Has your thick pile blanket lost its softness? Find out how to wash and rejuvenate it
Who amongst us doesn't have at least one furry throw or blanket? There are literally thousand of types with all sorts of furry coverings (aka "pile") - some even look just like the fleece of sheep. They are all warm and many are very colorful and, of course, given their use, they need washing regularly.
Over time, however, these throws and blankets can lose their softness and "furriness" - and perhaps this due to the way in which they're washed. Read on to find out more:
How to rejuvenate throws and blankets
Creativo
Usually, after many washes, the pile of these blankets and throws flattens and compacts, and the result is that they start to feel rough.
In these cases, you can try the following:
- You can put the blanket/throw on a short wash, at a low temperature and without a high spin cycle (600 rpms is sufficient). For this wash use a little mild bleach - no detergent or fabric softener. Once washed, let the item air dry and then brush the blanket/throw. To do this, you will need a brush with boar bristles (or with bristles that are not hard), or, even better, a wool-cleaning comb. These combs have very thin metal bristles bent in such a way that they lift the pile and can untangle any clumped-up/flattened pile.
- If you prefer to wash by hand, do this in a large basin, or perhaps in the tub. Again, only mild bleach and cold water should be used, and rinse out thoroughly (but do not wring out the fabric). Again, air dry and brush to finish.
A super-fast method recommended by online content creators
A super-fast cleaning method has been trending online. You still need a pile brush (described above), but there is no need to wash anything. All you need is the following: the brush, some fabric softener, water and a spray bottle. Then, proceed as follows:
- Fill the spray bottle with water;
- Add a level teaspoon of fabric softener and shake well to mix;
- Spray on a small area of the blanket and comb it immediately with the pile brush;
- Continue patiently working in small sectors until you have treated all of the blanket.
This is a remedy that cannot be used twice in a row without first washing the blanket - and this wash should be done on a delicate program, at low temperature (for a cold wash), or by hand.
Useful advice: bleach helps to dissolve away any excess fabric softener or detergent deposits that have got stuck to the fibers of the blanket/throw. These deposits are the main cause for the flattening of the pile. Furthermore, delicate bleach also provides better hygiene standards.
