How to wash a blanket in a washing machine and by hand: rules for cleaning different materials

Peculiarities

Keeping blankets clean is difficult, but necessary. They are large in size and have different types of fillers. The choice of washing method depends on the outer covering fabric, structure, thickness, and fibers for padding. Covers for bedding are made from calico, silk, satin, satin, teak. The following are used as fillers:

feather;
wool;
cotton wool;
bamboo;
synthetics.

Each combination of fabric and padding has its own requirements for water, temperature, detergent, and washing method (dry, hand, machine).

What kind of wool is used

Blankets and rugs made of pure wool give a feeling of warmth, comfort, and have healing properties. Therefore, products made from this material do not go out of fashion. They are produced in 2 types: lightweight models for the off-season and a winter version.

camel

Products made from camel wool are antistatic and do not collect dust. They are light, compact, and retain heat well. They produce 2 versions of blankets:

resembling a blanket (made of fluff);
with fabric covering, filled with wool (quilted, karo-steppe, cassette).

With proper care, the products last for 20-30 years, after washing they retain their original shape, and rarely cause allergies.

Sheep

The most blankets are made from sheep's wool. They have pros and cons that are evaluated when choosing.

pros	Minuses
Provides optimal temperature for sleep	Ticks are starting to appear
Does not accumulate static electricity	May cause allergies
Hygroscopic, this is convenient for those who suffer from excessive sweating	Caking
Breathable	Heavy

Sheep wool blankets last 10-15 years. They cannot be machine washed. This makes care more difficult.

Merino and alpaca

Merino is a breed of sheep. They have long, very fine wool with special characteristics:

light;
does not absorb moisture;
soft;
conducts air well;
has bactericidal properties.

Alpacas are animals from the Camelidae family. Their habitat is the highlands of South America. The fur of these animals is delicate, long, thin, and hollow inside. Blankets are woven from it. They are much warmer than products made from merino wool. Indicated for people with joint diseases, osteochondrosis, and circulatory pathologies. The blankets are hypoallergenic and get dirty a little. The only downside is the high price.

What do the icons on the tag mean?

Each product comes with a label with basic washing instructions. It shows international symbols for washing, ironing and drying conditions. Usually there are 5 or 6 of them:

what type of washing is allowed (prohibited), recommended water temperature;
Is it possible to use detergents containing bleach?
dry cleaning is allowed (with a solvent other than trichlorethylene, gentle, with mild solvents), prohibited;
Spin is allowed (prohibited);
type of drying (unfolded, dry vertically, stretched);
allowed (prohibited) to iron, recommended temperature.

Rules of care

Wool products require gentle care. Once a year, the item should be dry cleaned to prevent mites from infesting it. If the service is not available, then wash by hand or machine.

To make the blanket less dirty, use bed linen. Change the duvet cover weekly.

Dry naturally on the loggia or street once every 2-3 months. Ventilate and shake every week. Remove stains that appear using special means, using a sponge to apply foam to the area of contamination, removing it with a dry cloth. If the bedding is temporarily not needed, it is stored in the closet, packed in an unsealed bag, with a moth repellent in it.

Prevention

The choice of how to restore cleanliness and freshness to a blanket depends on the material from which it is made and the degree of its contamination. To keep it always clean without dust accumulations quite regularly:

Carry out dry cleaning 1-2 times a year and thoroughly ventilate it in the fresh air;
you can periodically treat the blanket with hot steam (if the temperature indicated on the label allows it) using a household steam generator;
It is very useful to take the blanket out into the cold in winter for several hours.

If you follow these simple rules, you won’t often have to resort to more radical washing methods. These procedures will help keep the blanket clean and reduce the risk of allergic diseases.

If the blanket is too large or has a high degree of soiling that cannot be removed at home, the wisest thing to do is to have the blanket dry cleaned.

To increase its service life, you need to select a blanket that is ideal for each season and room temperature. The material from which the blanket is made should be selected taking into account the individual characteristics of its potential owner.

