How Can I Wash an Afgan?

Wash them on a gentle cycle and dry them on a low setting. They should be fine. If they don't hold up, then they're not appropriate for use with a baby!

Hi N.,
The safest way is to put it in a pillow case, tie off the end of the pillow case, and then wash the whole thing on cold and delicate. You can also dry the same way on low heat (may take a couple of cycles).
Best,
C.

I had the same question when my Baby Elle was born - all these beautiful hand knit blankets and how do I clean them? I tried hand washing one and it grew about 10 times its normal size and even began to unravel!!! I ended up letting this one dry out and fixing it, but a lot of work. So now I just take these blankets to the Organiclean Drycleaner in my neighborhood. It is a little more expensive, but no harsh chems and my baby still loves these "blankies" which I've been able to keep like new for her - and no hassle for me either!

For sure don't use any heat on them, just in case they are wool. If they have any wool in them, and you use heat, they will become "felted" and will end up about 1/6 the size they started.

I would hand wash them and hang them to dry.

Congrats on your new little one!

The best advice ever given to me... when in doubt, place it in a pillowcase and place on gentle cycle with baby detergent or woolite. Lay flat to dry then fluff it up in dryer with dryer sheet.

Works great with stuffed animals and favorite pillow too!

Good luck,
M.

most yarn is wash & wear, use mild soup rinse well in washer, you can add fabric softner it wont hurt it,

if they are not made from 100% wool and most are not, cold water and delicate in your machine will do just fine. I have a lot of afghans and wash them all the time.

All of our afghans from Grammy get washed on the delicate cycle with cold water. Use low heat to dry. If the yarn looks fancier or of a special kind, double check with the aunties. You may want to ask the Aunties to prepared to make bigger afgans down the road. My mom has had to make new ones over the years to accomodate my kids and neices growing bodies.

I put them in the tub with a little dreft and go the old fashioned hand wash route. I wring them out and let them dry in the tub. If they are really sturdy then I'll put them in the washer on delicate and not for a full cycle.

I have many afghans, whenever a family member made one they'd include in the gift, the washing instructions for the yarn that they used. I do however own some older ones passed down from my Grandma that I didn't have any instructions for. I've machine washed all of them many many times ( I have two that are at least 40 years old and you'd never know it). Normally, I wash them on cold and tumble dry.

If you don't get the info here you need, ask the "aunties", I'm sure they'll know.

Congrats on your new baby!
M.

wash them in the delicate cycle w/some "baby laundry soap", and lay flat to dry (that's what i did, & they kept their shape & were nice/soft/snuggly)

There are a lot of really excellent suggestions that have already been given to you BUT before I tried any of them, I would talk to the person who made the blanket. They should know the most about the care instructions for the yarn that was used to make your son's blanket.

Just use the gentle cycle and a gentle detergent like dreft or ivory snow. I put mine in the dryer, but I did not view them as Heirloom items. They turned out fine. Also, you could ask the aunties what kind of yarn was used to make them. Most yarns have care and cleaning instructions on the labels of the yarn.

Hand wash them in Woolite detergent or Ivory hand wash detergent and lay them flat to dry so they do not stretch out to much.

Definitely talk to whoever made the afghans. My mother makes them and hers are all machine washable and very secure. I have one that I personally use - she made that when I was a teenager and I am now in my thirties!

Hi N.~

I'm one of those "aunties" who make afghans for babies. Most yarns today are completely washable and dryable. This makes it easy to wash them. Simply wash in your washer and dry in your dyer. I recommend cold water, and a gentle detergent, mostly for your baby, not the afghan. The yarns are made to be dried in the dryer, so throw it in with other similar items.

Your "aunties" will be happy to see you using their beautiful creations to keep your sweet little boy. I always do. These are made to be used, not looked at!

Enjoy.

A.
Living and Earning a Healthy Life
http://www.WomensDreamTeam.com/Angel