Cleaning & Organizing
fireytiger
member
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Washing a hand-sewn blanket?
Hey all, my FH has a blanket that his grandmother (whom has passed away) made for him years ago. It's a beautiful blanket, sewn together entirely by hand. We use it often, but as I said before he's had it for years, so it's getting pretty dirty and gross. The only thing is, I have no idea how to get it clean. Obviously we're scared to death of putting it in a washing machine, because we're certain it'd rip it up. I don't really have any place to hand wash it and then hang it to dry, and I've never been really good at that anyway. Do you know if a professional cleaner would be able to handle it? I'm just so paranoid that it's going to get ruined, and it's irreplaceable. But she made it for him to use, so it defeats the purpose if we just fold it up and put it away in the back of the closet. Ideas?
Re: Washing a hand-sewn blanket?
Thanks for the advice. I know we can't trust the washing machines at our laundry room, but I might see if FH's parents' washer can clean it. They have a high efficiency washer so there's no agitator in the middle. I'm just really nervous to put it in the washing machine, even on "hand wash", and then have it come out in pieces because the machine tore it apart.
FH would never forgive me if I ruined his grandma's patchwork blanket. I might check some cleaners in the area too and see if there's anything they can do. 
You call it patchwork, so I'm guessing it might actually be a quilt? If there are any worn or torn spots I probably would not wash it in the machine. If it still seems to be sound, then I would try in your IL's machine. Also, if this is a big blanket - like queen size, then I would not put it in the machine because it will be too full and rub against itself. If it's a lap blanket or twin sized blanket I might try it in the machine.
Here's some info on how to hand wash a quilt.
http://laundry.about.com/od/laundrybasics/a/careantiquilts.htm