How to Wash and Care for Wool Blankets (2024)

FAQs

How to Wash and Care for Wool Blankets? ›

Fill your washing machine with cold water and gentle detergent, put your blanket in, and soak it for 15 minutes. Make sure to avoid using hot water because it can cause wool blankets to shrink. After soaking, set your washing machine to the delicate cycle with cold water.

If you use your wool blanket daily, wash it every three months using a wool-safe, delicate detergent. In most cases, you only need to spot-clean it or clean it seasonally. When washing wool, never use warm or hot water or a clothes dryer. You can hand-wash or machine-wash using a short, gentle, cold-water setting.

It is also important to hang wool blankets away from direct sunlight to avoid fading and it may cause the wool to dry too quickly, which may result in a coarseness of the fabric. Avoid putting wool blankets in the dryer, as it can destroy the softness and shape of the wool blanket.

Care and Restoration

Wash your wool blanket on a wool cycle with Olive Laundry Liquid for Wool & Silk and dissolve ½ teaspoonful of Wool Care in approx. 30-40ml of hot water and pour the solution into the fabric softener compartment of the washing machine. Dry outside on a fine day.

Wool garments should be washed on the wool setting (usually gentle action at 40°C). If your washing machine does not have a wool cycle, use the cold water wash or wash cycle for delicates. Use a neutral, mild detergent that is preferably Woolmark recommended (look for the Woolmark symbol on the packet).

We recommend using a pH neutral detergent that does NOT contain bleach, brightners, whiteners or stain removers (these cause holes do NOT use it).

Depending on the thickness or weight of the item, wool fabrics should be either air dried or placed in the dryer on a gentle dry cycle. While heavier fabrics like coats and jackets may need the heat of a dryer, it's recommended to air dry older or delicate, lighter wool items.

Machine Washing

Select the minimum spin. Wash your throw separately to avoid colour run and snagging. Choose a mild liquid detergent that is specially formulated for wool. Final rinse softeners may be used but keep the amount to minimum, as too much will exacerbate felting.

But there is a caveat here: Tide contains protease, an enzyme that might break down protein-based fibers such as silk and wool. Tide is gentle enough for other delicate fabrics, and if you're hand washing in the sink, it costs only about five cents per wash.

Our wool blankets are very durable, with proper care and maintenance, they can last a lifetime.

How to remove urine from a wool blanket? ›

Vinegar neutralizes the ammonia odor in urine without fading the fabric fibers, and the wet vac or bath towels absorb and extract the moisture, so if a urine spot is tackled immediately with these techniques, you have a high chance of getting it out.

For delicate fabrics like wool, cashmere, and mink, a gentle hand wash in a tub or deep sink using mild detergent, baking soda and vinegar can help refresh a beloved blanket without damaging the fibers. Air-dry or toss in your dryer at a gentle, low-heat setting.

Caring For Wool:

So before you try washing, have a go at letting your blanket hang outside for a couple of hours on a dry day to refresh your wool. Spot Treat: If your wool is stained in one place, try spot treating with a bit of wool soap. Wet the spot, then gently work the soap in the stained area.

Don't use hot or warm water when washing because this can cause wool to shrink or warp — instead, hand-wash or machine-wash with a gentle, short, cold-water cycle. If your blanket's care label states “dry-clean only,” make sure only to have it cleaned by a professional dry-cleaning service.

The best thing to do is hand wash you garment (and any other wool garments) in the sink using warm water (not at all hot) and a small amount of gentle dish soap like dawn or shampoo. Gently scrub using your hands and do not wring or pull, as that will stretch your garment.

The Woolmark Company has recently certified Pental's Softly Wool Wash as a superior laundry detergent for wool and it's available in Australia. The Woolmark Company has recently certified Pental's Softly Wool Wash as a superior laundry detergent for wool apparel care.

Wool fiber swells when it becomes wet and then contracts when it dries. This is what causes wool to shrink when you wash it in hot water. So If you don't want it to shrink, just avoid washing it in really hot water. Handwashing in cool or slightly warm water is always recommended for wool garments.

Wash the dry clean only item by itself. Try out your home dry cleaning method and see how it goes before adding additional items. Clothing made with wool, silk or cotton can be gently washed by hand. However, avoid washing suede, leather, fur, feathers or other fragile fabrics.

Vinegar Solution: Mix one part white vinegar to three parts water and lightly spray the affected areas. Let it air dry before washing. Fresh Wave Laundry Booster: Add Fresh Wave Laundry Booster to your wash cycle. It's designed to eliminate mildew odors and leave your blanket smelling fresh.