Many of us love staying inside the sherpa blanket on the bed or couch, especially on cooler days. The soft, fluffy blanket holds our body temperature well while giving us a full comfy. Also, they are getting popular worldwide even more than ordinary blankets.
Unfortunately, sherpa blankets start matting or pilling soon if you don’t know how to wash sherpa blankets properly.
Washing the blanket is very simple to do. You can wash sherpa blankets by following these ways- pretreatment, hand wash, or machine wash. The washing processes finish when you dry the blanket perfectly. Also, you should know the frequency of washing it to maintain its condition.
In this blog post, I will discuss everything you need to know about washing sherpa blankets.
Short Definition of a Sherpa Blanket
A sherpa blanket is named after the Sherpa people of Nepal.
It is crafted with a soft, fluffy material on one side and a smooth, woven fabric on the other. The material can be polyester or acrylic, similar to sheep’s wool. Again, we use it as a bedspread, throw blanket, or lap blanket.
Sherpa blanket is known for its cozy, comfortable feel. It can be a great addition to any home. Then again, you may find it in many residences for its greatness.
Can You Wash a Sherpa Blanket?
Yes, you can wash a sherpa blanket, but not in the traditional ways like we commonly use hot water.
You can take care of this blanket using a washing machine with cool water. But many of us may feel it risky to put it in a washer. If so, you can hand wash the method to clean the stuff. Often, pretreatments can reduce the need to pass the sherpa.
However, it is vital to use a gentle cycle and avoid using bleach or fabric softener. These harmful ingredients can damage the material. In addition, you should always wash your sherpa blanket separately from other items to avoid pilling or shedding.
How Often Should You Wash a Sherpa Blanket?
Ideally, you should wash your Sherpa blanket once every 1-2 months. However, if it is used frequently or is exposed to dirt or pet hair, you may need to wash it more often.
If unsure whether your blanket needs to be washed, check for any dirt or stains. If the mantle is clean, you can wait a few more weeks before rewashing it.
How to Wash a Sherpa Blanket?
You can wash the blanket without ruining it. A simple pretreatment can increase its fluffiness and trap the body heat well. But if you choose the wrong way to clean sherpa, the result will be frustrating.
I suggest you read the instruction manual or the label attached to the blanket. Don’t worry; I am sharing the methods that work for most sherpa blankets. Still, following what’s written on the blanket label is always better.
Now, please continue reading below to learn how to clean a sherpa blanket without damaging it.
Method 1. Pretreatments
It is common to get stains on your favorite blanket. But you can pretreat it to save time. But you should avoid using any stain remover containing bleach or dangerous chemicals. Now, you can use two tricks to pretreat the item: one for non-oily stains and the other for oily.
You can use regular dish soap for a non-oily stain on the blanket surface. You may machine wash the blanket if you see any flat, matted spots where you have used the dish soap.
- Take a clean and dry paper towel to soak excess moisture from the stain by blotting it. Avoid rubbing it; rather, you should gently pat it with the towel.
- Then, pour some drops of dish soap on the affected area and follow the previous step using another clean paper towel.
- Allow the dish soap to sit on the fibers of the blanket fully.
- Take the blanket under cool and running water.
- Let the item dry in the air.
If the stain is oily, I suggest you use baby powder or cornstarch to clean the oily part.
- Take a fresh and dry paper towel, and blot the stain if the area is wet.
- Sprinkle cornstarch or baby powder on the stain and gently rub the spot with your fingers.
- Leave the blanket for a night to let the baby powder sit on it.
- Clean excess powder with a vacuum cleaner or shake the blanket over the bathroom area.
The same thing, machine wash the blanket if you still have oily stains on the sherpa blanket.
Method 2. Machine Wash
If you are washing your blanket in the washing machine, be sure to use the gentle cycle and cold water. Now follow the processes:
- Adjust the device’s setting to a delicate, gentle, or “permanent press”.
- Also, select the cold water option if your machine has this one.
- Put the sherpa blanket alone in the washer to avoid the loose pills.
- Use gentle and safe liquid detergent in the machine while avoiding fabric softener or other additives.
- Turn on the device and keep the regular cycles of cleaning on.
You should never forget that warm water is not safe for the sherpa wool blanket.
Method 3. Hand Wash
You can use this method if your washing machine is not working. Also, this is the easiest method to wash the blanket made of sherpa wool.
- Consider filling a sink or tub with cold water and adding a small amount of laundry detergent.
- Gently agitate the blanket in the water to work the detergent into the material.
- Let the blanket soak for a couple of minutes.
- After soaking, rinse the blanket thoroughly with cold water to remove any detergent residue.
Avoid squishing the item into a small bucket or basin as it may increase friction on the blanket. And you may know how excessive frictions can degrade the quality of sherpa items.
How to Dry the Washed Sherpa Blanket
After washing, it is imperative to dry your sherpa blanket properly to avoid damaging the material.
Air drying the blanket by hanging it over a clothesline or laying it flat on a drying rack is the best way.
It is good to avoid using a clothes dryer, as the heat can damage the material. If you need to use a dryer, adjust the lowest heat setting and remove the blanket while it is still damp.
Read: Can You Clean An Area Rug With A Carpet Cleaner?
Conclusion
Washing your blanket is not any tiresome job. But it is essential to follow the proper steps to avoid damaging the material.
Be sure to pretreat any stains, use the gentle cycle and cold water, and air dry the blanket to keep it looking and feeling like new.
I hope now you know well how to wash sherpa blanket. Thanks for reading.
This is Autem Decker. Main Author of ‘TheHomeDigs‘. You may not find her on the list of top 10 contemporary Canadian interior designers, but everyone who knows her says she was born to be an interior designer.
She makes her plan in her head and draws them in her years-old diary with a note in the corner. The way she plays with color and shape amazes us.
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