As the weather warms you might find yourself throwing off your thermal blankets during the night, or leaving them folded on a chair in the corner. Packing wool and fleece blankets away into storage as the year turns lets you reclaim your living space.
Check your blankets for damage before storage
A good quality blanket can be costly to replace so it’s often worth repairing them rather than throwing them away. Holes can quickly get bigger, so darn any holes in wool blankets as soon as you notice them. Cheaper fleece blankets that are stained or damaged may not be worth keeping, but can be of use to crafters, vets and animal rescue organisations, so offer them for free in your neighbourhood swap group!
Only store clean blankets
Sharp dust particles can damage stored blankets, and storing unwashed blankets can introduce pests into your storage unit. So wash your blankets according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Here is an example from the British Blanket Company.
For wool blankets, this might involve spot cleaning to treat stains, and then a wool cycle in the washing machine with some detergent formulated for wool.
Once the blanket has been through the machine, roll it up with a bath towel. This will quickly absorb the water so you don’t have to wring the blanket. Wringing a woollen blanket will distort the fibres.
When drying a blanket, avoid direct sun and direct heat, as these can make the blanket less soft.
Store precious woollen blankets with moth repellent
Moth larvae will eat blankets made from natural fibres such as wool, alpaca and cashmere, so it’s worth taking steps to repel pests. It’s so important to check your blankets for signs of infestation before you store them, as in the case of moth damage your self-storage insurance will only provide coverage if the infestation came from outside the stored goods.
Use a large plastic box to store your blankets. Some people say cedar wood repels moths, so you can try adding chips or blocks to your blanket box. Or you can buy various moth repellent products, as recommended in our blogpost on protecting stored possessions from pests.
Inspect your stored blankets during the summer
If you’re storing coverings made from animal fibres, put a few moth traps in your unit and check them from time to time. That way, you’ll spot a moth problem promptly, and can treat it. Moving woollens around and shaking them out every few months during storage will also repel moths.
Are my blankets covered by insurance while they are stored?
A reputable storage company will require you to insure all your stored goods as part of your contract with them. Wool and fleece blankets will be covered by a policy from Store and Insure, and it takes minutes to get a quote.
Follow our advice to ensure your cold-weather bedding is fresh and ready for hygge next winter.
