Things You'll Need:
- Detergent for hand-washable fabric
- Washing machine
- Soft bristled toothbrush
- Laundry stain pre-treater
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Step 1
Read the care label on the blanket. If you wash a wool blanket that is not washable, you will shrink it and ruin its feel.
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Step 2
Pre-treat any spots or stains with a laundry stain pre-treater. (You can make this yourself and save money).
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Step 3
Clean a dirty binding with dishwashing liquid and a soft bristle toothbrush. Be very gentle or the binding could tear or even shred--especially on an old blanket. (Remember, though, that the binding can easily be replaced if the blanket is in great shape and the binding isn't. Just cut it off and make the new binding a little bigger to prevent taking every old stitch out).
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Step 4
Make sure the washing machine is big enough to hold and clean the blanket without cramming it in there. If so, fill it with cold water and a very mild liquid detergent used for hand-washable materials.
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Step 5
Put the blanket in and let it soak for 20 minutes. Then, run the washer on gentle. Let it spin for only 60 seconds and stop the washer. Turn it to the rinse cycle and let it complete its cycle.
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Step 6
Hand wash a blanket that won't fit in the machine in the bathtub with 1/4 cup detergent for hand-washable fabric. Rinse by filling the tub and soaking it several times. Squeeze the water out but do not twist it or wring it.
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Step 7
Dry the blanket in the dryer on the setting with no heat. You can also dry it outside on a tall fence or several (2 to 3) lines of a clothesline. After outdoor drying, put the blanket on the no heat setting of the dryer to get it soft and fluffy again.