What types can be washed

Most often, items filled with cotton wool require washing. It gets dirty quickly and absorbs foreign odors. Wool requires delicate handling. Bedding made from it loses its shape when used:

hot water;
twisting;
strong friction.

They are washed with special liquid products. Choose gentle programs:

Handwash.
Wool.
Gentle washing of delicate fabrics.

The easiest way to keep bedding clean is with synthetic fillers (holofiber, padding polyester). They are wear-resistant and do not suffer from high temperatures (50-60 °C). Down and bamboo blankets are washed according to certain rules. They are described below.

Periodicity

You need to wash the blanket as it gets dirty. If the stains are minor, then it is enough to limit yourself to local cleaning.

General recommendations for washing frequency:

wool products – once every 6 months;
synthetic and cotton blankets – once a year;
down products – once every 4-6 months.

The duvet cover needs to be treated at least once every 7-10 days. Otherwise, the blanket itself will quickly get dirty. You need to knock dust out of it once a week, every time you change the cover.

How to wash

Using a duvet cover does not provide 100% protection from sweat, dust, and other contaminants. Children's bedding gets dirty the most. Depending on the type of product and the recommendations indicated on the label, choose manual or machine washing.

Preparation

Before starting the procedure, the blanket is removed from the duvet cover. For closed models, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the cover. The holes need to be mended and patches applied to large ones. When washing, the fabric may tear even more. The filler will fall out of the hole.

For quilted products, all seams must be inspected. They have a functional meaning - they fix the packing. The broken stitch needs to be repaired. Quilt by hand or on a sewing machine. If this is not done, the filler will form a lump during washing.

The item is knocked out, shaken out of dust outside or cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Inspect for stains. If there is local contamination, wash it. Use approved types of stain removers. Read the instructions before use.

Handwash

This type of washing is labor-intensive, but gentle. There is no need to worry about the appearance of the product. First, the surface is inspected for stains and heavy contamination. They are treated with special products (stain remover, dishwashing gel, 72% laundry soap).

Fill the bathtub with warm water. Control the temperature. It should not exceed that indicated by the manufacturer on the label. The optimal water temperature for all types of fillers is 30 °C. Add a mild, liquid detergent.

The product is completely immersed in water. Leave for 1-2 hours. Without removing the blanket from the bathroom, pull out the plug and completely drain the dirty liquid. To rinse, draw clean water 2-3 times. Finish when it becomes transparent. The thing is not twisted. Allow the liquid to drain and squeeze out gently.

Automatic in the washing machine

Machine washable if the weight of the product does not exceed the maximum permitted volume of the drum. It is indicated in the instructions for the device. To ensure that the load is distributed evenly, the blanket is rolled into a loose roll.

Be sure to put balls (washing balls, tennis balls). They prevent the formation of lumps. Gels are used for products made from all types of wool:

Spiro;
"Villus";
"Cashmere Stork";
Help.

When should you take your item to the dry cleaner?

You can wash a padding polyester blanket, a blanket with holofiber, silicone or other artificial filler at home without much difficulty or risk. Expensive products, if the instructions have not been preserved, should be handled with extreme caution. In the following cases, you should entrust the washing of blankets to dry cleaning:

if there is a suspicion that washing heavy wet items will damage the machine;
if there are not sufficient conditions for drying;
if you decide to wash your bedspreads in winter;
if you decide to wash a cotton, feather, down blanket made from silkworm.

In other cases, you can act without fear. The procedure will not harm the product.

The article has been verified by the editors

How to clean without washing at home

Dry cleaning is resorted to if there is no icon on the label allowing washing (hand, machine). A piece of cellophane is spread on the floor. Lay a blanket on it. In a small bowl, dilute a detergent containing lanolin and beat it.

We move the blanket to a place where it will dry.

