How to wash your woven blanket

Carefully cleaning your woven throw blanket is the best way to extend its life. Because woven throws are perfect for indoors and outdoors, it's vital to carefully wash and dry your boho blanket every so often to keep it clean and looking beautiful for years to come.

Initial Woven Throw Cleaning

When you first purchase your boho woven throw blanket, the cotton threads are newly woven and may shed. If you immediately try to lay the blanket out as a bedspread or drape over a couch or chair, you might notice some yarn start to collect on the furniture itself. This is especially true if you have white bedding or furniture. If you don't wash the woven blanket, you'll notice the shedding yarn and will need to use a lint roller to remove the excess.

How to wash a throw blanket

Put your blanket in the washing machine by itself to stop the yarn from shedding. It's best to use mild detergent and the cold water cycle. This will remove the excess yarn that might be clinging to your bedding and other home furniture. The initial wash should eliminate the issue or at least drastically reduce the shedding.

How to dry a throw blanket

If you have a clothesline or drying rack, simply drape the blanket over it and let the air do its work. However, if you don't have access to an outdoor space, you can also dry your blanket indoors using a ceiling fan.

Throw the blanket over a chair or other piece of furniture and turn on the fan. The circulating air will help to speed up the drying process and prevent mold or mildew from forming.

If possible, remove the blanket from the dryer while it's still slightly damp and then finish air drying it. This will help to prevent wrinkles and keep your blanket looking its best. Using the dryer is also an option, but use the lowest heat setting to avoid damaging the fibers.

Additional tips to make sure your throw blanket doesn't pill or fuzz

Pilling and fuzzing are common problems with throw blankets, but there are a few things you can do to prevent these issues:

Avoid tumble dry

One of the best ways to keep your blanket looking new is to avoid tumble drying it. The dryer's high heat can cause the fibers in the blanket to break down, leading to pilling and fuzzing.

Once the drying cycle is complete, remove the blanket from the dryer promptly. Leaving the blanket in the dryer for too long can cause it to wrinkle and become misshapen. Instead, let your throw blankets hang dry. This gentle method will keep the fibers intact and help your blanket last longer.

Use a lower temperature setting

One of the best ways to prevent your blanket from pilling is to wash it in a lower temperature setting. This will minimize the amount of friction between the fabric and the washing machine, and it will also help to preserve the color and shape of the blanket. So next time you're doing laundry, set the dial to "cold" - your blanket will thank you for it!

Choose the right fabric

Pilling can happen to any fabric, but it's especially common in synthetic materials like polyester. Blankets made from these materials are often advertised as "fuzz-free," but that doesn't mean they're immune to pilling.

If you're looking for a blanket that doesn't pill or fuzz, choose one made that has less of this material and is tight overall. These fabrics are less likely to break down in the wash and will hold up better over time.

Use a fabric shaver

A fabric shaver is a great way to remove pilling and fuzz from your blanket. Simply run the shaver over the affected areas, and the pills will be lifted away. Be sure to use a light touch, as pressing too hard can damage the fabric.

The rotating blade will quickly remove any pills or fuzz, leaving the blanket looking smooth and new. Fabric shavers are inexpensive and can be found at most home goods stores.