Laundress- St.Mary's Wool Blankets

[michaelman2]

Laundress as I was changing out the beds this weekend I thought of you.  I was replacing the Summer cotton blankets with the wool blankets you reminded us of last year.   I had several St. Mary's and North Star wool blankets from my grandmother.   I had dry cleaned four of the blankets and laundered two. 

 

I was very careful in how I washed the blankets and even with the cold water and shampoo (a detergent I purchased from of all places "The Laundress" in NY), dried them flat.  I still think I had a small amount of shrinkage however,  they are still really nice. The dry cleaned blankets were fine and also look as though they are "new".

 

All of this to say.  I never, ever would have though to use these blankets that I was keeping for nostalgia reasons, on my beds at home.   I used to place a down comforter on the beds for Winter.   These blankets are simply the best for warmth and keeping one very comfortable.

 

The colors are not contemporary bedding colors.  Four are a light blue and two are a canary, goldenrod yellow.   I place them between two flat sheets (pressed sheets of course, lol)  on the beds and they are perfect.

 

I always learn something on this forum!

 

 

 

[launderess]

Yes, got out my Saint Mary's blanket too!

They are wonderful for keeping warm!

Thing about doing wool blankets is to keep the whole process short. A gentle five minute soak, spin, then short rinse and final spin is all that really is required. That is unless the blanket is really gross and even then......

One tries to clean all wool as little as possible. If one is careful to brush and fluff things, then allow them to air a bit it can go a long way.

Enjoy!

 

[mich]

@Laundress.

Since Enzymes are a big no-no, for wool blankets, I'm curious, what detergent do you use for washing yours? Do you use an Oxygen Bleach?

I've been told before to use a non-enzyme laundry detergent, and 1/2 cup of ammonia. One thinks though, that the ammonia's alkalinity could be extremely harsh however.

 

[launderess]

Ammonia long has been recommended for cleaning woolens

Supposedly it leaves them fluffy. Have never tried it but many vintage laundry books recommend the stuff.

I use either Perwoll, vintage Dreft powder (from the 1940's), or a commercial product meant for wet-cleaning wool and silk.

 

[jeffg]

We've tried it and were underwhelmed. The fluffiness is a result of fiber damage: ammonia removes the natural lanolin in wool that give it its body and contribute to its softness. It might be fluffy, but it's also dry and stiff, and lifeless in appearance. The dryness results in fiber breakage, and there's your fluffiness.

The bottom line with wool imo is to stick to products that you use or would use as shampoo. E.g. Johnson's Baby Shampoo. Ironically most detergents in these products are ammonia or sodium-based (e.g. ALS) but they're much gentler forms than pure ammonia and won't cause nearly as much fiber damage. IMO ammonia is to wool what LCB is to cotton: a product of last resort for grease or other oily stains, or for disinfecting.