Caring For Your Investment In Better Sleep

There’s nothing better than drifting off to sleep in well-made bedding, especially when you have perfected your personal layers of soft sheets and wool blankets. If you’ve recently bought a piece of our premium wool bedding, you’re in luck: proper care is simple. The next time you need to refresh your bed and wash your wool comforter, don’t panic – there are easy and accessible methods you can try.

Wool is sustainable, breathable, moisture-wicking, and oh-so-comfortable, but washing your wool comforter can feel like a daunting endeavor. Learn a few at-home methods for cleaning wool bedding (as well as how trusted professionals do it) with our guidance.

Why You Need to Clean Wool Bedding

Wool is a naturally hypoallergenic material, meaning it’s both self-cleaning and resistant to allergen-causing dust mites. While it doesn’t need to be washed as often as lower-quality bedding options, wool comforters should be cleaned every so often to keep your sleeping surface fresh and increase its lifespan. A quick wash or air drying will help the fibers keep their intended shape, retain fabric quality, and remove any stains.

How Often to Clean Wool Bedding

Wool comforters should be put outside for a nice air out every three months if the bed is slept in on a daily basis. If it’s in an unused guest room or is stored in a linen closet for seasonal use, you can wash or spot clean once per season or whenever you feel it’s in need of a reset.

3 Ways to Clean Your Wool Bedding

The secret to keeping your wool bedding comfortable and safe for years of use is in the washing methods you choose. Cheaper alternatives, such as cotton or jersey sheets, can be thrown in a wash without a second thought—but with high quality comes a little more necessary care. Luckily, there are three trusted ways you can clean wool bedding:

• Air drying
• Hand washing
• Professional cleaning

1. Air Out Your Wool Bedding

If your bedding has been used consistently but isn’t necessarily spoiled, the best way to give your favorite wool comforter a quick refresh is to hang it outside on a sunny, breezy day. The natural UV light from the sun will kill any pesky bacteria, and the air will waft away musky smells. After about three hours on the clothesline or draped over your balcony, you can bring your comforter and mattress pad back inside and enjoy the renewed fluffiness and fresh scents.

Air out your bedding whenever the mood strikes. We especially love airing ours out on the first sunny spring day in Michigan. It instantly feels refreshed, and we know spring will start popping up soon.

Step-by-Step Guide to Air Drying Wool Bedding

Air drying is the fastest way to clean wool bedding and rid it of any unwanted smells—and anyone with access to the outside can do it:

Step 1: Remove all wool comforters, sheets, mattress toppers, and pillowcases from your bed.

Step 2: Give the bedding a good shake to get rid of any debris, dust, or crumbs.

Step 3: Hang your wool comforter in an area with quality airflow and direct sunlight, whether that’s a clothesline strung up in your backyard or your apartment’s balcony.

Step 4: Leave the comforter out for at least three hours.

Step 5: Take them back in and remake your bed!

The Secret to Never Shrinking Your Wool Bedding

We’ve all heard the stories of how wool is nearly impossible to wash correctly—but I’m here today to dispel all wool-washing myths. Yes, wool can shrink (in the business, we call that “felting”—it sounds so much better than shrink, doesn’t it?), but that doesn’t mean you can never wash wool blankets or keep your bedding clean.

Felting or shrinking wool can happen in a couple of ways. The number one way that wool shrinks is because it’s been twisted or agitated. Wool is a natural fiber that has a crimp to it, and in processing, that crimp is somewhat straightened. If it’s agitated or twisted, the wool will go back into its natural state and tighten up—resulting in your beloved item unfortunately felting.

The other thing that wool doesn’t do well with is temperature change. If you wash a wool blanket in hot water, it must be rinsed in hot water. If you clean wool bedding with cold water, you have to rinse it with cold water. Here at the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill, we wash our wool bedding in warm water bath water and rinse it at the exact same temperature. As long as your water temperatures are consistent, then you won’t have any felting issues.

