How to Clean a Pendleton Wool Blanket by Care Label

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Identify the blanket before choosing a method

Spread the blanket out and read both its fiber label and care instructions. Pendleton's traditional-wool guidance says those blankets require dry cleaning; washable Eco-Wise products are the exception. Do not infer washability from a wool percentage or from someone else's blanket. If the label is missing, use the pattern name, size and purchase record to ask Pendleton about that item. Until confirmed, avoid turning an unknown blanket into a washing experiment.

Step 2: Decide whether it needs a full clean

Look for spills, body-oil marks, pet soil or an odor that persists after airing. For an otherwise clean blanket, gentle brushing and airing may be enough. Work across the surface with a clean clothes brush and avoid dragging it through decorative fringe. Support the blanket rather than beating it against a railing. This preliminary check also helps you identify pulled yarns or moth damage before they are mistaken for something caused by cleaning. A photograph of existing damage is useful when arranging professional care.

Step 3: Blot spills without creating a larger wet patch

Remove solid material without pushing it deeper into the weave. Press a clean white towel against a fresh liquid spill and change to a dry section as it absorbs moisture. Do not flood the surrounding wool to chase the outline of a stain. On a dry-clean-only blanket, tell the cleaner what spilled and whether any product has already been applied. Avoid household stain-removal mixtures on an unknown dye or binding. A small stain does not change the whole blanket's care classification.

Step 4: Keep traditional blankets on the dry-cleaning path

Choose a cleaner who can handle a large wool blanket and show them the label. Explain any fringe, leather trim, weakened seams or unusually valuable details. Pendleton warns that washing traditional blankets can cause lasting shrinkage and stiffening; cold water and a gentle cycle do not make a dry-clean-only item washable. Do not substitute a carpet extractor, steam cleaner or bathtub soak. When the blanket returns, check its shape and condition before folding it away, and follow any airing guidance provided by the cleaner.

Step 5: Wash only a positively identified washable blanket

For washable wool bedding, follow the specific label for detergent, cycle and load size. Pendleton's current product-care page gives cold water and a gentle cycle as the general washable-blanket route. Use enough machine capacity for the blanket to move freely; tightly packing a large blanket can leave areas poorly rinsed. Wash separately from items with zippers or hooks that can catch yarns. If your machine cannot accommodate it, use an appropriately sized machine rather than forcing the load.

Step 6: Match drying to the exact label

Pendleton's general page recommends hanging washable wool blankets to dry, while its Eco-Wise discussion describes dryer-safe Easy Care models. These are not interchangeable permissions: use the label on your blanket. For air drying, distribute the weight across clean supports instead of suspending a heavy wet blanket by one corner. Keep it away from concentrated heat. If tumble drying is explicitly allowed, use the stated setting and inspect the blanket before putting it back on the bed.

Step 7: Store clean, completely dry wool

Check the middle of folded areas, thick bindings and fringe for remaining dampness. Once fully dry, fold the blanket loosely and store it clean in a suitable closed container. Pendleton explains that soil, including invisible body oils, attracts moths during storage. Brushing, cleaning before storage and periodic inspection are more useful than assuming a cedar scent guarantees protection. If moth holes or insects are present, isolate the item from unaffected wool and address the storage area as well. Do not pack an actively damp or infested blanket with clean bedding.