Merino
Caring for what should last
Three materials, three sets of rules. None of them is hard, and they decide whether a thing stays with you for years.
Air it instead of washing
Merino cleans itself. The fibre is naturally antibacterial and does not hold odours, so in most cases airing the blanket overnight is enough. Do it before first use, too. Washing once every few weeks is a normal rhythm, not neglect.
When washing is necessary
By hand only, in lukewarm water, around 20 degrees. Instead of washing the whole blanket, deal with just the stained spot. Do not wring; press the excess water out through a towel.
Choose gentle products
Wool detergent only, ideally with lanolin. No fabric softener and no bleach. Ordinary washing powder contains enzymes that digest wool, and after a few washes the blanket loses its spring.
Dry flat
After washing, gently reshape the blanket and leave it on a towel, away from radiators and sunlight. No tumble dryer, no hanger.
Pilling is natural
A little fuzz is a feature of wool, not a defect. A fabric shaver removes it in a few minutes and it usually does not come back. It appears less often on ours, because we use long-fibre yarn from which the short hairs are combed out before spinning.