washing wool blankets

[Coonbait]

I recently bought some real nice wool blankets from the Sportsmans Guide for some projects. My problem is they have a pretty strong smell of moth balls or something similar. Can I wash them in woollite and let them air dry. Or will they shrink up to hankey size? I don't want to ruin them they are real nice and a perfect weight.
 THANKS for any information! GLENN

[metsastaja]

try this
 http://housewares.about.com/od/sewinglaundry/qt/woolblanketcare.htm

[onewhohasfun]

Woolite has its own not so pleasant smell. Just use some no-scent clothes wash and slow gentle cycle. I hope these hold up for you. It would be a shame to put a lot of labor into something that might not withstand machine washing. Good Luck.

[KumaSan]

I've used Woolite in cold water, with decent success. I say that, because some cheaper made stuff will still shrink. Had a Woolrich hunting coat I washed that way, and it shrunk a size. I liked that coat.

[sendero25]

I have a bunch of old, green Army wool blankets.
I washed one in woolite by hand, it didn't shrink much but it shrunk enough to be wrinkled like crazy!
The rest I had dry cleaned.  Just like new.
That is my suggestion, take them to a pro if there are no washing instructions with the blankets.
John

[Coonbait]

Thanks guys I think this will work in the cold water. I think I'll wait till the weather warms up so I can let them outside to dry.
GLENN

[Ceb]

On another forum, I read of guys with the same problem, some said they simply hung them outside and that did the trick.