A warm blanket will allow us to warm up while sitting in front of the TV or lying in our bed. It contributes to the creation of a cozy atmosphere, and for this he is loved by many people. But a rug that has become dirty from long-term use can become a real problem. Can the blanket be washed in the washing machine?
It is very difficult to give an unambiguous answer to this question, since all rugs are made from different materials. And each material requires a special approach. For example, delicate fabrics are not at all recommended to be washed in a washing machine - they are best washed by hand, in cold water, using shampoo or soap. We decided to consider all the issues of washing blankets in washing machines in the framework of this article.
Which blanket can be washed in the washing machine
Is your blanket made of synthetic fabric? Then you need to carefully consider the label - all restrictions will be indicated here. In most cases synthetics quite calmly withstand washing in a washing machine. Just set the temperature, select the synthetic mode, set the spin cycle to 800-1000 rpm and wait.
Synthetics in general can be washed well, so you don’t have to worry too much about blankets made from such fabrics.The main parameter will be the washing temperature - for example, it is recommended to wash blankets made of acrylic fabric at a temperature not higher than +40 degrees. At a similar temperature, faux fur is erased, but he really does not like machine spinning - it is better to let it dry on its own or use spinning at a speed of no more than 400 rpm.
How to wash a blanket made of delicate fabrics? This is where we run into the most difficulty. The thing is that fur, wool, cashmere and other delicate fabrics are recommended to be washed by hand so as not to damage the delicate fibers of the material. But if there is no time and desire for hand washing, we can use the hand wash, cashmere wash, fur wash or delicate wash program. If you neglected the rules of washing, then read what to do if the thing sat down after washing.
Such programs are good because they do not have a strong effect on fabrics - the torsion of the drum during delicate washing is very slow. The most advanced automatic washing machines even shake the drum, imitating the simplest hand wash. This is the approach that most delicate fabrics need.
How to wash a fleece blanket in a washing machine? This material has excellent performance, but requires a careful approach. If hand washing is not possible, follow these steps:
- Immerse the fleece blanket in the washing machine;
- Select a delicate wash program;
- Set the spin speed to no more than 400 rpm (you can do without a machine spin);
- Set the spin temperature to +30 degrees;
- Pour the washing powder and pour the conditioner into the cells of the tray.
As soon as the fleece blanket is washed, it must be removed and the remaining moisture removed from it with ironing movements (most important when washing without spinning). After that, we hang the blanket to dry, smoothing out all the folds.
If a blanket made of any material has persistent traces of dirt, pre-soaking will be required. For this, cold or warm water is used (the temperature is selected depending on the type of fabric).In difficult cases, add a little stain remover or bleach to the water. Soaking lasts from one to two hours. After that, we send the blanket to the washing machine.
How to wash a blanket in a machine
Small blankets are loaded into automatic machines in a crumpled form, large blankets - in a rolled form. Preferred The drum capacity of the washing machine must be at least 4.5 kg. This is due to the fact that in a large volume the quality of washing will be higher. If you have narrow washing machine, then you need to understand that it will not be possible to wash a large blanket in it because of its small capacity.
When choosing a washing program, you need to pay attention to the weight of the loaded blankets - you do not need to exceed the rate indicated in the passport for the machine. Also carefully choose the spin speed.If the fabric is very soft to the touch, and the fibers are very thin, try washing it without spinning - let the blanket dry on its own rather than tear or stretch when rotating in the drum at high speed.
Spinning delicate fabrics is the most sensitive issue. The thing is, they don't like that kind of treatment. When washing blankets from delicate fabrics, you should avoid spinning - for this we set the appropriate mode on the machine (available on many modern models). After the machine finishes washing, we get a wet blanket that needs to be sent to dry.
As soon as we remove the blanket from the washing machine, it must be carefully dried by hanging it on a rope or spreading it on a suitable surface. In no case should you squeeze out the blankets by twisting - it is best to remove moisture with your palm, smoothing the fabric like an iron. During the drying process, the fabric must be in a straightened state so that the blanket is even. All this fully applies to delicate fabrics that do not tolerate rough handling.
Can dryer be used?built into the washing machine? In no case - delicate fabrics will not withstand this, and synthetics may melt. In addition, using drying, we will get crumpled blankets, which will be very problematic to smooth out.
As for the use of washing powders, there is one simple rule - blankets, especially if they are made from natural fabrics, are best washed with liquid detergents. Such products have a concentrated formula, penetrate better into the fibers of fabrics and get rid of strong contaminants, they are well washed out with small amounts of water.
Washing and cleaning the blanket by hand
We have already figured out whether it is possible to wash blankets in automatic washing machines or not. They also concluded that delicate fabrics are best washed by hand. But we can remove dirt from wool or cashmere in another way - dry cleaning. For this, it is used soapy water and soft brush. Gently remove dust from the blanket, spread it on a hard surface, moisten the brush in soapy water and gently clean the blanket on both sides. After the blanket is dried and vacuumed. Needlewomen who are engaged in carpet embroidery are advised to read our article on how wash embroidery properly.
How to remove heavy dirt from a blanket at home? If dry cleaning or regular washing does not help, you should take the blanket to the dry cleaners. Similar recommendations can be given for all delicate fabrics, regardless of their degree of soiling.
