by Robin Neorr
Nothing is cozier than snuggling up under a wool blanket on a cold winter night. But when you need to clean and store those blankets duting warmer weather, you may not be sure what to do. Caring for wool blankets isn't hard. Just follow these tips to keep yours looking great, year after year.
Shake it out: Shake your wool blanket out and allow it to hang outside in the sun if possible. This will freshen up your blanket for everyday use.
Brush it: Brush your wool blanket with a garment brush once or twice a week. This will keep wool hairs soft, and it will remove dirt and debris buildup while preventing pilling.
Touch it up: Touch up your wool blanket between brushings with a standard lint roller to remove any pet hairs or other debris.
Remove pills: Remove pills with a fabric shaver. Test the shaver on an inconspicuous corner of the wool blanket. If you are satisfied with the results, shave the blanket where needed.
Get it dry cleaned: Professionally dry clean your wool blanket before storing it for the summer. This removes body oils, dirt, debris, and any moths or larvae that may be lingering in the blanket.
Fold it: Fold the blanket for storage and place sheets of tissue paper between each fold. This will prevent wrinkles. Store the blanket in an airtight bag or storage container with cedar chips to prevent moths from munching holes in the wool.
Soften a coarse wool blanket by soaking it overnight in a mixture of cold water and hair conditioner. A bathtub is a good place for this treatment. Stir about 1 cup of hair conditioner into the water before adding the blanket and allowing it to soak.
Drain the water and fill the tub with clean water to rinse out the wool blanket. If necessary, repeat the procedure once or twice more, until the blanket is soft and snuggly. Allow it to air-dry and use the "fluff" cycle on your dryer to soften it.
