by Catherine Amo
Chenille yarn is made from short pieces of fiber twisted around a yarn core. The fiber then stands away from the yarn, which gives chenille that soft texture. Chenille is the perfect fabric for luxurious throws. If you have a chenille throw at home, you may be wondering how to clean it. Owners of chenille throws can clean them gently in a washing machine or carefully by hand. Check out the following steps to help you keep your chenille throw clean and soft.
Wash the chenille throw in a washing machine. Chenille has a tendency to shed if it is subjected to a lot of friction. Select the delicate or gentle setting on your washing machine and wash it in cold water with a mild detergent.
Wash the chenille throw by hand. If you feel that the washing machine might be too rough on your blanket, hand-wash it in cold water with a mild detergent. Minimize the amount of friction you use as you wash to avoid dislodging the pile. Rinse the throw with cold water and wring it out gently to drain the excess water.
Dry the throw. You may hang the throw on a line or use a dryer. The heat of the dryer restores the softness of chenille. If you do use a dryer, it might be best to dry the throw alone so that the pile, some of which is bound to escape, does not cover other items. Dry the throw on low heat.
Braid the fringes together before you wash the throw in the washing machine so that they do not tangle.
Try placing your chenille throw in a pillowcase before you machine wash it or put it in the dryer. This will contain the shedding and reduce the amount of cleaning you may have to do later.
Do not overdry your chenille throw in the dryer.
Always follow manufacturer instructions.
