What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Large sink or bucket
- White absorbent towels
- Washing machine
- Flat drying area
Materials
- Gentle detergent or wool was
1.Machine Washing Your Knitted Blanket
1.Pick a gentle detergent. When washing a knitted blanket you should use a gentle detergent, especially if the blanket is made of a delicate yarn such as cotton or linen. Some knitters recommend Soak Wash.
3.Machine-wash blankets made of synthetic fibres and pant fibres. Knitted blankets made of synthetic material (such as polyester, acrylic and rayon) or plant fibre yarns (cotton and linen) can be safely machine washed unless they are particularly delicate.
You can also find machine-washable wool yarns, but check the label carefully, as most wools need to be hand-washed.
Be sure to read the label on your blanket or yarn for washing and drying instructions.
It sometimes requires a few washes for the dye in a knitted blanket to set completely. You might like to wash your blanket without any other items for the first few washes just to be safe. You can also soak the blanket in citric acid to help the dye set.
4.Customise your machine wash to your yarn. While many yarns can be machine washed, they shouldn’t all be treated identically. If you’re washing a knitted blanket made of plant fibre yarn such as cotton or linen, it’s best to wash it in cold water and on a gentle cycle. [6] In contrast, synthetic fibres such as acrylic can be washed as normal with your other items.
5.Tumble-dry your knitted blanket. Synthetic yarns, linen and some cotton yarns can be safely tumble dried. However, linens should be tumble dried on a low temperature.If you’re unsure what yarn you’re using, or whether tumble drying will be safe, you can air dry your blanket instead.
Tumbling your knitting in a mechanical dryer can cause your knots and stitches to come undone, so it’s best to lay your knit blankets flat to dry, whenever possible.
2.Hand Washing Your Knitted Blanket
- You should be able to find machine-friendly wool washes in the supermarket, as well as gentle, alcohol-free detergents. Baby shampoo is another good alternative for delicate yarns.
- Soak Wash or Eucalan are also recommended for washing knitted items.
- The label on your blanket or yarn may also provide helpful and specific instructions as to cleaning and drying.
- If you put most yarns in the washing machine, the wool will felt, causing it to shrink.
- Wash your knitted blanket by itself when washing it for the first time, to ensure the dye is set and it doesn’t stain any other items. If the blanket continues to bleed colour, soak it in citric acid.
5.Ventilate woollen blankets. If you have a woollen blanket, you may like to ventilate it instead of washing it, as wool is a really delicate yarn to wash and takes a long time to dry. Simply shake your woollen blanket and hang it in an area with good airflow.
6.Air-dry your knitted blanket. Animal hair yarns and delicate cotton yarns need to be air-dried. Gently remove excess water by squeezing the blanket, then roll it up in a towel to absorb leftover moisture. Remove from the towel and allow to dry.
- If your blanket is cotton lay it flat on a towel to dry. This will ensure it doesn’t stretch out or become saggy.
- If your blanket is woolen, hang it on a clothesline or horizontal clothes rack. You may also like to leave your woollen blanket in direct sunlight for a few minutes, as this helps to counteract any musty odors. However don’t leave it out any longer than this.
- You can also shape the blanket as it dries, to make sure that it dries to your liking.
Source:https://www.wikihow.com/Wash-Knitted-Blankets
