LET’S GET STRATEGIC.
Here are some strategies to prolong the life of your Pendleton wool garments and blankets.
CLEAN BEFORE STORAGE – Safely clean all spills and residues from wool blankets and wool garments before putting them away for the summer.
SUMMER OUTINGS – Taking stored garments or blankets outside every few months for shaking, brushing, and exposure to sunlight will prevent damage!
COLLECTOR STRATEGIES – Store blankets in plastic airtight boxes and bags that seal completely. Air out, shake and refold your treasures every few months.
REPEL – Cedar heartwood and chemical products repel moths, but don’t fully protect against damage. Follow the above steps to keep woolen goods clean, safe, and lasting for generations.
BLANKET CARE – CAN A WOOL BLANKET BE WASHED?
No. Washing will shrink the blanket and ruin it. Pendleton’s traditional wool blankets should only be dry-cleaned.
The exception is the washable Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool® bedding line. These blankets and throws have been woven and treated to be washable: refer to the care instructions on the blanket.
HOW SHOULD WOOL CLOTHING BE CLEANED?
First, refer to the care instructions! if a garment is dry-clean only, then follow that direction and have it dry cleaned. Dry cleaning once a season will keep wool garments fresh.
To freshen a wrinkled wool garment, hang it in a steamy bathroom. Wool is naturally odor-releasing and anti-microbial.
If the garment is labeled as washable, we recommend hand-washing with these steps:
- Treat small stains by rinsing with cold water or seltzer and blotting dry with a clean cloth.
- If the garment is labeled “hand wash,” use specially formulated mild soap and wash by hand.
- Keep agitation to a minimum, as it can cause the scales of wool fibers to knit together in a process called “felting.” This cannot be undone!
- After hand washing, gently roll the garment in a towel. You might want to do this several times, with a fresh towel for each turn.
- For a knitted garment (sweater or scarf or shawl), lay the knitted garment out in the shape you want it to have after it dries. This is called “blocking.” A drying screen is a nice option for allowing both sides of a sweater to dry.
- For a woven garment, lay it on a flat surface to dry.
- Always avoid direct sunlight on a damp wool item, and always avoid direct heat.
AREN’T ALL PENDLETON WOOL SHIRTS WASHABLE?
No, they are not! Many Umatilla Wool shirts are, indeed, washable, but Sir Pendleton shirts are dry clean only. Refer to the care tags for any Pendleton wool shirt to determine the best way to clean it.
Pendleton’s washable wool shirts are made with a fabric that has been treated with a special process to seal the scales of wool fiber. These fabrics are clearly labeled as washable, and once washed, should not be dry cleaned.
If you would rather dry clean a washable wool shirt, it should not be washed after. Dry cleaning removes the washable finish. Always choose one method and stick with it.
REMEMBER WOOL’S ENEMIES
Bleach and Detergent – A little bleach causes wool fiber to stiffen and discolor permanently. A lot of bleach will dissolve wool fiber. The alkalis in soaps and detergents remove wool’s luster, strength and softness.
Moths – The best prevention against moth damage is regular use. When not in use, periodically shake or brush items, and re-fold or hang. Keep closets and storage areas swept, making sure to inspect for dead moths and larva casings. Sunlight is another helpful tool against moths—sun blankets now and then to kill any missed eggs.
High Heat and Shrinkage – Exposure to high, direct heat will damage wool fabric.
ENJOY YOUR WOOL
Caring for wool correctly can give you generations of use and wear. And speaking of generations, Please note: If you have purchased a vintage Pendleton wool garment that does not have care tags, we recommend that you dry clean these items. And send us photos!
Pendleton Woolen Mills 
Love my Pendleton blankets ! Had all dry cleaned this spring . I think I need a better dry cleaner , didn’t look or smell better. Can I put one blanket at a time in dryer on air , no heat for half an hour or so ? I don’t have a good outdoor place to air out or get some sun .
We don’t recommend any dryer time for wool products, to avoid felting. But talk to the dry cleaner about your disappointing results.
Hi there! I just found my Pendleton vintage shirt that says 1960 on the label…
It also has interesting washing instructions on the tag on the bottom right interior…how do i know how old it is?? Love to hear more…
Send us a photo of the labels and we will see what we can do! Send to PendletonWM@penmills.com
Hello! Any tips for how to get food/gastric juice stains out of a dry clean only blanket? We are not near a reputable dry cleaner…
Blot gently with a very cold mixture of white vinegar and cold water; 1/4 cup of white vinegar to 1 quart of water. But blot does not mean soak! This will remove the odor but may not help the staining.
Any suggestions for getting pet hair off of q Pendleton wool blanket? Thank you!
If a sticky lint roller doesn’t do the trick–and depending on the pet, it might not–we suggest using heavier duty tape, like duct or packing, in 1-foot strips. Don’t rub it across the wool–press it on, then peel up. Sometimes it takes the entire roll, but it’s more adhesive than a sticky lint roller.
I use a lint brush I bought online on my blankets , it is the oval shaped brush with a red velvet looking material in center . The red fabric easily removes hair and lint off blankets and keeps them looking great . I have had my blankets for 26 years.
There is a slight musty smell on my thick cardigan. Is there a way to get rid of the musty smell?
Have you given it a good sun-bath? Wool expands in sunshine, and lets go of most odors. Then, store it with sachet or cedar blocks.
I have a beautiful Pendleton Wool shopping bag that was stored in a closet during a recent house fire. No burns but smells like smoke.
Any suggestions?
Have you tried hanging it in your bathroom during a couple of hot showers? Steam tends to open up the fibers, allowing them to release trapped odors. If this doesn’t work, a fire restoration service can put your bag in an ozone chamber. This must be done by a professional, who can let you know their success rates with smoke and wool. .
Thanks for your response, I’ll give it a try!
Sent from my iPhone
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Hi, i been wearing Pendleton since1975when i was about 10-12 years old,im 59 and still wear them, 2023, couple of months ago i had to throw 3 away due to moth damage, which sadden me,these are not cheap, my question is,, I keep my Pendleton’s in the freezer to clean them and keep them from moths, it does help , can i keep the Pendleton in a clear plastic bags that the keep suits in,thanks
Freezing is an effective tool. We freeze garments before we put them in our archives. Are you shaking/brushing the shirts and giving them a good half hour in the sun before you put them away for the season?
Storing wool in plastic is only effective if the garments are well-cleaned before they are put in the bag, and the bag is airtight.
Hi. I received a 30 lb box of vintage wool fabric. I was told it was “pendleton.” It stinks. Bad. It would make a beautiful blanket, which I can do, but it stinks like it’s lived in a musty haunted house 50 years. How can I clean it?
Well, there are a few paths you can take. You might want to price dry cleaning the lot. You can also try the shake/sun/steam method, of shaking a piece well, putting it in the sun for half an hour, and then hanging it in a steamy room overnight. Sun and steam help expand wool fibers, helping them release dirt and odors. We do not recommend washing Pendleton wool unless it is specifically our Eco-Wise washable wool, or our washable Umatilla wool. nd please remember that washing/dry cleaning these two fabrics is an either/or proposition. Dry cleaning removes the washable finish.