Drying a blanket in a tumble dryer

Almost every family has a large wool blanket, which they take out before winter and put away for good when spring arrives. After each season, it's a good idea to treat the blanket to remove any dirt or odors. However, it's best not to overdo this treatment, as this could damage the expensive item. This is why many families wash their blankets without hesitation, but are afraid to tumble dry them. Let's find out if these fears are justified.

Will the dryer damage the blanket?

Many people believe that drying a blanket, as well as other woolen items, should be done anywhere but in a tumble dryer. While items made from this delicate material do need to be handled with care, this doesn't mean they can't be tumble dried. A tumble dryer can save you time and effort, so it's best to understand how to use it correctly for wool items.

First, check whether your "home helper" has a special wool setting. Next, check the label on the blanket or other item, which should contain all the necessary information not only about washing but also about drying. If the label has a special symbol indicating that the item is machine-dryable, then feel free to use the dryer. If there is no such symbol, it's best to play it safe and lay the blanket out in a well-ventilated area, after smoothing it out lengthwise and widthwise.

You can also check your dryer for Woolmark certification, a reputable company that certifies a variety of wool-related products, including clothing and household appliances. For example, the Candy RapidO dryer is certified, meaning it can be used to dry a blanket.

Follow the advice of experts

Don't worry about your favorite wool items when it's time to wash and dry them. To ensure a smooth wash and dry process, follow these expert tips.

• Never overload the drum; dry the blanket separately from other clothes.
• Do not roll or compact the blanket before drying; instead, straighten it out and try to place it loosely in the drum.
• If your blanket is large, it will likely remain damp after one drying cycle. In this case, it's acceptable to remove it from the bin, straighten it out, and dry it again one or two more times until it's dry enough.
• Do not leave blankets and other items in the dryer after the cycle has completed, to prevent them from acquiring an unpleasant musty smell.

As you can see, there is nothing scary about drying a blanket if you follow simple recommendations.

How to give something a pleasant scent?

Unfortunately, even if you follow all the drying instructions, your item may develop an unpleasant odor after being placed in the dryer. This happens quite often, but it's very easy to fix. It is enough to simply add a few aromatic balls, for example, from the PVHOME brand, to the drum before starting the working cycle.

These wool balls were created specifically to make drying natural sheep's wool items easier. They act as a substitute for fabric softener, reducing drying time, making clothes softer, and wrinkles. They're also suitable for drying baby clothes. They're also very easy to use—just add six wool balls to the drum and start drying.

The service life of the balls is approximately 1000 working cycles or 4 years of active use.

The balls can also be used as a fragrance diffuser. To do this, add a few drops of essential oil and leave them for about a day. Once the balls are soaked in the essential oils, you can use them to dry your blanket. The dryer will not only remove moisture but also infuse it with the pleasant scent of your favorite oil.

   

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