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If you want to wash it yourself, hand wash it in cold water with mild soap. Don't get crazy with it, just swish it around a little. Let it naturally dry on flat surface. Put something like cotton blanket under it to soak up the moisture.
I used to have wool blanket I'd take camping that I would use over ridgerest to sleep on, it would always keep it's shape doing that.
If you care about it staying the same size, definitely dry clean it. I have a couple that I just throw in the washer and dryer, but didn't care if they shrunk. They're just extra blankets to keep in the car in case of emergency, or to use for picnics, etc. So, they won't fall apart if you wash them, but they'll shrink and become really tight (the weave). I've had no luck washing and laying flat. They never seem to turn out well, and end up with uneven sides, etc.
If you want to wash it yourself, hand wash it in cold water with mild soap. Don't get crazy with it, just swish it around a little. Let it naturally dry on flat surface. Put something like cotton blanket under it to soak up the moisture.
I used to have wool blanket I'd take camping that I would use over ridgerest to sleep on, it would always keep it's shape doing that.
^^^^^This what I do with wool. Cold water and shampoo or Woolite. Works like a charm. I have done it many, MANY times. It's safe. No need for dry cleaning and all the chemicals they would use.
I never use cleaners. Don't want my stuff washed with other people stuff
In the bathtub. Cold water and Woolite. Then drain. Refill with cold water, drain, repeat. Let it drain for a longer time, even lift the blanket slightly with a plastic bucket or something so more waterr drains out. Eventually lift the blanket out, spread it carefully or fold it a couple times neatly, then lay it carefully over something to finish drying.
What type of blanket is it? Some have been pre-shrunk, others not. Some are also extremely valuable, such as original Hudson Bay Point blankets which run over $400 new. Good quality antiques are worth quite a lot more than that. Here is a link to instructions for Hudson Bay blankets which I think would be similar for most pre-shrunk blankets. My family recently inherited one which was a little musty/old smelling. We nervously followed the instructions and it cleaned up well -- no damage or additional shrinking occurred.
I believe it is heat that shrinks wool blankets. Of course, it depends upon the blanket, but I have washed wool blankets in cold water and air dried them.
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