washing

Since Merino wool is antibacterial and odor resistant, your blanket can therefore be washed much less often than other blankets that are made of synthetic materials. However, when washing your blanket is necessary, simply follow these detailed, step-by-step instructions:

For our hand-washable only handwovens:

New to hand-washing? Or just need a refresher on hand-washing your Merino wool handwoven? It’s simple and fun! So, here you go!

-Using only a gentle wool detergent (we use and highly recommend Unicorn Clean washes!), fill a smooth basin or bowl that will not potentially snag your woven, with fresh tepid water (under 86°F, 30°C).

-Gently submerge your handwoven into the water and soap mixture.

-Handling as little as possible, let your handwoven simply soak for approximately 20 minutes. This allows the wool detergent to work its magic and do the bulk of the cleaning! If stained, we recommend gently pressing some wool detergent directly into the stain(s) before soaking. Try not to rub, pull or stretch your handwoven when washing. Merino wool is mighty strong and resilient when dry, but when it’s wet, the keratin proteins of the wool fibers are open and vulnerable. So, as a basic rule of thumb: when your handwoven is wet, use care when handling it as to not damage the fibers.

-Do not bleach.

-After soaking, drain the water from your wash basin.

-Gently press on your handwoven to release some water.

-Then, gently rinse your woven using fresh tepid water (under 86°F, 30°C), being mindful to stay very close to the same temperature of water you originally filled your basin with, as to prevent shocking the wool.

-After rinsing, gently press on your handwoven again to release some water.

-Transfer your woven to a clean, dry towel.

-Gently roll your handwoven into the towel while gently pressing ever so often to allow the towel to soak some of the water up. This will aid in a faster drying time. Remember, Merino wool is mighty strong and resilient when dry, but when it’s wet, the keratin proteins of the wool fibers are open and vulnerable, so just try to handle your woven as little as possible.

-Air dry your handwoven in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, in a temperature less than 180°F (82°C) to prevent shrinking. Please allow your blanket to dry completely before resuming use.

-Do not machine dry, as this will cause shrinking.

-Do not iron.

If you have any questions with our washing instructions, please feel free to contact me!

For our machine washable handwovens:

-Using only a gentle wool detergent (we use and highly recommend Unicorn Clean washes!), machine wash cool (under 86°F, 30°C), delicate cycle, separately. If your washing machine does not have a ‘delicate cycle’ option or if you just really enjoy the nostalgia of hand-washing (I personally love washing our wool garments by hand), we recommend following our simple hand-washing instructions as written above. Whichever washing method you choose though, just be mindful of the temperature, as washing in a water temperature higher than 86°F, 30°C will cause felting and shrinking.

-Do not bleach.

-Handling as little as possible, air dry your handwoven in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, in a temperature less than 180°F (82°C) to prevent shrinking. Please allow your blanket to dry completely before resuming use. Merino wool is mighty strong and resilient when dry, but when it’s wet, the keratin proteins of the wool fibers are open and vulnerable. So, as a basic rule of thumb: when your handwoven is wet, use care when handling it as to not damage the fibers.

-Do not machine dry, as this will cause shrinking.

-Do not iron.

If you have any questions with our washing instructions, please feel free to contact me!

maintenance

Like all well-loved items, if your blanket is used often, you may eventually notice some pilling of the Merino wool fibers. But, don’t fret! In fact, you should smile, because that’s a special sign that your blanket is being used the way it was intended to! Pilling is just the short fibers of the Merino wool migrating to the surface. We personally love this look and don’t mind if our blankets pill! It’s softer than ever and adds a lovely character to each of them. However, if you prefer otherwise, a gentle fabric shaver may be used to easily remove pills and fuzz from your handwoven, restoring your blanket to a like-new appearance!

In general, your Wool Haven handwoven shouldn’t require much maintenance at all. That’s the beauty of Merino wool! We love that our handwovens will make your life easier, more intentional, and more comfortable, all while giving you less laundry and truly being the perfect blanket for your little!

If you have any questions about washing or maintaining your handwoven to be ensured that you may get the most life out of it, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m here for you!