Question from Eugenia
bot in thrift store.
label states:
65% new wool
35% reprocessed wool
Mothproofed
looks in good condition – cant judge age of blanket – has one small tear on an edge.
I want to cut it up for mini blankets to put in Catio (indoor/outdoor) cat beds for extra warmth this winter .
Should I wash it first (& with what?) or might it be safe for cats as is?
My research does show blankets can be washed with Woolite and rinsed with white vinegar.
But nowhere does it say it might be a problem for warm cat or dog beds. Also my daughter buys wool sweaters etc at thrift stores for catsbeds for the Hobo cats shelters and her indoor cats too. (She lives in cold mountain area.) We always washed first.
Lisa’s Answer
Pesticides can be applied to wool for mothproofing. There are several commercial mothproofing chemicals available but most have low toxicity. Read more here. They are designed so that they do not wash out but if they are many years old it is likely that they have diminished.
