How to wash a sheepskin blanket in a washing machine

With proper duvet care and regular washing of the duvet cover, you may not need to wash the entire wool duvet. However, if it smells damp or is heavily soiled, it definitely needs to be refreshed. However, the question arises: how to wash a sheepskin duvet? Is it possible to do this in a washing machine? Let's find out.

To wash or not to wash?

As the bedding is used, dust settles on it, and the blanket absorbs human sweat, so sooner or later the woolen product will need to be washed. All such blankets look different, because they are made using different technologies. And the blanket's ability to withstand washing will depend on the processing and sewing method used.

The following types of blankets are made from sheep wool:

• Quilted – in these blankets, the wool is placed in a fabric cover and then stitched with a special stitch across the entire surface. This stitching method prevents the wool from clumping. Therefore, manufacturers allow both hand and machine washing;
• Solid woven blankets are blankets made from a single piece of fabric, which is quite strong but not thick. It is recommended to clean solid woven blankets, and in extreme cases, hand wash them;
  
• Shearling blankets are blankets with sheep's wool fibers attached to one or both sides of the fabric, giving them a voluminous and attractive fluff. These blankets cannot be washed, but they can be dry cleaned.

Important! To be sure whether or not your sheepskin blanket can be washed, read the care label. In addition to washing instructions, you'll also find out whether the blanket can be tumble dried, spun, and bleached.

Washing instructions

You can wash a wool blanket either by hand or in a washing machine. If machine washing is possible, check that the blanket fits comfortably in the drum of your washing machine. If it's too tight, avoid washing it this way to avoid overloading the machine. For best washing results, your washing machine should have a minimum load capacity of 6 kg. Even then, it's worth checking whether it can fit a double duvet.

So, to wash this bedding in an automatic washing machine, you need to:

1. load the blanket;
2. pour gel into the tray, which is specially designed for washing woolen items;
3. select the washing program called “Wool”, making sure that the machine does not heat the water more than 30 degrees;
4. turn off the spin cycle;
5. start the wash.

Please note! If the blanket is large, it is essential to turn off the spin cycle, as a wet blanket is too heavy and may overload or imbalance the machine, preventing it from spinning properly.

After the washing machine stops, let the blanket sit in the drum for a few minutes to allow some of the water to drain into the drum. Then remove it, straighten it out, and hang it to dry, turning it over halfway through. It is best to dry the item outside in the shade, so that direct sunlight does not fall on the item.

If machine washing is prohibited, the blanket should be hand washed. This should be done in the bathtub, using plenty of cool water, as wool blankets absorb a lot of water, unlike holofiber blanketsHand washing consists of the following:

• dissolve a special product or regular shampoo in water, whipping the product well into a foam;
• immerse the product in water and leave it for several minutes;
• then turn it over, carefully lift it up and lower it down so that the dirt and dust comes out of the product into the water, but you shouldn’t rub the blanket, otherwise it will lose its shape;
• then the product is rinsed, changing the water several times;
• Drain the bathtub and allow the water to drain from the woolen item. Avoid wringing, crushing, or twisting the item.
• then lay it out horizontally to dry and let it dry; when the blanket stops dripping, it can be hung on a rope.

It's worth noting that this procedure requires physical effort; lifting a wet blanket is no easy task, and hanging it up is even more challenging. You can save yourself the effort by taking it to a dry cleaner. They'll wash and dry it without ruining its appearance.

Cleaning

In some cases, professional dry cleaning can be replaced with home cleaning. Unlike a full wash, home cleaning is easier. To do this, you'll need a gel containing lanolin. Here's how to clean a blanket:

1. In a small amount of water, foam the detergent into a thick foam;
2. apply foam to contaminated areas;
3. after a couple of minutes, remove the foam clouds with a clean cloth or sponge;
4. We dry the blanket in the fresh air.

This procedure will remove both the stench and the stain. Of course, if you accidentally spilled a mug of coffee, you won't be able to remove the stain, but it will certainly freshen up the blanket.

Funds

To wash such a blanket, you can only use special products. They usually contain lanolin, a substance that preserves the structure of wool fibers. Here are some popular remedies:

• Henkel Wool Laska is a wool washing liquid that helps preserve softness and airiness and is easy to rinse out.
• Wool Care by Miele is a wool conditioner from the renowned washing machine manufacturer. It prevents wool fibers from pilling and is effective for washing in cold water.
• Vorsinka is an inexpensive liquid detergent made in Russia, suitable for hand washing and machine washing.
• AlmaWin is a concentrated, plant-based detergent. It's suitable not only for washing wool blankets but also for delicate clothing.
• Domal is a laundry detergent with lanolin.

Let's sum it up

To conclude our instructions for washing a sheepskin blanket, we'll outline a few rules to remember when caring for your favorite blanket.

• It is necessary to use a duvet cover for the blanket, change it regularly and wash it.
• Keep your blanket away from dirt, this way you will have to wash it very rarely, which will prolong its life.
• Wash woolen items only with special liquid detergents and shampoos, preferably with the addition of lanolin.
• There is no need to iron a wool blanket.
• It is not recommended to spin such an item in a washing machine or centrifuge.
• Air the blanket in the fresh air more often.
• Do not dry the blanket on a radiator, heater, or in the scorching sun.
• Do not hang a wet blanket on a line until it has completely drained. Otherwise it will stretch out a lot.
• Wash your wool blanket only in 30°C water.⁰C, it's better to wash it in cold water than in hot. Wool shrinks in hot water.
• When washing such an item in a washing machine, you need to roll it into a tube so that it fits better into the drum.
• Do not overload the machine with the spin function; it is better to turn it off.
• It is best to wash blankets and other woolen items in clear, dry weather so that the items dry faster.

   

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