickly and causing the wool to become coarse and uncomfortable.
If air-drying is an option that is absolutely impossible, and a common household dryer must be used there are some guidelines for that as well. When drying, use a delicate, or wool cycle if your dryer has it, with the lowest possible heat setting to prevent heat damage to the blanket. With this option it is crucial to monitor the blanket closely and carefully to avoid overdrying and overheating the blanket to prevent the aforementioned damages that drying wool in the dryer can cause.
Step 6: Storage
Storing blankets is usually pretty easy, but with wool blankets it’s just a little bit more complicated than throwing them in a basket and calling it a day. Wool blankets should be stored in a dark, cool space in an air-tight container or bag. These can be spots such as a coat closet or basement storage room. For containers, here is an option for an air tight container found on Amazon.
Reviews love the air tight gasket seal for this bin and state that this is perfect for storing wool blankets and anything else that requires protection from moisture, insects, and rodents. This option also has the added benefit of being stackable and coming in 54 Quart 4 or 8 packs as well as 80 quart 1 packs for added versatility and storage options.
And here is an option for an air-tight bag, if space saving is something that is necessary in your home.
Reviews state a love of how easy these bags are to use and call them a “game changer” for storage around the home. They love the double zip seal and the triple seal turbo valve that are excellent in keeping any unwanted air out of the storage bag.
Either one would work wonderfully for storing wool blankets. They would also work really well together if you want to keep all of your stored blankets in one container that is easy to pick up and bring out of storage in no time.
If pests are a problem for your home, you may also want to consider storing a natural insect repellent with your wool blankets, such as cedar wood chips. Just a few chips nestled in with the blanket itself will help prevent any insects in your home from calling your carefully washed wool blankets their home. These chips can be easily made from materials bought and equipment from around the home. But, if you’re not the woodworking type, here is an option on Amazon designed to help with preventing pests in closet storage.
This option comes in packages ranging from 16 piece to 80 piece package quantities. Reviews reflect that these chips helped them with pest control in their storage immensely. They remark that not only did it help prevent pests, but it also provided a fresh scent for their storage.
Summary
Air out your wool blanket to loosen dirt or to add freshness to it. Brush out any large quantities of dirt to ease the cleaning process. Clean liquid stains as soon as possible to prevent them from setting and do so in warm water and wool specified detergent. Wash the blanket in cold water with the same wool specified detergent on a cycle with minimal agitation and spinning. Air dry your wool blanket. If that isn’t an option, dry it on a delicate or wool setting with the lowest amount of heat possible. Then store your blanket in a cool, dark place in an air-tight container or bag with cedar chips to prevent pests from making the blanket their new home.
Conclusion
Just like you need to take care of your car, you also need to take proper care of your wool blankets. Taking care of anything made from wool can seem like a daunting task. But, if you follow these steps, it will soon become just as easy as throwing your regular load of laundry in the wash. Anything new can be a little intimidating and caring for wool blankets properly can be just as intimidating. However, with this guidance and these steps, you’ll soon find yourself becoming a pro at caring for your wool blankets and so much more! These steps don’t just apply to wool blankets, but are versatile in the manner that they apply to any sweaters, socks, etc. that are also made out of wool or wool blends.
Everyone wants their things to be in the best condition possible for years to come. Whether it be a car, furniture, or clothes they all have their own care instructions. These steps will not only serve as an excellent care guide, but also help you breathe new life into your wool blankets, and clothes, and help keep them fresh, soft, and free from unwarranted damages for years to come!
