Washing Instructions & Wool Care Guide
ON RECEIVING YOUR NEW WOOL BLANKET
We have prepared and packed your item with care and hope it has arrived in perfect condition. If it hasn't, please contact us straight away.
Your new item has been folded carefully and may have been packed for some time. Creases and wrinkles caused by packaging should soon drop out but if they don't there is a solution below:
AIR OUT YOUR WOOL BLANKETS
Ventilation is the best way to keep wool blankets fresh. Take your blankets outside and shake them out. Hang the blankets somewhere with air flow, as this will loose dirt and dust from the threads of the blanket. You can shake the blanket again before bringing it back inside.
USE A SOFT BRISTLE BRUSH
Lay the wool blanket on the floor and brush in the direction of the grain. The wool fibers will lay in the same direction, enhancing the look of the blanket. Furthermore, the bristles can help remove any stains or soil that were being held in the threading.
DEPILLING
When the natural fibers of your wool blanket start coming loose, little balls-or pills-form. Pilling is the result of friction. In other words, the more you use your wool blanket, the more likely pills will form. You can get yourself a special de-pilling comb, also called a bobble remover, to untangle the fibers, leaving a smooth, soft surface behind.
SPOT CLEANING
Wool is hydrophobic, meaning the exterior of the fiber actually repels water. Lanolin occurs naturally, and most wool is treated after production to restore this element. Lanolin acts as a protectant—it’s antibacterial and works to repel dirt and water, which is why wool is considered self-cleaning.
To remove liquid stains, use warm water and mild detergent to spot clean as soon as possible. Don’t scrub the fabric. Instead, soak the stained area with warm water and detergent and blot with a soft cloth.
When spot-cleaning dirt or oil, use vinegar diluted with water (1/3 vinegar, 2/3 water), and start slowly. If the piece is dyed, make sure it’s colorfast (the dye won’t bleed). Do this by spot testing with a damp white cloth.
HAND WASHING
Wool is naturally breathable which allows any moisture it may pick up to dissipate. Lucky for you, this means you can get away with washing it less than other fibres, and less washing prolongs the lifespan of the material and is better for the planet.
Hand washing wool is pretty straightforward, and for the most part, you just let water and soap do its thing. Fill your sink or bathtub with lukewarm water (max 30ºC) and add some wool soap, which is a gentle laundry detergent specially made for washing wool. Mix it in well before adding your blanket to the water. Submerge your blanket into the soapy water, then let it soak for at least 10 minutes. We also highly recommend using this 10 minutes for a nice cup of tea :)
Next, give your wool a gentle swirl and give any areas that need particular attention a gentle rub with your hands. Avoid rubbing the fabric together, like you might do when you hand wash other fabrics. Friction is the key thing to avoid with wool, as that is what causes shrinking and bobbling. Remove the wool and rinse twice with clean water.
ROLL, DON'T WRING!
Wool can hold up to a third of its weight in water. After you rinse your blanket, do not wring it out. You’ll mess with the shape and will likely never quite get it back again. Just roll it up in a towel to absorb the moisture—often this requires several passes and several towels.
AIR DRY!
NEVER stick a wool blanket in a drying machine. Nor do you want to wring out the material and stretch it. Instead, you need to lay the wool flat to dry and gently press out the water. The ideal is a horizontal netted rack on legs—not something many of us have hanging around. But if you have outdoor space, considering setting up a clothesline. Better yet, set up two clotheslines with a few feet between them—draping the blanket over the pair relieves a lot of the weight on the wet textile.
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. Again, DO NOT put wool blankets in the dryer, as it can destroy the softness and shape of the wool blanket.
MACHINE WASHING
Our first suggestion is to hand wash the blanket.... Okay, we hear you, you are thinking “but I don’t have time to hand wash anything, I’m a mom of 4 kids and laundry is never-ending in our house!”
The good news is you can machine wash (some) wool blankets. First check the care tag that comes with the blanket, and make sure machine wash is possible. With great care, a high quality washing machine, wash at max 30ºC on a gentle wool cycle, using only a wool friendly detergent.
DO NOT SPIN! Spinning the blanket can also create shrinkage.
Roll, don’t wring and air dry.
DRY CLEANING (avoid when possible)
“Dry cleaning” process is neither “dry” nor “clean.” It is not a "dry" process as the clothes are soaked in harmful liquid solvent. And it is neither a “clean” process as the whole process directly harms the workers dry cleaning your blanket, puts pressure on the environment and it isn’t good for you either.
Unfortunately, although dry cleaning is very convenient, it can also be very damaging to the environment. The by-products of this chemical process are a lot more harmful than you might realise.
Covering yourself with dry cleaned blankets means your body comes into contact with a host of questionable chemicals. The cleaning agent central to the dry cleaning process is perchloroethylene (commonly referred to as PERC), a known carcinogen.
If it is absolutely necessary to dry clean your blanket, try to find an Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaners that are using Wet Cleaning and Liquid Carbon Dioxide Cleaning. While CO2 is naturally occurring and inexpensive, the dry cleaning machines cost around €40.000 each making them cost prohibitive for many small businesses.
STORING YOUR WOOL BLANKET
The best way to store a wool blanket is to wait until it has dried completely before folding it up. Then place it inside a breathable storage container, such as a cotton bag, and put it somewhere cool and dark. As with drying, you want to choose some place out of direct sunlight to prevent bleaching.
You can always pop some natural moth repellent into the container with your blanket and rest assured.
We have prepared and packed your item with care and hope it has arrived in perfect condition. If it hasn't, please contact us straight away.
