How to Wash Woolen Knit Blankets

Clean hand-knit blankets in your washer's gentle cycle.

Washing a knit blanket is important to keep it looking its best. Because untreated wool turns to felt when exposed to hot water and agitation, tossing it into the washer on the regular cycle can shrink it. Hand washing, however, is impractical for adult-sized blankets. Your washing machine's gentle cycle is the key to cleaning your wool blanket successfully. The proper cleanser is also essential, since regular laundry detergent is too harsh for most hand knits. A wool wash with lanolin will leave your blanket clean and soft.

Things You'll Need

• Lanolin wool wash
• Bath towels

Instructions

1. Set your washer for a large load on the delicate or gentle cycle. Turn the water temperature dial to "Cold."

2. Add wool wash under the running water according to the package directions.

3. Submerge the blanket in the water after the washer is full. Close the lid and allow the cycle to run.

4. Remove the blanket from the washer after the spin cycle.

5. Cover a flat surface with thick bath towels. Use enough towels to make a square slightly larger than the blanket. Lay the blanket on top of the towels and allow it to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the washer every five minutes to make sure the blanket isn't shrinking or becoming fuzzy, which are signs of felting. If you see that the blanket is beginning to felt, drain the water from the washing machine, spin as much water out of the blanket as possible and remove it from the machine. Most lanolin-based wool washes do not require rinsing.

Resources

• Knitter's Review: Dirty Work: How to Clean Your Handknits