CLEANING
For the absolute best results, we recommend dry cleaning the blankets as it will always be the safest and most gentle process for them.
But, we're also big fans of this Mitch Hedberg line:
"This shirt is dry clean only. Which means... it's dirty."
We get it, having something like a blanket that you use all the time force you to make a trip to the dry cleaners can be a deterrent. Which is exactly why we made sure that all of our current blankets are washer-friendly! Just do it with love.
If you do wash at home - do it on a cold, delicate cycle and then either hang the blanket to air dry or tumble dry on the lowest heat and tumble setting (again, delicate). If needing to wash multiple blankets, we recommended washing and drying each blanket separately for best results.
WHAT TO AVOID:
FIRE AND FLAME
As with just about any material, you want to keep fire and flame away from it. Refrain from smoking near the blanket and if camping, make sure to set it up far enough away from the fire that hot embers or ash won't land on it. The blanket isn't coated with any flammable chemicals so it won't burst into flames if a spark hits it, but it will burn a hole in your favorite new blanket and that's no fun.
SHARP/ROUGH OBJECTS
Something sharp or abrasive can obviously cause a tear in your Trek Light Gear blanket. If you're using it on the ground, watch out for sharp sticks or other objects that could snag on the blanket. Remember that snags in a woven blanket can look worse than they are - the woven threads are just getting pulled apart so it looks like a hole, but you can make that 'hole' disappear just by pushing the threads back together again.
MOLD/MILDEW
Like most textiles, you don't want to let your blanket get moldy or mildewy. The blankets can be washed, so you certainly don't need to be afraid of getting it wet, but just remember not to pack your blanket away while it's wet and forget about it. As long as you hang it to dry or tumble dry (see above) you'll have no issues with mold.
EXTENDED UV EXPOSURE
Over a period of time, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause the colors of the blanket to fade and will eventually weaken the fibers in the yarn. You don't need to be concerned about using your blanket in the sun, that's normal. But we don't recommend leaving your blanket (or any other Trek Light Gear products) permanently outdoors as it will shorten the life of your product and void your warranty. For more detail, see this page on UV and Elements Exposure.
IMPERFECTIONS (ARE BEAUTIFUL)
Due to their handwoven nature, our blankets may have some stray, loose, or pop-out threads, even when they're brand new. These aspects of the weaving process are intentionally left intact - it's what gives handwoven blankets their character and sets them apart from machined textiles. In other words, this is totally normal for a handwoven textile and isn't considered a defect, it's meant to be appreciated!
If you notice what appears to be a "hole" in your woven blanket, don't fret! In most cases, it simply means the threads are pulled apart, which gives the illusion of a hole in the material. You can just push the threads back towards the hole so they're distributed evenly and watch it disappear! Click here for more details and a video demonstration.