Remember that the blanket is very heavy and wet, so carrying it from place to place with your hands is quite difficult. To save yourself the discomfort, take a large garbage bag or bucket. They must be clean and dry. Carefully move the blanket into it. By this time it should already lighten and become lighter, since all the excess moisture has been removed from it.

Using a bag or bucket will make it easier for you to transport the blanket to the place where you will dry it.

Features of washing padding polyester and holofiber

Sintepon is a white non-woven material consisting of synthetic fibers bonded into a fabric by heat treatment (euro-sintepon) or using needles (needle-punched). The material is inexpensive, light, elastic, and retains heat well. To produce blankets, fiber with a density of 100 g/m² is used.

Holofiber has a uniform porous structure. This is a synthetic material that is resistant to compression and quickly restores its structure. It is lightweight and retains heat well, which is why it is used as a filling for blankets.

Caring for blankets made of padding polyester and holofiber is easy.

Water temperature

Products filled with padding polyester are washed at 40 °C. The optimal temperature for holofiber is 60 °C.

Mode

Large items can be washed on machines with a capacity of 6 kg or more. Set mode:

manual;
delicate;
bulky things;
duvet blanked.

The choice depends on the model of the household device. For spinning, set 300-500 revolutions, turn off drying.

Choice of product

Use only liquid detergents or capsules. They leave no streaks or white spots behind. The detergent should not contain bleach. Even children's hypoallergenic washing powders are suitable for synthetics:

"I was born";
"Eared Nanny";
"Spring tenderness."

Using tennis balls

The balls are placed in the drum in order to increase the washing efficiency. They break up synthetic fibers and prevent them from matting. Use tennis ones (5-6 pieces) or special ones with spikes made of colored PVC.

How to wash

Bedding filled with holofiber and padding polyester is washed once every 3 months. The blanket is removed from the duvet cover, placed loosely in the drum, without compaction. Pour liquid detergent into the compartment. Set the desired mode. After washing, the blanket is dried flat (horizontally). Turn over periodically.

Drying tips

It is recommended to dry all types of blankets horizontally. This will prevent heavy fabrics from stretching when exposed to moisture. Blankets with filling will not bend or crumple where the clothesline passes. You can ensure such drying by laying out the washed item on a large sheet of polyethylene on the ground, as in the quilted example. Be sure to place a long stick in the middle of the blanket to lift the fabric.

If it is not possible to dry the blanket this way, then you can do it in the bathroom. Then you need to hang it on 2 clotheslines located at a distance. This way the load will be distributed evenly and the fibers will not stretch.

If you hang the product outdoors, do not place it in direct sunlight. Hot temperatures may cause the filler to become harder, and there is also a possibility of the cover fabric fading.

Washing a bamboo blanket

Bamboo bedding is very popular. The fiber is natural. It is environmentally friendly. With proper care, it holds its shape for a long time and does not wrinkle. They are washed by hand and in a washing machine.

How to choose a product

Bamboo filling can be washed with liquid detergents.

How often should you wash?

The minimum number of washes per year is 2, the recommended number is 4. Bamboo bedding will be 100% clean if it is washed every quarter.

Which mode and temperature to choose

The label indicates the permissible washing temperature. It should not exceed 40 °C. It is important to choose the right program. It should not last more than 60 minutes. The fiber does not tolerate prolonged contact with water. The rinse mode is started twice. Spin at 800 rpm.

Washing rules

The item should occupy no more than ⅔ of the drum volume. Before storing, you need to check the cover for damage and integrity of the stitching. If present, remove them. Do not stuff the blanket into the drum haphazardly. Roll into a loose roll.

At the end of the program, immediately take it out. Dry flat on a horizontal surface in a well-ventilated area.

Recommendations

Bedding lasts longer, maintaining its functional properties and aesthetic appearance, if its care is properly organized:

After sleep, the bed is ventilated for 20-30 minutes, then made;
beat 2-3 times a week;
Ventilate on the loggia (balcony) 1-2 times a quarter, take it outside once a year in cold weather, and once in hot weather.

