Silly Laundry question?

[Stimpy]

OK, I admit it, I am not very good at doing laundry! Our clothes are clean but once we get past the basic laundry skills I'm a failure!

How do you clean a wool blanket without shrinking it? My Great-Grandmother knitted a beautiful blanket for my DD. DD loves this blanket, plus it will mean a lot to her (I hope!) since it was made by her great-great-grandma. Anyway, DD-3 1/2 months, spit up on it twice and I need to clean it. I did "spot" clean it with plain water but it will need a trip through the washing machine eventually.

I don't know what I do wrong, but I always wind up shrinking things! I would hate for this blanket to shrink away to nothing. Please Help! TIA!!

 

[Talking Hands]

Wash it with Woolite in the tub, rinse, roll in towels to get out some of the moisture and then lay it on a flat surface, block it back to the regular size and let dry flat.

 

[Stimpy]

Thanks Talking Hands!

Do I use cold, warm or hot water?

 

[DISshopkeeper]

I have machine-washed afghans on the gentle cycle. Cold water is safest. I usuall hang them on the line because I don't have a large enough flat space.

 

[phillybeth]

Wool shrinks when it goes from one temperature extreme to another, like a hot or warm machine wash followed up with a cold rinse cycle.
I would either dry-clean, or do a soak with Woolite in cold water. Don't wring or twist, just soak the blanket in the water and kind of swish the suds through it. Follow with SEVERAL cold water rinses, then dry flat.
One tip I learned from Martha is to outline the blanket on craft paper before you wash it. Then lay the blanket back on the outline when it is wet, so if it shrunk slightly you have the original dimensions to block it to.

 

[nativetxn]

If it is something you want to cherish a long time, I would send it to the dry cleaners. It would be worth the money to me.

 

[sk!mom]

Hand washing with Woolite in cold water would work, but for something this precious I would dry clean.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Originally posted by nativetxn
If it is something you want to cherish a long time, I would send it to the dry cleaners. It would be worth the money to me.

Stimpy,

Please take Nativetan's advise...send it to the dry cleaners...

 

[Stimpy]

Thanks for all the advice! I think I'll try washing another blanket she got first to see how I do, if I mess that up, it's off to the dry cleaners for the "special" one!