Your new item has been folded carefully and may have been packed for some time. Creases and wrinkles caused by packaging should soon drop out but if they don't there is a solution below:
- If your product has arrived in a polythene bag, unpack it from its postage bag as soon as possible
- It should not be stored in direct sunlight (even when packed) and you should prevent it from being exposed to extreme changes of temperature.
- It's a good idea to remove wrinkles and creases straight away because if they are left in place over long use the item can wear unevenly. If there are any stubborn creases caused by packaging, use or storage they can be easily removed by carefully hanging the item in a warm steamy bathroom or other warm humid room for 10-20 minutes until the creases drop out.
AIR OUT YOUR WOOL BLANKETS
Ventilation is the best way to keep wool blankets fresh. Take your blankets outside and shake them out. Hang the blankets somewhere with air flow, as this will loose dirt and dust from the threads of the blanket. You can shake the blanket again before bringing it back inside.
USE A SOFT BRISTLE BRUSH
Lay the wool blanket on the floor and brush in the direction of the grain. The wool fibers will lay in the same direction, enhancing the look of the blanket. Furthermore, the bristles can help remove any stains or soil that were being held in the threading.
DEPILLING
When the natural fibers of your wool blanket start coming loose, little balls-or pills-form. Pilling is the result of friction. In other words, the more you use your wool blanket, the more likely pills will form. You can get yourself a special de-pilling comb, also called a bobble remover, to untangle the fibers, leaving a smooth, soft surface behind.
SPOT CLEANING
Wool is hydrophobic, meaning the exterior of the fiber actually repels water. Lanolin occurs naturally, and most wool is treated after production to restore this element. Lanolin acts as a protectant—it’s antibacterial and works to repel dirt and water, which is why wool is considered self-cleaning.
To remove liquid stains, use warm water and mild detergent to spot clean as soon as possible. Don’t scrub the fabric. Instead, soak the stained area with warm water and detergent and blot with a soft cloth.
When spot-cleaning dirt or oil, use vinegar diluted with water (1/3 vinegar, 2/3 water), and start slowly. If the piece is dyed, make sure it’s colorfast (the dye won’t bleed). Do this by spot testing with a damp white cloth.
HAND WASHING
Wool is naturally breathable which allows any moisture it may pick up to dissipate. Lucky for you, this means you can get away with washing it less than other fibres, and less washing prolongs the lifespan of the material and is better for the planet.
Hand washing wool is pretty straightforward, and for the most part, you just let water and soap do its thing. Fill your sink or bathtub with lukewarm water (max 30ºC) and add some wool soap, which is a gentle laundry detergent specially made for washing wool. Mix it in well before adding your blanket to the water. Submerge your blanket into the soapy water, then let it soak for at least 10 minutes. We also highly recommend using this 10 minutes for a nice cup of tea :)
Next, give your wool a gentle swirl and give any areas that need particular attention a gentle rub with your hands. Avoid rubbing the fabric together, like you might do when you hand wash other fabrics. Friction is the key thing to avoid with wool, as that is what causes shrinking and bobbling. Remove the wool and rinse twice with clean water.
ROLL, DON'T WRING!
Wool can hold up to a third of its weight in water. After you rinse your blanket, do not wring it out. You’ll mess with the shape and will likely never quite get it back again. Just roll it up in a towel to absorb the moisture—often this requires several passes and several towels.
AIR DRY!
NEVER stick a wool blanket in a drying machine. Nor do you want to wring out the material and stretch it. Instead, you need to lay the wool flat to dry and gently press out the water. The ideal is a horizontal netted rack on legs—not something many of us have hanging around. But if you have outdoor space, considering setting up a clothesline. Better yet, set up two clotheslines with a few feet between them—draping the blanket over the pair relieves a lot of the weight on the wet textile.
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. Again, DO NOT put wool blankets in the dryer, as it can destroy the softness and shape of the wool blanket.
MACHINE WASHING
Our first suggestion is to hand wash the blanket.... Okay, we hear you, you are thinking “but I don’t have time to hand wash anything, I’m a mom of 4 kids and laundry is never-ending in our house!”
The good news is you can machine wash (some) wool blankets. First check the care tag that comes with the blanket, and make sure machine wash is possible. With great care, a high quality washing machine, wash at max 30ºC on a gentle wool cycle, using only a wool friendly detergent.
DO NOT SPIN! Spinning the blanket can also create shrinkage.
Roll, don’t wring and air dry.
DRY CLEANING (avoid when possible)
“Dry cleaning” process is neither “dry” nor “clean.” It is not a "dry" process as the clothes are soaked in harmful liquid solvent. And it is neither a “clean” process as the whole process directly harms the workers dry cleaning your blanket, puts pressure on the environment and it isn’t good for you either.
Unfortunately, although dry cleaning is very convenient, it can also be very damaging to the environment. The by-products of this chemical process are a lot more harmful than you might realise.
Covering yourself with dry cleaned blankets means your body comes into contact with a host of questionable chemicals. The cleaning agent central to the dry cleaning process is perchloroethylene (commonly referred to as PERC), a known carcinogen.
If it is absolutely necessary to dry clean your blanket, try to find an Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaners that are using Wet Cleaning and Liquid Carbon Dioxide Cleaning. While CO2 is naturally occurring and inexpensive, the dry cleaning machines cost around €40.000 each making them cost prohibitive for many small businesses.
STORING YOUR WOOL BLANKET
The best way to store a wool blanket is to wait until it has dried completely before folding it up. Then place it inside a breathable storage container, such as a cotton bag, and put it somewhere cool and dark. As with drying, you want to choose some place out of direct sunlight to prevent bleaching.
You can always pop some natural moth repellent into the container with your blanket and rest assured.