Getting a nice new blanket is something that you will look forward to. You might be buying a new blanket because it looks nice or you could just be looking for something that will provide you with great comfort.
When you get a new blanket home, it’s going to be troublesome if you find that the blanket keeps shedding. It isn’t unusual for a new blanket to have shedding issues, but that doesn’t mean that you want it to keep doing that.
Is there anything that you can do to stop a blanket from shedding? Thankfully, you’re going to have a few good options that should help you solve your problem.
Read on to learn all about how to stop blankets from shedding. Once you’ve read all of the information, you should be able to turn things around so that you can enjoy your blanket to the fullest.
Wash the Blanket
It’s recommended to wash a new blanket before you start using it. Of course, this is only going to apply to blankets that are meant to be washed.
Not all blankets are able to be washed in washing machines, but you’ll be able to look at the tag on your blanket to determine what you can do. If your blanket is machine-washable, then you should be able to throw it in the washer.
Many blankets are going to need to be washed on a gentle setting in your washing machine. This will ensure that the blanket doesn’t get treated too roughly, and a thorough washing should help to alleviate shedding issues.
It’s notable that not all shedding issues will be solved after the first wash in many cases. If you’re finding that your blanket is still shedding after it has been washed, then you might simply need to wash it again.
Generally, people have good luck with getting the shedding to stop after two or three washes. You could just keep washing the blanket until you’re sure that it has stopped shedding.
Washing the blanket along with some vinegar might help you to get better results. It’s said that vinegar is capable of lessening shedding issues, and it’s well worth a shot.
Just be sure not to use fabric softener when you’re washing your blanket. This is likely going to make things worse.
Many blankets will do best when washed on a gentle setting using cold or lukewarm water. You should use a chlorine-free detergent to get the best results as well.
Just know that you must follow the instructions for washing the blanket each time. Usually, blankets will come with care instructions if that information isn’t located on the tag.
When it comes time to dry the blanket, you can either hang it up on a line or you can dry it carefully in your dryer. Some blankets might instruct you not to use a dryer, and you should always follow the instructions that you’re given.
If your new blanket is safe to use in the dryer, then using a low heat setting is likely going to be for the best. It might seem like a lot of hassle to have to do things so meticulously, but you really will get better results when you wash blankets carefully.
Shake Blankets That Can’t Be Washed
There are blankets that just can’t be washed using normal methods, but you can still help these to stop shedding. Take some time to shake out blankets like this thoroughly so that they can get rid of loose material.
You can take your new blanket out on the porch and just shake it out to try to fix the problem. After some thorough shaking, you should have either solved or significantly reduced the shedding problem.
It might take a good bit of shaking to truly get all of the shedding to stop. Even so, this isn’t going to be all that hard to do and it’s certainly worth your time.
After several shakes, you might notice that your blanket won’t shed any longer. This should make it easier to just enjoy the blanket without having to worry.
Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning your blankets that aren’t meant to be washed will help with shedding. It’s advisable to have a dry cleaning business clean your wool or fur blankets on an annual basis.
A good dry cleaning will help to keep blankets from shedding. Many people will send new blankets to the dry cleaners right away to get rid of shedding problems.
If you don’t wish to do this, then you can always utilize the shaking method mentioned above. Having the blanket dry cleaned might make it so that you won’t have to shake it out, but dry cleaning does cost money.
Vacuum the Blanket
Have you ever thought about using your vacuum to suck up excess fibers? You can use your vacuum cleaner to help solve your blanket shedding issues if you’re so inclined.
This should work well for pretty much any type of blanket that is having a shedding problem. The only exception will be antique blankets or blankets that appear to be in very poor condition.
So long as you aren’t worried about the blanket falling apart due to the suction, you’ll be able to move forward. Use a vacuum attachment and suck fibers up by going over the blanket as thoroughly as you can.
If you have an exceptionally powerful vacuum cleaner, then this might not be easy. It might be simpler to use a handheld vacuum for this job, but standard vacuum cleaners with attachments usually do just fine.
Be as meticulous as you can about going over the blanket with the vacuum cleaner. The idea is to try to get all of the loose fibers so that the blanket will stop shedding.
Remove Loose Fibers by Hand
You could try to remove loose fibers from the blanket by hand as well. This will take a lot more time than using a vacuum cleaner, but it is possible to do.
It might be better to do something like this if you’re worried about the blanket falling apart. Just try to get rid of blanket fuzz by hand and wash the blanket in the safest way that you’re able to.
Final Thoughts
Blanket shedding is an annoying problem to have, but you have many things that you can do to prevent it from getting too bad. Many people can solve blanket shedding issues by simply washing the blankets.
As long as you’re following instructions, it should be easy to wash a blanket and get rid of excess materials. If your blanket can’t be washed, then you can send the blanket to a dry cleaning business and take care of things that way.
Other options such as using a vacuum cleaner or removing loose material by hand will be easy as well. Overall, you’re going to be able to solve this blanket shedding issue without it being too big of a deal.
Decide which method you should use based on the type of blanket that you own. Some of these ideas will work better than others depending on what type of blanket you’re working with.
With a little bit of work, you’ll be able to enjoy a blanket that doesn’t shed. Just knowing what to do makes a big difference, and you know so much more about your options now.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.