What to do if there are problems - if the filling has rolled up, the blanket has become hard, or an odor has appeared

After improper washing and drying, you can encounter many unpleasant consequences. It is necessary to rewash the product only as a last resort, if the methods from the list below did not help.

How to clean a mattress on a bed at home - secrets of advanced housewives

Here are some common problems and how to solve them:

Lumps have formed . If simple kneading and shaking does not help, use a vacuum cleaner. You can also try beating with a carpet beating tool.
Unpleasant smell . To eliminate it, let the product lie outside for some time. Ideal if the weather is windy.
The material has become hard . In this case, you will have to wash it, but this time be sure to use a good fabric softener.

Most duvet fillers can easily be washed in an automatic machine if done correctly and not too often. For surface stains, it is better to use dry cleaning, so the blanket will last longer.

Don't forget that drying is as important a part of the process as washing itself. A poorly dried product will have to be washed again.

How to wash a duvet

It is recommended to wash bedding filled with down at least once a year. These products absorb sweat and moisture from the air. They harbor dust mites. Fungi - in the absence of proper care.

Preparatory activities

Check the integrity of the cover and stitches. The holes are sewn up, the unraveled lines are sewn again. If heavily soiled, soak for 15-20 minutes. Add 2-3 teaspoons of table vinegar to the water.

Choosing the right mode

If there is an icon with a hand in water on the label, then the duvet is washed by hand. If there are icons that allow machine washing, the product is sent to the drum of the machine. Provided that its volume is sufficient for washing.

How does the washing process work?

If you follow the washing rules, a product filled with down does not lose its attractiveness and retains its functionality.

Automated

Select the “Hand Wash” program and set the temperature to 30-40 °C. 3-4 tennis balls are placed in the drum. Pour in liquid detergent. The blanket is evenly distributed over the drum. The Rinse program is started twice. Spinning is carried out at low speed.

Manual

It's easier to do laundry with two people. Wet fluff is very heavy. The bath is filled with warm water. Pour in liquid detergent. Beat the foam with your hands. Place bedding in the container. Leave it in soapy water for 60 minutes. Rub the surface with massaging movements. To remove detergent, the water is changed several times. Squeeze out and dry flat.

Removing stains

Easily remove fresh stains from the cover. You need to add ½ liter of white wine vinegar to a bathtub filled with water and pour in a little liquid detergent. Soak the blanket for 10 minutes, then rinse, replacing the water.

Use other stain removers:

Treat with stain remover. To do this, the fluff is moved away from the area of contamination and the product is applied. After 15 minutes, remove it with a damp cloth.
Traces and smell of urine are removed with a solution of soda and vinegar. The cover is ripped open and the dirty filling is taken out. It is washed in soapy water. The fabric is moistened with a solution of soda and vinegar. After drying, the fluff is placed inside and the product is sewn up.
Apply detergent to the stain and treat with a steam generator.

Wet cleaning of cotton and silk blankets - instructions

Such bedspreads cannot be washed either in a machine or by hand. If the filler gets wet, it will immediately break down, and it will be impossible to return the bedspread to its original appearance.

Therefore, cotton should be cleaned as follows:

If possible, hang the blanket outside. Carefully but gently knock it out and leave it to air for a while. If this is not possible, just give the product a good vacuum cleaner. If you do not clean it in advance, the accumulated dust will turn into dirt when it comes into contact with water.
Grate the laundry soap and dissolve it in water. Then whisk the water until a thick foam forms.
Apply foam using a brush and clean contaminated areas.
Wipe off the foam with a washcloth washed in clean water and wrung dry.

As for silk products , it is enough to wipe them occasionally with a solution of water and ammonia, or water and alcohol . Simply soak a cotton swab in the resulting solution, squeeze it well and thoroughly wipe the contaminated areas. Then wipe the product again with a clean and well-wrung-out sponge.