2. Hand Wash Your Wool Comforter

Now that you understand the most common mistakes and how to avoid them, you can properly clean wool bedding from home. If your woolen bedspreads are more heavily soiled or just feel as though they could benefit from a deeper clean than air drying can provide, it’s time to try hand washing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Hand Washing Your Wool Bedding

Don’t let felting fool you—anyone can learn to hand wash wool comforters or mattress pads. Always read the labels to check for any specific manufacturer instructions before starting these simple steps:

Step 1: Fill your bathtub or laundry tub with warm water and a gentle detergent of your choice.

Step 2: Treat spots with color-safe spot removers.

Step 3: Gently place your comforter in the tub to soak.

Step 4: Do not twist, wring, or agitate the material.

Step 5: Drain water while pressing lightly on the comforter. Do not twist or wring the water out as it will cause shrinking.

Step 6: Empty the tub and refill it with warm water (and any fabric softeners, if desired). Be sure to keep washing and rinsing water at the same temperature.

Step 7: Let the wool bedding soak again.

Step 8: Drain the water out while pressing on the comforter, taking care not to twist the material.

Step 9: Air dry on a clothesline or lay the bedding out on a flat, well-ventilated surface, smoothing it out to avoid wrinkles.

Do not machine wash or dry. This includes the hand-wash cycle on washing machines. Agitation and/or mild temperature changes will shrink your wool comforter. If you have other questions about our steps to hand wash, please email abby@wool-bedding.com.

3. Professional Cleaning of Wool Bedding

If hand washing sounds like too much of a hassle, you always have the option to send away your wool bedding set for a professional cleaning. Our experts are trained to clean and refresh your bedding. With over 130 years of knowledge and experience, you can always trust our deep cleans.

Drop your comforter off or ship it to us at:

FRANKENMUTH WOOLEN MILL
570 SOUTH MAIN STREET
FRANKENMUTH, MI 48734

If you ship it, make sure to mark the box “laundry” and include your name, address, email, and phone number, as well as any instructions. We will then bill you—please allow two to four weeks for completion.

Our Professional Wool Bedding Cleaning Pricing:

Cradle, Crib, or Lap: $32.00
Twin: $36.00
Double: $42.00
Queen: $44.00
King: $49.00
Mattress Toppers: $45.00

Frequently Asked Questions

Before you attempt to wash your new wool bedding at home, find our helpful answers to these commonly asked questions:

Is It Okay to Wash Wool Blankets in a Washing Machine?

We do not recommend attempting to wash wool blankets in your washing machine. While the “hand wash cycle” sounds safe enough to some, it would likely result in agitation of your material. To avoid felting your wool bedding, opt for hand washing in your tub and leave wool balls and dryers to your other laundry!

What Detergent is Best for Wool Bedding?

When selecting a detergent for washing wool bedding and spot cleaning stains, you should avoid detergents with words like brightening, bleaching, enzymes, and heavy duty. Instead, shop for options that are designed for wool or are specifically formulated with sensitive and delicate ingredients. 

How to Get Stains Out of Wool Bedding?

If a liquid spills on the material, it could begin to soak in if left untreated for a few minutes. If this is the case, remove the stain with warm water and a mild detergent to gently spot-clean the area. When washing wool bedding, always blot or use a nail brush or toothbrush for a tougher stain. 

Can You Dry Clean Wood Bedding?

No—you should never send off your wool comforter to be dry cleaned. If you want a professional to take the task off your hands, send your bedding to us.

How Do You Wash a Wool Pillow?

Wool stuffed pillows have slightly different washing instructions than wool blankets. For daily care and a quick refresh, you should place your pillow outside on a sunny day to let the UV rays revitalize the wool. Fluff it to your liking before returning it to the head of your bed.

Learning how to wash your wool bedding is an essential skill in keeping and caring for it. The next time you feel that your comforter is in need of a refresh, try your hand at one of the trusted cleaning methods. Everyone deserves to slumber in cozy bedding—especially when you buy from Frankenmuth Woolen Mill.