Getting ready for winter

ahhh isn't it nice to start to feel the crispness in the air in the mornings and evenings.  The days are less muggy, the sun has a wee bit less sting and you may be starting to think about enjoying the coming cooler months.  So let's get ready for another Brissie winter!!

Doona's, blankets, quilts, throws and snugglie's.  Here are some handy tips for washing, drying and caring for your winter warmers.  We hope these tips help.

Quilts:   Quilts can be completely washable if they are made of a synthetic material or a cotton. You can wash a quilt in the cold water cycle of the washing machine, or if the label says you can wash on warm. If your quilt is made of silk, wool or another delicate material you need to dry clean the quilt to keep it looking good. When you are considering washing a quilt you need to consider what the quilt is stuffed with. If the quilt is stuffed with a wool the wool can shrink in water and pucker up when it is dry. So carefully check the Washing label.

Wool Blankets:  The rule of thumb for all pure wool clothing and blankets is to wash in cold water and use a delicate cycle on the washer.  Heat can and usually does shrink woollens, reducing them in size and ruining their appearance. Cold water and gentle washing will help keep your woollens in good condition. It is best not to dry wool items in dryers.  If you have to use the LOW heat and check it after a few minutes to ensure it is not shrinking or being damaged by the heat.  The old tip for drying wool is to lay it out on a flat surface in the sun. 

Doona's:  Most Doona's can be washed in warm water and they fit in to our BIG Triple load frontloaders.  The fillings of Doona's are thick and soak up alot of water, you will need to use less detergent than for normal washes.  Check your doona instructions as to what temperature to set the wash and dryers, as this will depend on what the filling is made from and what material is the cover. Silky material covers should be carefully dryed on LOW heat to ensure no crimping or burning.   It is best if you wash Doona's on their own and not mixed with other clothing or towels.  Feather Doona's can be dryed in our dryers on a low heat, it will help the feather fluff back up.  

Modern Microfiber Blankets and Snugglies:  There are so many beautiful soft microfiber winter blankets available now and they can be washed in a machine.  Check the label first.  Warm or cold wash, less detergent will be required with these materials.  Generally microfibre dries FAST.  So it may not need to go in to the dryer, just be hung out for a short time.  If you do pop it in the dryer, use a Low heat and check after a few minutes.

Knitted throws:   Be very careful with the speciality fluffy, hairy or silky throws - Read the label, it may require gentle hand wash only.  Knitted throws should only be washed in cold water, gently.  Hand made knits may tend to stretch in a wash, wash in frontloaders only to avoid them getting tangled with the agitator of a top loader.  Dry on a LOW heat only for a short time.  Or lay them out on a flat surface in the sun at home. 

Which Machines?  We recommend that you can wash a Double, Queen or King Doona, King/Queen blankets or thick underlays/mattress protectors in the Triple Load Frontloader.  You can fit a Single or 'thin' double/queen in the Double Load Frontloader.

*Best Not try to cram doona's or big bulky blankets, mattress protectors in to the Top Loaders!   They will not fit, be covered by water andwash properly.  Which means you may end up with a doona full of detergent.