washing a mexican blanket

[Kristie]

I bought this fabulous mexican blanket in Tijuana about 5 years ago or so, i haven't used it much except for this winter and well, it's due for some washing...

obviously it didn't come with a tag on what products it's made from (i think wool might be involved) or "how to" effectively wash without screwing it up

Has anyone else washed one before? they're large and thick which probably would mean losing a lot of fuzz/warmth if i do it wrong.

[BAC]

I have a mexican blanket too (my parents got it in the 80s in Mexico and its still around) and I wash it like I would a normal blanket, except on the 'delicate' setting. Maybe ours are different though, is yours more firm or softer? Mine is of the really soft variety.

If you want to be absolutely sure, I would probably dry clean it! I'm paranoid like that.

Let me know how it turns out.

[spotty4]

I imagine your blanket is really colorful? I'd test a small portion of it w/ hot water to see if its color fast. If the color rubs off on a paper towel when you rub the wet portion of the blanket the colors may bleed. If they bleed, try the dry cleaners, or woolite w/ cold water in your kitchen sink and wash it by hand.

[mrs767er]

I don't know if this applies to your blankie, but when I was in college doing the weaving thing, I had 'raw" mexican yarns; veggie dyed, but they stank. I washed them in cold water/ivory snow(yeah--that was a LONG time ago!) and used a white vinegar rinse to rid the soap/dirt residue and keep the colors fast.

[SeatClutcher]

You made me want to share my Mexican Blanket story!

* * *

Tim and Nan sweated in rumpled sheets, a striped Mexican blanket nailed aslant to the wall behind the bed and dim-lit by an antique lamp. Nan had bought the lamp at sunny Sunday morning garage sale, paid under her umbrella and walked it home in the shade—she burned so easily, most times. Tim had said, "It's nice; why don't we use it in the bedroom? It'll look fine with the curtains," and she had thought it a nice idea and had immediately put on her nightstand and turned it just so.

Their hair still wet from the mist-bottle spray, beads on their skin a combination of tap and perspiration, Nan sighed, "Pippo," and he kissed her neck, said, "I know, my lovely." Under the blanket and in low light they were Pippo and woman, poor and passionate and alive in the barrio, though they really had little idea what a barrio was. The mist they sprayed on one another was heat sweat from the outdoor sun too far from the ocean for any of the cooling effects of an ocean breeze, and their wet hair was dark, dark brown, thick and wavy. Shadows widened their lips and darkened their skin and they were Pippo and woman, alive and in love and exploding with life-lust.

[spotty4]

You made me want to share my Mexican Blanket story!

* * *

Tim and Nan sweated in rumpled sheets, a striped Mexican blanket nailed aslant to the wall behind the bed and dim-lit by an antique lamp. Nan had bought the lamp at sunny Sunday morning garage sale, paid under her umbrella and walked it home in the shade—she burned so easily, most times. Tim had said, "It's nice; why don't we use it in the bedroom? It'll look fine with the curtains," and she had thought it a nice idea and had immediately put on her nightstand and turned it just so.

Their hair still wet from the mist-bottle spray, beads on their skin a combination of tap and perspiration, Nan sighed, "Pippo," and he kissed her neck, said, "I know, my lovely." Under the blanket and in low light they were Pippo and woman, poor and passionate and alive in the barrio, though they really had little idea what a barrio was. The mist they sprayed on one another was heat sweat from the outdoor sun too far from the ocean for any of the cooling effects of an ocean breeze, and their wet hair was dark, dark brown, thick and wavy. Shadows widened their lips and darkened their skin and they were Pippo and woman, alive and in love and exploding with life-lust.

Damn! I need to get me a Mexican blanket!

[BAC]

You made me want to share my Mexican Blanket story!

* * *

Tim and Nan sweated in rumpled sheets, a striped Mexican blanket nailed aslant to the wall behind the bed and dim-lit by an antique lamp. Nan had bought the lamp at sunny Sunday morning garage sale, paid under her umbrella and walked it home in the shade—she burned so easily, most times. Tim had said, "It's nice; why don't we use it in the bedroom? It'll look fine with the curtains," and she had thought it a nice idea and had immediately put on her nightstand and turned it just so.

Their hair still wet from the mist-bottle spray, beads on their skin a combination of tap and perspiration, Nan sighed, "Pippo," and he kissed her neck, said, "I know, my lovely." Under the blanket and in low light they were Pippo and woman, poor and passionate and alive in the barrio, though they really had little idea what a barrio was. The mist they sprayed on one another was heat sweat from the outdoor sun too far from the ocean for any of the cooling effects of an ocean breeze, and their wet hair was dark, dark brown, thick and wavy. Shadows widened their lips and darkened their skin and they were Pippo and woman, alive and in love and exploding with life-lust.

Que bonita! Me gusta.

[Kristie]

i guess i could say that it's a firm but soft blanket. it's very thick...so i'll try the color test first, see how that goes.

one things for sure. it's a big blanket, no way it would fit in the sink. HAHA

[spotty4]

one things for sure. it's a big blanket, no way it would fit in the sink. HAHA

You would have to "snake" it through the sink. It will make a mess, but start at one end of the blanket and wash it in the sink and slowly work your way to the other end of the blanket. If you have a long area of counter space to the side of your kitchen sink just spread it out there as you go along. Shrug.

[Kristie]

so i finally got a chance to wash the blanket and i think it turned out just fine!

I have an LG front load washer and kenmore front load dryer...i put it in the LG with soap, color safe bleach and downy and put it on delicate which washed it for 24 minutes. it was at least 75% dry when i took it out and no color bleed which i was thankful for.

put it in the dryer, again on delicate which i think it spun for about 10 minutes before it stopped and it was still a bit wet...so i let it go for another 10 or so and now it's dry, looks great...

it did lose a bit of "fur" but other than that, i think it worked out really well!

Thanks ladies for the thoughts and assistance...SO glad to have this thing cleaned AND to know how to clean it without impending doooooommmm...