Soften Woollen Blanket

Gemsie

Hi all,

I purchased a vintage Welsh woollen waffle blanket from the Oxfam online shop. It's to go over my bed (I'm definitely cold blooded!). It arrived today, and I'm delighted with the colour, size and style but I'm disappointed with how 'hard' it is. It smells a little...not musty or mouldy, just a 'been shoved in a cupboard' and then sitting in a charity shop smell.

It definitely needs a clean, but I wondered if anyone knows how best to do this: it's very large (about 3x2m) and I don't want it to start felting or shrinking.

Do I just hang it outside? Or do I try to handwash it in the bath?

charlies-aunt

Gemsie wrote: »

Hi all,

I purchased a vintage Welsh woollen waffle blanket from the Oxfam online shop. It's to go over my bed (I'm definitely cold blooded!). It arrived today, and I'm delighted with the colour, size and style but I'm disappointed with how 'hard' it is. It smells a little...not musty or mouldy, just a 'been shoved in a cupboard' and then sitting in a charity shop smell.
QUOTE]

I have several of these that I 'inherited' when family houses were being cleared - tbh I think they all tend to smell slightly 'organic' and feel quite firm & slightly prickly as they are made from 100% natural wool - which still has the natural lanoline in . . . . it which makes them moisture repelling which is they were popular to use as picnic rugs

I only rinse mine in cold water to freshen them now and again as warm water and detergent removes the lanolin and makes them felt.

aggypanthus

Put your question in a search engine.

Some say cold wash, some say dry clean, some say warm 40deg wash.

Remember wool has a natural smell, if you want to know its really clean, I would do a warm wash . Fresh air may be all it needs.

I doubt if they were dry cleaned in the old days lol, maybe beaten against a rock in a cold river,

bluebag

As a child I had the thick grey army blankets on my bed very scratchy and hard.
We always made sure the top few inches of sheet was folded over it to keep it away from the face.

I honestly never remember my mum washing them.They went on the line on a windy day for a good blow occasionally.

-taff

hang it outside to start with, and if that doesn't do the trick, cool-ish wash in dreft or whatever the equivalent now is. Don't agitate it much, and don't tumble dry, dry hanging over the line or something.
It's agitiating when wet that causes it to felt, or tumble drying will cause it to shrink and felt..

cheeswright

with items of ...erm..uncertain origin..that are challenging to wash I would steam iron them on the most steamy setting -
the scalding hot moisture will kill off any bacteria and "organics" - but with a heavy item like that dosnt contain synthetics - without agitation - it will not shrink - then a good airing on the line will dry out the moisture and give you a sterile fresh blanket

as for softness..I'm afraid it will need washing - however I wash wool blankets no problem - (and dont need them to be waterproof at all...infact I would find lanolin impregnated bedding and unpleasant addition to my quite waterproof bedroom) - the only problem is if its going to be too big / heavy for your washing machine..in which case you could use the bath - and use a detergent or soap rather than washing powder or you will be forever rinsing..
good luck

GreenFairy

Hair conditioner. Half fill your bath with cool water (just take the chill off for the sake of your hands!). Add half a big bottle of value hair conditioner and swirl around so it's really well dissolved (dissolve it in a bowl in hot water if you need to). Let the blanket soak for half an hour, then pull the plug. It will take quite a while to dry (try rolling in bath towels then "massaging" with your feet before slinging it over a drying rack or two).

I used to dye and spin yarn for a living. I've had wool like brillo pads turn out fabulously after this treatment - it is hair, after all!