It is tempting to take a throw out for cooler evenings, wash it and put it straight on the sofa. But “100% wool” does not by itself permit washing at home. With a large textile, drying space deserves thought before cleaning begins.
Photograph the label
Find the fibre content, care symbols and model name. Take a readable picture of the label while it is intact. For a second-hand throw, ask for this photograph alongside measurements and a view of the whole surface. A missing label is not permission to select the wool cycle.
Do not replace the item’s instructions with general advice for sweaters. Even two wool products from the same brand can have different requirements.
One maker, different directions
Klippan’s care table allows a wool machine programme for some 100% lambswool throws, but specifies dry cleaning for other wool blankets. Its Arrow model, for example, is 100% lambswool yet marked dry-clean only, with no tumble drying.
The useful lesson is not a temperature to memorise from a general table. Match the exact item and its label. If an old model’s webpage and sewn-in instructions disagree, ask the maker or a professional cleaner rather than choosing the easier option.
Freshening is not always washing
Klippan recommends airing to refresh a wool throw. First decide whether the whole item needs cleaning or has merely been folded away for a while. Airing does not automatically resolve stains and is not a disinfection claim.
If washing is allowed, check the machine’s permitted load as well as the programme and the labelled drying method. Clear suitable drying space beforehand. A radiator or tumble dryer should not become a fallback when the instructions do not allow it.
Before you start
- Identify the label and exact item.
- Confirm its permitted cleaning method.
- Do not apply an improvised stain solution.
- Plan the drying space and method.
- Put the item away only when fully dry.
When selling, describe the edges, fringe and surface honestly. That is more informative than saying “freshly washed” without knowing whether washing was appropriate.