how to clean a sherpa blanket
There is nothing quite like spending a winter evening curled up under a sherpa blanket with a hot cup of tea, a good book, and a lovely toasty sherpa blanket. However, after a few frigid evenings, that cuddly fleece throw will need to be washed because it has accumulated a lot of dirt. Because each blanket is unique, like a delicate (yet warm) snowflake, it needs to be washed in a certain way in order to ensure that it remains in good condition for the longest amount of time possible. How exactly does one go about cleaning sherpas, then? Stay with us, and we’ll explain you how to properly wash your sherpa blanket so that it maintains its plushness, warmth, and fluffiness for many years to come.
This article is based on an interview with Safir Ali, co-founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, which was conducted with our professional dry cleaner.
How to a Wash Sherpa Blanket
- To begin, you need to make sure that you wash your fluffy blankets separately, without including anything else in the load at all. This is the most important step. If you wash your sherpa blanket with other items, the delicate fibers in the blanket may end up pilling and shredding as a result of the hard rubbing that occurs when they are rubbed up against the other objects in the load of laundry.
- Always wash items of the same hue together as a general rule of thumb. You incur the danger of the color dye from another item bleeding onto your Sherpa, which is an unfortunate occurrence. There is such a thing as color bleeding, and once the harm has been done, it is extremely difficult to fix. I’ve been there!
- Always use the lowest possible temperature setting when operating your washing machine. Always use the mild cycle, and if your washing machine offers the choice, select the cold water cycle while doing your laundry. Hand cleaning with a light touch is also effective; kudos to good old-fashioned hard labor!
- It is in your best interest to refrain from using fabric softener as well as bleach. If you absolutely must, you can use white vinegar in place of fabric softener. It only takes about a half cup of vinegar added to the wash cycle for it to be effective.
- Use only a mild detergent, or better yet, go for a soap that doesn’t include any detergent at all. If you do end up using all-purpose detergent, the best way to remove it from the clothes is to add a half cup of white vinegar to the last rinse cycle of the washing machine.
- Under no circumstances should the wet Sherpa be subjected to intense heat!This also applies to water that is heated to the touch.
- Some individuals choose to dry their sherpa blankets by putting them in the dryer on the tumble-dry setting at a low temperature. However, whenever it is possible, you should fluff your sherpa fleece blanket with air and let it dry in the air.
- Do not overwash your Sherpa, however trite of a statement as that may sound! This may hasten the development of early matting. Dishwashing liquid can be used to remove stubborn stains such as grease from specific areas. If you wash your blanket once a month, it ought to be sufficient.
Keeping these washing and drying guidelines in mind will ensure that your Sherpa has the longest possible shelf life and will safeguard the synthetic fibers that it is made of. In addition, ensure that you give careful consideration to the detergents and other cleaning agents that you apply to your fluffy blankets.
What is a Sherpa Blanket?
A sherpa blanket is a sort of blanket that is manufactured from a synthetic polyester material. This style of blanket imitates the soft and lightweight features of a fleece or wool blanket, which is why it is also known as faux-fleece or faux-sheepskin. However, a fleece or wool blanket is actually created from real sheepskin.
Sherpa blankets are not only attractive but also warm and comforting. The way they look as a throw blanket or decorative blanket is equally as impressive as the way they feel. Sherpa blankets are reversible, with one side having a plush and velvety texture and the other having a dense and warm feel.
Sherpa blankets are designed to be used in a manner that allows the user to choose which side they choose to wrap themselves in.
Sherpa vs Fleece
It’s possible to get fleece blankets mistaken with sherpa blankets. Despite its name, a fleece blanket is not created from the wool or fleece of sheep. Instead, it is created from synthetic materials. A fleece blanket, much like a sherpa blanket, is typically manufactured from a man-made material such as polyester. Because of its softness and warmth, fleece is frequently utilized in the manufacture of garments as well as blankets; in addition, it is far more lightweight than a conventional wool blanket.
The fundamental distinction between a sherpa blanket and a fleece blanket is the former’s greater density and insulating capabilities. Sherpa is typically much thicker than fleece, which is typically much thinner. Sherpa blankets are often thinner than fleece blankets, but they have a surface that is reminiscent of the lofty feel of wool.
Sherpa blankets will also have two distinct surface textures: one side will have a suede-like smoothness, and the other will be more fluffy and “wooly.” There is only one surface texture to a fleece blanket.
Comparing Sherpa to Wool
Sherpa is also referred to as “faux-sheepskin” because to the fact that its qualities are supposed to be similar to those of genuine wool. On the other hand, a wool blanket and a sherpa blanket are not interchangeable in any way.
To begin, sherpa blankets are crafted from an artificial substance, but wool is an animal byproduct that is derived from sheep. Sheep are the source of the wool. A sherpa blanket, on the other hand, is not regarded to be created from actual sheep’s wool and hence qualifies as a vegan product, in contrast to wool, which does.
The suede-like and wooly sides of a sherpa blanket are the two textures that most closely resemble sheepskin. On the other hand, wool blankets are normally made out of a single material, and regardless of which side you turn a wool blanket or comforter over, it will have the same appearance and the same feel.
Is It Possible to Wash Sherpa?
Sherpa material can be washed in lukewarm water either by hand or in a washing machine set to the delicate cycle. Reduce the amount of friction that the fabric is exposed to by either washing it by hand or using the gentle setting on your washing machine. Because of this friction, the surface of the material may develop what are known as pills, which are microscopic thread bobbles.
Matting on the fleece side of the fabric can be avoided by taking additional preventative measures, such as using detergent that does not include any dyes or fragrances.
Sherpa fabric is susceptible to wear and tear when exposed to high heat, strong chemicals, and consistent friction. This material should never, under any circumstances, be dried in a conventional dryer. In these temperatures, it could char, melt, or get irreparably matted. Any of these outcomes would be catastrophic.
If you use a washing machine, you should also use cold water for the wash cycle and the rinse cycle rather than hot water or warm water because it is more effective.
Last but not least, bleach of any kind should not be used on this kind of fleece. In an absolute emergency, you might be able to use a non-chlorine bleach and then immediately rinse it out, but even this might ruin the feel of the fleece.
If you think that this is going to be a lot of bother, just bear in mind that with proper washing and drying, your sherpa blankets can retain their plush texture for many years to come.
How to Get Drying
If you have access to a clothesline, hanging your sherpa fleece blanket outside to dry in the sunshine is the most effective method of drying this type of blanket. Simply use clothespins made of soft plastic instead of the wooden ones, which could get caught on the fleece.
In the event that you do not have access to a clothesline, you can dry your wet blanket by draping it over a clothes rack or even the backs of many folding chairs that have been arranged in a row. In the event that nothing else works, you can try tossing it over the rod holding your shower curtain and allowing it to dry in your bathroom.
You can dry your blanket in the dryer without causing any damage if you are in a hurry or if you don’t have enough room to hang it up to dry. Be sure to use the tumble-dry setting while drying the items. At this setting, there will be no application of heat.
You are now aware that fleece can be severely damaged by exposure to intense heat.