How to detoxify mohair blanket

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I am looking at buying a mohair blanket that is at a really good price, but it has been dry cleaned already. I am looking for suggestions on how to detoxify it before bringing it into my home and exposing myself to those chemicals. Wash it with mild soap and hang it outside for a while? Would that do it?

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), January 26, 2001

Answers

You are wise in being careful of any material that has been dry cleaned. Some people are very allergic to this type of chemical (and a lot do not know it). Most dry cleaners use a chemical called TETRACHLOROETHYLENE. Its broad acceptance has been based upon its nonflammability and low toxicity (according to the chemical industry). Tetrachloroethylene is denser than water and practically insoluble in it; therefore, washing with water and soap might help some, but probably very little. Best would be to air it out in the sunshine for an extended period to vaporize any remaining chemical residue.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), January 26, 2001.

Julie, I would air it outside as long as possible first as the chemicals are very volatile and that might help dissipate them more. Mohair can felt but not to the extent that wool can. If you plan to wash it by hand, fill your bathtub with moderately warm water and whatever product you plan to use. I wash wool often with dish liquid with good results. Put an old sheet in the bathtub to support the weight of the wet blanket when you move it to help maintain the blanket's shape. Just let the blanket soak 10-15 minutes. Drain the tub and let water drain from the blanket too. Pull the sheet and blanket aside and refill the tub with the same temperature water. Gently manipulate the blanket underwater to rinse. Repeat until water is clear. To remove final soap residue and to balance the alkalinity of the soap, put a cup or so of plain white vinegar in the last rinse. Drain tub, roll blanket in sheet and press as much water out as possible. Since I wash wool and handspun and knitted items often, I have collected old window and patio door screens to spread things on so that they may dry flat then place the screens on an old accordion dryer that was my grandmother's. You probably don't have such equipment so if necessary, use the sheet to support the weight and drape the blanket over a big bush or all the lines of your clothes line outside.

If you can easily fit the blanket in a washing machine, fill the tub with warm water and add soap. Agitate enough to distribute the soap then turn off the machine. Put the blanket into the washer and allow to soak only. After 10-15 minutes, drain washer and allow it to spin only--no rinse water coming into the tub. Refill and allow to soak again manipulating it with your hands. Use vinegar as mentioned earlier. Spin out as much water as possible, remove blanket from washer and dry a flat, pulling back to shape. It's a lot easier to do than describe.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), January 26, 2001.


We are in the Living History hobby, and have collected a LOT of wool blankets. I have washed many a blanket in the washing machine, using Marylin's technique; the only thing I do differently is to add a half a cap of Downey to the rinse water. I like the bit of extra softness, and I like the smell of the Downey. I don't know about YOUR blanket; I like to hang mine out on a warm day with a BIT of a breeze. They smell wonderful and come out soft and clean. If yours is a knit blanket, dry it flat.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), January 26, 2001.

Thank you all for the advice!! I think I may skip this *bargain* and go with one that is in need of cleaning and do it myself! I have a few chemical sensitivities that I don't need to aggrevate to save a couple dollars. Also thanks for the advice on washing the blankets. Turns out I was doing it the right way (vinegar rinse), but I thought it was just for removing the soap to make it softer. Really appreciate the advice on moving it while wet with a sheet! After reading that, I had a "D'oh!!" moment!

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), January 27, 2001.

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