How to Wash a Wool Blanket Step-by-Step

Are you wondering how to wash a wool blanket? Choosing the right method is key to maintaining the quality and ensuring you’re washing it sustainably.

Certain materials such as cotton, cashmere, and wool are known for their ability to hold warmth. As a result, blankets made using those materials are the perfect option for those wishing to snuggle up during the colder times of the year. Wool blankets are also naturally more resistant to soil and oil-based stains, but this doesn’t mean that your wool blanket won’t get stained, or ever need a wash.

Wine and coffee are both examples of things that will leave obvious stains on wool blankets, so it’s important to be extra careful when drinking these beverages near a wool blanket. If you do happen to get your blanket dirty, you’ll need to know how to wash a wool blanket to get your blanket smelling and looking brand new.  Follow our sustainable tips below. 

How to Wash a Wool Blanket

As a general rule, you should wash your blanket seasonally though you can do it more or less frequently if you wish. Washing your blankets less is considered to be more eco-friendly, as it saves on water and energy. 

But how do you wash a wool blanket? Wool blankets should only be washed using a washing machine if they are ‘heavily soiled’. In all other cases, you should always hand-wash your blanket. If you need to wash your wool blanket using this method, then you should ensure that you follow the steps below. 

Here’s how to wash a wool blanket in the washing machine:

1. Check if the blanket is machine washable. 
2. Shake it to rid of any excess dirt or hairs.
3. Use a gentle wool-safe wash detergent and wash on a gentle wool wash cycle using cold water only. 
4. Let it run for two minutes on gentle, before switching to rinse for two minutes.
5. Check to see if the stain has gone. If not, set on another rinse cycle for two minutes. 
6. Remove your wool blanket from the washing machine and leave it to air dry. Make sure it stays out of direct sunlight and don’t put it in the dryer, as this can alter the quality of the wool. 

Using the washing machine for a single item isn’t the most energy-efficient method, which is why hand-washing is the most sustainable method for cleaning your wool blanket. Remember to use cold water when washing it, as warm or hot water can cause shrinkage and alter the quality of the material.

Other Ways to Wash Wool Blankets

If your wool blanket just needs a quick clean, then don’t toss it into the washing machine. Instead, you should wash your wool blanket by hand. You can also wash wool sweaters using eco-friendly methods, and even better – it’s incredibly easy to do! All you need is a tub and some mild, wool-friendly detergent. 

All you need to do is add your wool blanket to some cold water in a tub and wool-friendly detergent and leave it to soak for between 10-15 minutes. If you spot any dirty areas, give them a gentle rub with your hands. However, you should avoid rubbing parts of the blanket together, as the friction can cause bobbling and even shrinking. Once you’ve completed this step, leave it out to air dry. Do not wring or rub the blanket, as this could damage the material. 

For stains, you should try and clean them immediately. To do so, you will use a similar method. Simply soak the area in cold water and blot the affected area with a clean cloth and wool-friendly detergent. Alternatively, you can make your own vinegar solution by mixing a ⅓ cup of distilled white vinegar with ⅔ cup of water.   

If you don’t think your wool blanket is dirty enough to wash, you can always give it a good shake to remove excess dirt and leave it in a well-ventilated spot to freshen it up.

Read more: 

• How to Wash a Wool Sweater the Eco-Friendly Way
• How to Wash Linen: Tips and Tricks for Proper Linen Care
• How to Clean Pillows in the Washing Machine & By Hand

** Links to retailers marked with ** or underlined orange are partially partner links: If you buy here, you actively support Utopia.org, because we will receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.

Tags: Cleaning Green Living Guide How-To's Winter