Wool blanket funk question

I've got a dozen wool blankets from the thrift stores.

2-8$ each so no stress.

Washing machine, tide and a dribble of bleach to kill the smell and other peoples cooties.

hang or lay flat dry,
 
When I got some of those Italian Army wool blankets, you could smell the mothballs from a mile away. I just threw them in my washing machine with the regular detergent, and they came out fine.
 
I've just bought a new woollen undershirt. The label says "Don't use an enzyme detergent."
 
So between my experience with this blanket, and my other wool gear, here is what I've leaned.
1, Gentle cycle: if you don't trust your washer, or if the item is big, hand wash. soaking is better than beating it to death, so take the time and do it right
2, Not too much soap: A little goes a long way, ideally just enough to cut the surface tension of the water if there is no real dirt, and if there is lots, a good brush beforehand will help.
3, Rinse well: less soap helps here.
4, Cool water: My research tells me that heat and agitation cause the shrinkage in wool that is not "de-scaled" so I'd just use it as a general rule for all. Also excessive soap, may add a slip factor which will also cause some shrinkage
5, no Enzymes: Enzymes break down protein, wool is protein, therefore, enzyme detergent is BAD
6, Wool is tough. Look after it and it will last a long time, but don't be scared of it. Dry cleaning is hardly necessary. I learned that from accidentally washing a pair of worsted wool suit pants. won't do it again (spent a fair bit on that suit) but I know now, that I can hand wash the pants, and spot wash the jacket just fine.
7, Air is your friend: airing out wool solves all kinds of problems, just keep the bugs off. Eucalyptus, Ceder, Tea Tree oil, and other stuff like that can keep the bugs away, and you don't even need to apply it directly if you don't want to.
I hope this helps guys,

these are general guidlines, I know some others have posted great info on the care of specific items like hudson bay blankets and the like.
Stay sharp and warm!
 
Thanks Gadgetgeek. I guess I will take the plunge and try to get the two or three wool blankets I have back into usable condition. I think I am going to use the bathtub approach with woolite, cold water, and air dry outdoors. I will brush them hoping to get the dog hair off, but I am not optimistic. It shouldn't take too long in this heat we have had for the last couple of weeks. But at least they may smell good enough to use when the need arises.

I have other wool items (wool pants, coats, and so forth) that I keep in my "emergency kit" which might be used for cold weather hunting.
 
I have removed animal hair buy "patting" wool blankets with packing tape. Replace tape frequently. I rarely clean my blankets and the last quote I got from a drycleaner was $40.00. I wrap my blankets with a few mothballs in the summer months. In the fall I hang them on a clothesline for a couple of days bringing them inside at night. Naptha seems to kill any odor except itself and airing it out enough takes care of the mothball odor. There are some interesting older threads on wool blankets. I have been using Filsons for the past several years and highly recommend them. Although far more expensive than surplus, they are much less than a 4-6 point Whitney or Hudson.
 
I picked up some surplus wool blankets at a thrift store a few months ago. They all had a funk to them aswell, like bad enough my suburban smelled for days after having them in the back.

I hung them in my laundry room with a couple bowls of vinegar sitting close by. The vinegar absorbed the odors. Then i hung them outside for a day in the sunlight.

Good as new now.
 
Got the wool all wrapped up in the swag for storage. should work well I hope. might have to give it a yard nap test one of these nights. if the rain stops.....
 
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