How To Care For Blankets?

How To Care For Blankets? – A blanket’s qualities are warmth, weight and durability. Absorbency is less of an issue because you do not normally sleep with a blanket next to your skin. Layered as they are between the sheet and the bedspread, blankets need laundering less frequently than sheets.

Blankets are generally made from wool, cotton or a synthetic fibre. Wool blankets, which range from plain old lambswool to merino wool to cashmere, are warm and luxurious. They tend to be heavier than other blankets and suit those who like sleeping under a bit of weight. They are warm in cold weather. They can sometimes be machine-washed, but often have to be dry- cleaned.

When buying, choose a blanket with a fuzzy, napped surface, which not only traps air, increasing the blanket’s efficiency, but also means it is less likely to slide off the sheet in the night. Synthetic blankets are made from polyester or acrylic. They are lightweight and extremely warm — sometimes even warmer than wool, and are generally machine-washable. Their drawbacks are that they are prone to pilling and in a dry atmosphere can develop static, leading to spectacular sparks and crackling when you get into bed. Cotton blankets tend to be thin, often with a waffle or honeycomb construction. They are designed to be used in warm weather, and are fully machine-washable.

Care for blankets

Do not buy a wool blanket expecting to wash it frequently. Many wool blankets cannot be washed at all. Most have to be dry-cleaned. Heavy wool blankets that are to be put away for summer should be cleaned when they are taken off the beds and put into storage. (Obviously, if the blanket becomes dirty, clean it as needed.) If the care label states that the blanket is washable, follow the instructions, but, frankly, unless it is machine-washable, you would not bother. Washing a blanket by hand is an exercise in masochism. Synthetic and cotton blankets can be washed in the machine, according to instructions. They can usually be tumble-dried too, although domestic machines may be too small — in which case, take them to a launderette.

When a blanket is not in use, wash or dry-clean and air. Then store in a polythene bag in a cool place.