How to Wash a Welsh Wool Blanket / Carthen Care Instructions

July 1, 2024

Are you the proud owner of a Welsh tapestry blanket and wondering what the washing and care instructions are?

Old or new, these are pretty much the same. Please view our tips below:

Washing

As they are pure wool they hardly need washing, just give them a shake outside and air them on the line every so often to keep them fresh
Spot clean where possible using warm water and a mid detergent when a spill occurs. Don't scrub but soak and blot dry the stain.
When they do need a wash use a cold / delicate / hand wash setting on the washing machine with a delicate wool specific detergent. Do not use fabric softener
Was separately to avoid anything catching the weave

Never tumble dry - the heat will cause shrinkage and felting
Do not wring as this can cause the blanket to become misshapen.
Instead you can use a slow spin on the washing machine with no heat. Wool can hold a lot of water so it will take ages to dry naturally!
When hanging on the line be sure to distribute the weight evenly
Avoid a long exposure to sunlight as this can cause colour fading and material coarseness

Look out for moths - wool is a favourite food of theirs! These can be deterred by hanging them out in the sun to kill any eggs and regular turning
Moths love the dark so if kept in storage do wrap the blanket in something impenetrable like plastic. There are specific moth deterrents you can buy too - cedarwood, sachets or sprays with essential oils they hate.