
As the temperatures plummet and summer becomes a fond but distant memory, you’ll be holding onto those woolly wonders a little more often now to get your dose of comfort. With more frequent use comes the need to step up things in the wool care department.
While known for their easy maintenance, wool blankets, cushions and other homewares deserve your care and attention. It could mean the difference between them ending up on next year’s recycling pile and being an item you treasure for years to come. Thankfully, it’s pretty simple to keep your natural homewares looking and feeling as fresh as they day you bought them, especially if you follow our top tips below…
Less is more when caring for wool
Wool care isn’t something you need to think about daily to keep those pure wool blankets and homewares beautiful. In fact, when it comes to caring for the wool that makes your house a home, less is indeed more.
We’ll let Better Homes and Gardens explains just how often wool blankets need to be washed as a rule of thumb:
“Wool blankets are made from a natural fibre usually sourced from sheep, and as such, it’s naturally quite repellent to water and dirt… If your wool blanket is a mainstay on the bed then you should consider washing every season, or every three months, and if you pack it away for summer, give it a wash before you pack it away.”
Spot cleaning will be your saviour
Thanks to their natural dirt repellence and odour resistance, mopping up spillages from your pure wool blanket won’t require a full wash. A simple spot clean is often all that’s needed to keep your wool blanket, bedspread or cushion in tip top condition. If your blanket is getting a little musky, hang it outdoors on a dry day, out of direct sunlight, to freshen things up.
Using a soft-bristled clothes brush is another wool care must that’ll smooth rough spots and restore the fluffiness of fibres.
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Wash by hand or machine
While the best results for washing wool blankets will come from handwashing, the convenience of machine washing can certainly be embraced.
Contrary to popular belief, most wool blankets are machine washable, as long as it’s a gentle cycle and you use a wool-specific detergent. You should also avoid overloading your washing machine when washing items like wool blankets. Washing wool items on their own is what we’d recommend, and it’ll reduce the agitation that minimises pilling, prevents shrinkage and keeps them in the very best condition.
Never machine wash a wool blanket that is ‘handwash only’. Read our guide to laundry tags to find out more about the signs and symbols to look out for on the label.
If you’ve opted for handwashing, use a simple recipe of cold water, a mild and wool-safe detergent, and thorough rinsing to maintain softness and texture. Natural alternatives like white vinegar make great wool-friendly detergents too. Treating older wool blankets to the odd deep condition, via the application of regular hair conditioner, can also relax and soften wool fibres once more.
Take your time drying too
Drying wool blankets can be a timely process, especially during the cooler autumn and winter months. Don’t be tempted to speed things along however; allowing your wool blanket to air dry naturally really is the best option.
Start by pressing out, not wringing, your blanket or wool home accessory to remove any excess moisture after washing. Continue the drying process by laying it on a flat surface, preferably with a clean, dry towel underneath. It’s at this stage, when the blanket is damp, that it should be reshaped.