How to Store Wool Blankets

With proper care, wool blankets can be enjoyed for many years.

After the chill of winter has passed, you might wonder how to properly store your wool blankets to ensure you can enjoy them during the next cool-weather season. Because moths are attracted to food stains and body oils, the process of preparing a wool blanket for storage begins with a thorough yet gentle cleaning. The use of mothballs continues to be recommended for the further prevention of moth damage to wool items. Taking the time to properly store your wool blankets will allow you to continue to enjoy these items for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric brush
• Mild laundry detergent
• Full-size container with tight-fitting lid
• Mothballs
• Small cloth bag
• Tape

Instructions

Laundering

1. Lay your wool blanket across a clean table. Brush the blanket with a fabric brush, following the grain of the wool. This will remove any loose dirt or debris.

2. Clean your wool blanket by either laundering it yourself at home or taking it to a competent dry cleaner. If you opt to clean it yourself, begin by filling a sink or bathtub with lukewarm water. Add only a small amount of mild detergent, about enough for half a load of laundry. Mix the soap into the lukewarm water.

3. Soak the wool blanket in the soapy water for about five minutes. Gently squeeze the fabric to help the soap penetrate into the fibers.

4. Drain the soapy water from your sink or tub. Rinse the wool blanket thoroughly with cool water until no more soap bubbles can be seen.

5. Gently squeeze the wool blanket to help remove excess water. Remove the blanket from the sink or tub, and lay it over a clean, flat surface to dry. Reshape the blanket, if necessary, and allow it to dry completely.

Storing

1. Add mothballs to a small cloth bag. Hang the bag from the inside of the full-size container's lid by attaching the bag securely with tape. Make sure that the bag of mothballs is hanging in such a way that it will not touch the blanket.

2. Fold the wool blanket and place it into the plastic container. Close the lid over the container.

3. Store the container in a dry area of your home. When you are ready to remove your blanket from storage, you will need to air it out to remove the mothball scent. Air out your blanket until the scent is gone by laying it on the same flat surface you used for drying.

Tips & Warnings

• Cloth bags that are loosely woven work best for holding the mothballs, as the loose weave of the fabric will allow the odor of the mothballs to more easily penetrate the fabric.

• Never use bleach-based detergents on wool items. Bleach can dissolve wool fabrics.

• Never wash your wool items with hot water because hot water can shrink the wool fabric.

• Do not hang your wool blanket to dry. Hanging the blanket could make the wool fibers stretch, causing damage to the fabric.

• Do not put a wool blanket into the dryer. The heat from the dryer could cause the blanket to shrink.

• Do not wring wool fabrics. This could cause the fabrics to stretch out of their natural shape.

References

• Denver Fabrics: Wool Fabric Care Tips