Learning how to clean a Hudson bay wool blanket only takes about three steps.
They are one of the blankets with a rich and memorable history, created by Hudson’s Bay Company(HBC), dating back to the 1700s.
Miraculously, these blankets are still being manufactured to date.
Hudson bay wool blankets are products made of 100% wool that contain the four iconic stripes of green, red, yellow and indigo embedded in a white background.
They come with authenticity seals and a unique point system that indicates the size of the blanket.
Though they originated in British North America, now known as Canada, the Hudson bay blankets are now being shipped worldwide.
Since it’s made with pure wool, Hudson bay blankets are quite thick and warm and are said to last generations.
They have become an item for collectors whose price could reach thousands of dollars depending on the age and rarity of the blanket.
If you are one of the lucky ones who own these priced blankets, we’ll share some tips on how you can keep them clean and still in one piece.
Basic Steps On How To Clean A Hudson Bay Wool Blanket
You might be considering it’s okay to wash your Hudson bay blanket using the same steps you do for all your other garments.
While those garments do get cleaned thoroughly, we recommend taking some extra measures for these blankets, especially if the one you have originated way back.
Here are some steps you can try next time you’re cleaning your blanket.
Step #1. Rinse your wool blanket
The wool used by HBC is preshrunk, meaning they are treated during the manufacturing process.
This is so that its fibers lock in place and reduce any change in shape after the product is made.
This allows you to hand wash your blanket and still get its authentic look and texture afterwards.
Rinse the blanket with a basin of water before using any detergent. This will help with the distribution of soap and removal of dirt later on.
You can leave it to soak for five minutes before taking it out.
Step #2. Hand wash the blanket with mild liquid detergent
Check if the blanket has been wet all over before introducing it to soap.
If so, mix enough liquid detergent on a basin of water, then soak your blanket there for at least fifteen minutes.
HBC recommends using detergents like Zero or Woolite for your wash to help your blanket keep its form.
Gently, hand wash through the entire blanket, making sure that you pass through every inch of the blanket.
When you’re confident that you’ve removed all the dirt on the blanket, you can then squeeze off all the soapy water. Never wring or twist your blanket lest you risk damaging it.
Step #3. Rinse off all the soap, suds and bubbles
Fill a basin, large enough to submerge the blanket, with water.
Rinse the blanket three times to remove all the soap by swirling and squeezing it gently in the basin.
After all the soap has been removed, transfer the blanket to a basket with holes to allow the water to flow out of it.
You can opt to maximize this water transfer by cradling the basket of your blanket up in a pail. You can leave it there for some time to drain most of the water.
Another thing you can try is spin-drying your blanket.
Other than washing your blanket, there are other ways to take care of it.
Since washing your blanket often puts it at risk of getting scratched and damaged, we suggest you opt to brush it occasionally.
This should be enough to remove any foreign things stuck on the fabric. You must also pay attention to how and where you store it.
Is it safe to machine-wash a hudson bay wool blanket?
Most wool blankets allow machine washing by using a gentle cycle.
However, manufacturers of the Hudson bay blanket recommend handwashing.
If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you can send your blanket to a dry cleaner for thorough and safe cleaning.
Whenever you’re storing the blanket, we recommend that you wrap it in a fabric bag; a pillowcase will also protect it from insects.
You can store it hanging or folded but avoid storing it in plastic since build-up humidity will damage it.
For long-time storage, regularly take it out to air it and refold it, so no permanent crease occurs and avoid the development of any disturbing smell.
How to safely dry a hudson bay wool blanket
One tricky part of washing the Hudson bay wool blanket is in the drying.
To do this safely, take a terry cloth towel, then gently press it to the blanket.
You can also place your blanket on top of layered towels, which will absorb the water.
After which, lay the blanket somewhere flat to dry it completely somewhere under the shade. Do not hang your blanket or place it under direct sunlight.
Conclusion
We have shared with you all that we know on how to clean a Hudson Bay wool blanket and some other tips to keep it well.
There may be some tricks that are hard to remember, but practice should get you there.
After all, HBC assures us that a Hudson bay wool blanket will last decades and generations.