How To Restore Your Sherpa Blanket After Too Many Washes

If you're wondering how to decorate your home with blankets, then sherpa is a popular choice. Not only is it warm and cozy, but it wicks away moisture. Unfortunately, it's also prone to pilling and matting, which can quickly turn your decorative blankets into a wrinkled mess. This is especially true when this material is washed in hot water. Does this mean you're stuck with worn-out sherpa fabric? Not at all. A mixture of fabric softener and water can make these blankets look as good as new, but make sure to have a wire brush handy. You'll also need to invest some elbow grease into this project, but the results will amaze you. 

Although fabric softener and a brush can undo the effects of worn-out sherpa, you should always wash your cozy blankets in cold water. Cold water reduces the likeliness that your blankets will fade and shrink, and you're also doing your part for the environment, saving energy. However, if your sherpa has sustained matting from normal wear and tear, this helpful hack is for you. 

According to @tamberandtaffy in a TikTok video, begin by mixing water and fabric softener in a spray bottle and spritz your sherpa blanket one area at a time. Using a wire brush, which you can purchase on Amazon for $13.99, begin to brush out any matting. Although it might take a little while to tackle each section, the results are well worth the elbow grease. There is one main drawback with this hack, and it's that fabric softener can reduce a material's flame resistance. Take wool, for example — a common material used in sherpa. Wool is known to be naturally flame retardant. But coating wool with fabric softeners can prevent this material from working as intended, which means this hack might be offputting when using these blankets for sleep. If you're concerned, wash your blanket in cold water to remove the fabric softener. 

Additionally, fabric softeners contain a host of chemicals. Some fabric softeners are known to contain methylisothiazolinone, which can potentially trigger skin allergies. Some fabric softeners are even said to contain cancer-causing ingredients, such as benzyl acetate, which has been linked to pancreatic cancer. Instead, opt for non-toxic fabric softeners, as listed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). If you don't have any fabric softener handy, simply swap it out with a little bit of gentle conditioner for a similar effect.