Regarding the destroyed blanket, I had something similar happen in a whirlpool VMW top load washer several years ago, although the blanket in question wasn't the foamy fuzzy type you guys are referring to -- I'm not sure I've ever seen one of those. Mine had this braided textured pile on one side and I'm not sure if the ridged fabric pulled way from the rest of the blanket during the wash or what but the pieces were all over the bottom of the washer tub. Took me ages to get it cleaned up and the blanket was just gone. As in this case, one day the blanket was fine and then it just...fell apart all at once. Very strange.
Ryne