How to wash a vintage Witney blanket

Steel_2

Does anyone have any suggestions how to wash a 100% wool blanket without ruining it or turning it into felt? I can't afford to have it dry cleaned at the moment.

It was new in it's packaging when I found it, but dates back to the 50s or 60s judging from the label. I think it may too large for a normal washing machine as it's a king size (although I'm not sure modern washing machines will do it much good anyway) and I've read that wool blankets need to be blocked back into shape after washing as they shrink?

How can I clean it, get the water out and get it dry quickly without it getting smelly....?

janb5

How about contacting the manufacturers who may have some advice. Is there any washing label on it at all? ( I think there are still manufacturers of Witney blankets.................

Chris25

I've done mine by handwashing in Woolite, rinse, squeeze dry then roll up tightly with a towel. You need to change the towel every so often. When dry enough, put on line.

I have one of those things that goes across the bath & you put your flannel, soap etc in it - can't think what it's called ! Anyway, after I've squeezed out excess water, i leave rolled-up handwashing on that to drip into bath for a while before re-rolling in a towel.

libbyc3

I wash my Whitneys in the machine on the wool wash and dry on the line - tried drying inside last year and ended up with v smelly blanket - they are so heavy they need the breeze to go through to dry it.
am now desperately waiting for spring so i can wash mine - bought a puppy which sleeps on my bed on teh blanket!!!

Ballymackeonan

A really old-style way - as used by my mother for her Witney blankets, I can remeber her dong this 50+ years ago! - Put it in the bath, water about blood heat , non-bio detergent and tread it. Rinse a couple of times, tread again each time, and leave to drain in the bath until it's ready to go on the line. Don't use fabric conditioner - it's not necessary for a natural fibre which is being line-dried (tho you might have to wait for better weather in case the blanket freezes!)

The main cause of felting is washing in water that's too hot - but if you're treading the blanket you can judge the temperature well!

maltesers_2

janb5 wrote: »

How about contacting the manufacturers who may have some advice. Is there any washing label on it at all? ( I think there are still manufacturers of Witney blankets.................

I don't think it is there any more - my son lives on the estatr where it used to be.

Steel_2

I hadn't thought about rolling it in a big towel to get a lot of the water out Chris25 and I think I'll buy some Woolite to wash it with using Ballymackeonan's treading method. I'd never thought about doing it that way, but it makes better sense than hanging over the bath trying to do it with your hands until your back aches. And I'm definitely going to wait until better weather in the spring just so I can get some sunshine and breeze on it to dry it quickly. I tried to do a huge quilt a couple of months ago and ended up with a smelly horrible mess.

Libbyc3 - my long-haired cat sleeps on our bed and the blanket is smothered in cat hair. And after last night her sick as well, although I've managed to spot clean the worst bits with cold water.

There's nothing worse than rolling over and coming face to face with a sicked up furball :rotfl: