You can understand how to wash a crochet blanket correctly in three steps. Our guide will ensure that you’ll keep your crochet blanket clean without damaging your hard work. You’ll even learn below how to test your yarn to know the best way to wash your blanket.
Not to be confused with blocking, crochet blankets also need to be washed. Perhaps it needs its colour back or freshly made, and you’re going to give it as a gift. Continue reading below to know if you must hand-wash or machine-wash your blanket.
How To Wash A Crochet Blanket At Home In The UK
1. Read the label and know your yarn type
Before the washing itself, you must identify the proper care instructions for your crochet blanket. Those in the UK who bought the blanket can check the label for the washing instructions, while those in the UK who made the blanket itself should know the yarn type they used. The yarn should have a title with washing instructions, or it may mention the fibre type, so you can see if you should hand-wash or machine-wash the crochet blanket in step two.
2. Decide if you can use a machine or hand-wash
Once you know the material of your crochet blanket, you can decide if it’s best machine-washed or hand-washed. More so, you must use the ideal detergent to ensure that the blanket won’t get damaged or fade. For example, synthetic and cotton yarn is washable with mild detergent only, but you can use cold or warm water without issues.
On the other hand, wool fibres one should wash with the proper wool-safe detergent. You can check if the detergent has lanolin because it’s beneficial for wool long-term. However, you must never wash a wool crochet blanket in warm or hot water because it might shrink.
Machine washing
Machine washing a crochet blanket one should handle with extra care to maintain its integrity. Therefore, please put the blanket in a laundry bag and use the machine’s gentle cycle only. It would be best that you also use a front or top-loading washing machine because it has no agitator in the centre that can limit the movement of the blanket.
Hand washing
If you opted to hand wash the crochet blanket by hand, fill a sink with water enough to submerge the blanket. Mix in some mild detergent and move the blanket back and forth in the suds. Soak it in the water for around 15 minutes before replacing it with clear water to remove the detergent.
Move the blanket in the clear water to remove the suds, drain the water, and replace it. Repeat the process until your crochet blanket is free of soap. Once done, never wring the blanket because it might stretch out the material.
3. Dry the blanket thoroughly
You must avoid the most common issue when drying a crochet blanket because it might get stretched out when wrung or hanged. When you hand-washed the crochet blanket, put it over a couple of towels and make a roll to press out the excess water. Repeat the process before laying the blanket flat in more towels to remove moisture further.
You can use this instance to reshape the blanket and straighten out the edges. Remember to redistribute the yarn that may have gotten out of place during washing. Then, allow the blanket to air dry for a whole day, ensuring that both sides have dried thoroughly.
Can you use a dryer for a crochet blanket?
Much like with washing, please consult the blanket or yarn tag if you can use a dryer. Some synthetic yarns are compatible with the dryer as long as you use the lowest heat setting. However, it’s best to take out the blanket damp and finish drying it naturally.
Remember that some materials are more prone to burning, and one should not overdry or expose it to high heat. Our recommendation is only to use the dryer if you’re sure that it’s compatible. If you find the natural drying method too slow, you can always place a fan near the blanket to hasten the process.
Can Crochet Blankets Be Machine Washed?
In general, crochet blankets can be machine-washed if the yarn it uses allows. For example, crochet blankets made of cotton, polyester, or acrylic yarn are all machine-washable. On the contrary, it’s better to hand-wash your crochet blanket if it uses wool, mohair, or cashmere because these natural materials might get damaged in the washer.
But what if you don’t know your crochet blanket’s fibre? The safest way to wash a blanket with unknown yarn material is to hand-wash it with mild detergent and cold water. However, you can also test the yarn with fire.
How to identify your crochet blanket’s yarn
Cut off a bit of yarn and light it with fire. Synthetic yarns should smell like chemicals and melts into balls of polyester or turns hard if acrylic. Cotton fibres smell like leaves when burned and turn into ashes, while wool smells like burned hair and crumbles more.
Conclusion
Do not be intimidated by keeping your crochet projects cleaned. For example, you have just learned how to wash a crochet blanket safely by knowing the proper care instructions based on the material it uses. Please remember our tips to know the ideal detergent, washing type, water temperature, and drying method to ensure that your crochet blanket won’t get damaged.