Cotton blankets are still a popular household item, and all because their filling is completely natural, but it retains heat very well. However, any blanket is also a dust collector, so you need to wash it regularly, but doing it by hand is incredibly difficult. And here the question arises: is it possible to wash a cotton blanket using automatic washing?
Should you put a blanket in the machine?
The answer to this question is not entirely clear. The fact is that the material of the quilted blanket itself allows it to be washed in an automatic washing machine, but there are several limitations. Unlike a flannelette baby blanket, for example, a cotton product is very large and heavy and simply may not fit into the drum of a washing machine. Therefore, it is better to wash small baby blankets in a machine.
Some argue that the blanket is not so large that it cannot fit in the washing machine. However, keep in mind that washing, in principle, will not be of high quality, due to the fact that the blanket will not unfold in the drum. In addition, cotton wool absorbs water, so the blanket will become many times heavier than before loading. Do you remember that overloading the drum is fraught with consequences?
If we are talking about washing a small blanket, follow a number of rules.
The product must be washed on a delicate cycle. It may also be called “Hand Wash”. Some models have a program called “Gentle Mode,” but essentially they all mean the same thing.
The temperature should not exceed 40 degrees.
It is better to refuse automatic spinning and then do it manually.
It is recommended to place special washing balls in the drum so that the filling of the blanket does not form clumps.
Important! If you still insist on automatic spinning, the number of revolutions should be minimal!
How to manually wring out a cotton blanket? While it is still in the machine, give it a good squeeze with your hands so that excess water remains in the drum. After the product is removed from the unit, you can repeat the same procedure, or wrap the blanket in terry towels and roll it up. Then the towels will absorb all the excess moisture. By the way, this method significantly saves energy, since the main work will be done by terry assistants. You don't have to strain your hands to properly squeeze out all the excess moisture from the product. For a woman, especially a young one, this drying method is much more suitable.
What are we going to wash with?
The best choice in this case is liquid detergents in capsules or special containers. The gel dissolves well in water, unlike the same dry powder, which is already difficult to rinse, and even more so from a cotton blanket. And this can lead to allergies.
As for conditioners, their use is not prohibited, but it is better to replace them with a couple of drops of essential oil. Why? Because conditioners come in different consistencies and varying degrees of aggressiveness. But finding a weakly concentrated, non-viscous conditioner right away can be difficult, especially if it is not in the house at all, and the blanket is already loaded into the drum. Therefore, essential oil is an excellent solution, especially since it is found in almost every home. Many people worry whether it will leave greasy stains on the product, but this is a vain worry.This conditioning method has been tested by thousands of housewives over many years of using washing machines.
Will have to resort to washing by hand
But what to do with a large cotton blanket? Can this blanket be washed in a washing machine? As you already understand, you won’t be able to wash it in a machine, so you can only do it with your own hands. Of course, this is a physically difficult task, and it will take a lot of time, but you won’t have to worry about the thing or the washing machine, or both, going bad.
So, if you are ready to start washing, prepare the following items: a large basin, a gel product or shavings from laundry soap, a brush or a medium-hard sponge, and if necessary, you can also take a stain remover.
First of all, you need to shake out the blanket to get rid of any accumulation of dust and debris.
Then lay it out on a horizontal surface on top of the oilcloth.
Make a cleaning solution by diluting detergent or soap dust in a bowl of warm water (no more than 35-40 degrees).
Then take a sponge or brush and work the stain remover into the tough spots. This needs to be done pointwise. Then the entire surface of the blanket must be treated with a soap solution.
Fill a basin with clean water, dip a sponge in it and walk over the entire surface of the product to remove any remaining soap solution.
Important! You won’t be able to do this completely the first time, so repeat the procedure as many times as necessary.
Now you can begin the drying process, and do not forget that twisting the product is strictly not allowed. Either knead with your hands or use terry cloth.
We restore the product after washing
By the way, it is during drying that you can prevent possible deformation of the product. For example, if the inside of the blanket has rolled up into lumps, you can correct the situation while the thing is still wet and has not dried out properly. First of all, you should know that you cannot dry a cotton blanket in a vertical position, as this will lead to deformation of the product from the inside..
It is best, of course, to carry out the procedure outdoors in a shaded place and in the breeze, but this is not always possible. As a last resort, you can dry the blanket near a radiator or heater, but only in a horizontal position.
Now about the lumps. To prevent the filler from drying out improperly, you need to thoroughly break it with a stick while the product is still wet. But it’s better to do this as quickly as possible. The whole point is that it is categorically impossible to leave the blanket wet for a long time, since mold or other fungus can form inside, and this is not pleasant, you must admit.
Cotton blankets are still a popular household item, and all because their filling is completely natural, but it retains heat very well. However, any blanket is also a dust collector, so you need to wash it regularly, but doing it by hand is incredibly difficult. And here the question arises: is it possible to wash a cotton blanket using automatic washing?
I read it and realized that it’s easier to buy a new one :)