How to wash a wool blanket without shrinking or felting it

Step by step: how to wash a wool blanket without shrinking or felting it

1. 1

   Read the care label

   Look for “machine washable,” “hand wash” or “dry clean only.” Woven blankets from heritage mills are often dry clean only, while many newer ones are labeled for the wool cycle. If it says dry clean, take it to a cleaner and skip the water steps.

2. 2

   Shake it out and air it first

   Take the blanket outside, give it a good shake and hang it somewhere airy and shaded for a few hours. Often this alone removes the stale smell, and you can skip washing.

3. 3

   Brush the surface

   Lay it flat and brush along the grain with a soft garment brush. This lifts surface dust and lint and smooths the fibers. Brush both sides.

4. 4

   Spot clean any stains

   Blot spills right away with a dry towel. Then dab with warm water and a little wool detergent and blot again; do not scrub, which felts the wool. See the stain section below for blood, wine and grease.

5. 5

   Machine wash on the wool cycle, if the label allows

   Use the wool or delicate cycle, cold water, a small dose of wool detergent and the lowest spin speed. Wash the blanket alone so it has room to move. Front loaders and top loaders without a center agitator are gentler.

6. 6

   Or hand wash it in a tub

   Fill a tub with cool water and stir in wool detergent per its label. Submerge the blanket, press it gently up and down for a couple of minutes, and let it soak about 10 minutes. Drain, refill with clean cool water, and press again to rinse; repeat until no suds remain.

7. 7

   Press the water out without wringing

   Push the water out with flat hands against the tub floor. Then roll the blanket in large towels and press, which pulls out more water. Do not wring or twist; wet wool stretches and felts easily.

8. 8

   Dry it flat or over a line, away from heat

   Lay it flat on towels or drape it over two parallel lines to spread the weight, out of direct sun. Turn it every few hours. Keep it out of the dryer unless the label specifically allows tumble drying.

Why wool blankets shrink, and how to avoid it

Wool shrinks when heat, agitation and moisture make the fibers lock together, called felting. Cut out the heat and the rubbing and most blankets wash safely.

The Woolmark Company’s blanket guide says that if the label allows machine washing, the key points are the gentle wool cycle, cold water and a wool detergent. It also suggests wool blankets need washing only sparingly, with some guidelines recommending about once every three months, and that airing is often the best way to freshen them.

• Keep the water temperature the same for washing and rinsing. A jump from warm to cold shocks the fibers.
• Use a wool detergent. Regular detergents and enzyme formulas can damage wool, and chlorine bleach dissolves it.
• Skip fabric softener. Wool does not need it, and it can leave a coating.

How to get common stains out of a wool blanket

Blot quickly, use cool or tepid water, and treat from the edge in. Wool repels liquid for a few minutes, so fast blotting saves most spills.

These come from Woolmark’s stain removal guide, which warns that many stain tips online are written for cotton and synthetics and not all suit wool. Test any treatment on a hidden corner first, and tell your dry cleaner what you have already used.

Drying and storing a wool blanket

Dry it supported and in the shade, then store it clean and sealed. A wet blanket is heavy, so spreading the weight keeps it from stretching out of shape.

Woolmark’s drying advice is to avoid direct sunlight, magnified sun through a window and direct heat such as a radiator, which can change the color or damage the wool where it touches. Its blanket guide adds that drying too fast can leave the fabric coarse.

• Store the blanket only when it is fully dry and clean. Moths go for wool with body oils and food on it.
• Use a breathable cotton bag or a sealed container in a cool, dark place, with cedar blocks if moths are a problem.
• For other bedding, see our guides on washing blankets and washing a comforter.

Mistakes to avoid

• Washing in warm or hot water, which shrinks and felts wool.
• Using regular or enzyme laundry detergent instead of a wool wash.
• Wringing or twisting the wet blanket, which stretches and mats it.
• Putting it in the dryer when the label does not allow tumble drying.
• Drying it in direct sun or on a radiator, which fades it and makes the wool coarse.
• Washing it every month when a shake, airing and brushing would have done the job.