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re-reviewing after successful washing By JFS from Pittsburgh on 01/20/2009 Pros: Comfortable, Soft, Sturdy, WARM, Washable Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: I found the magic answer. Two regular wool washes (cold with woolite) still left the machine and blanket stinking of camphor. But I tried again, starting with a luke-warm soak (left for 8 hours) with plenty of boraxo, some baking soda, about 10 squirts of stain remover (into the water) and a dash of unscented fabric softener, as well as a little more woolite. After washing (regular cycle) and a couple of rinses and 30 minutes in the dryer on low heat, there is NO smell. I buried my face in it and breathed deeply, then brought it up the the bed, where it is nice and warm and snuggly are completely rehabilitated. (Before the dryer, there was still a touch of mothball smell, and a modest bit of wet-wool smell.) The ink-stamp stains are also gone, I think.
It is in good shape after all of the washing and drying. Still about 1/8 inch thick (maybe more) of dense, felted wool.
By happy girlfriend from new jersey on 01/19/2009 Pros: Attractive Design, Comfortable, Good Quality, Large, WARM Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: this was just want he wanted. it took me 4 blankets before i found the right one. he likes wool and loves this blanket. It's large enough for him to curl up in on the couch. this was a great buy.
Good deal on a good blanket By Bill from Seattle on 01/19/2009 Pros: Comfortable, Easy To Clean, Heavy duty Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: This is a military style blanket. It isn't "soft" like something to cuddle up in. It's WOOL. Military grade wool. It will keep you warm, will cover the seat of your truck, won't pick up smells, can be used as a ground cloth. I use two as a bedspread year round. I love them. But, I KNOW what they are, and for what they are they are excellent. The mothball smell is strong and it does take a while to gas off. The reason for the mothball smell is to keep moths away, imagine that. Washing doesn't get the smell out much. Drying the blanket in the dryer and just airing it out does a better job but it will take several weeks of airing and a few runs through the wash/dryer. Forget about dry cleaning, just wash it hot and dry it hot. Use fabric softener and wash it a few times and it WILL get softer and the smell WILL go away. It might shrink a bit. So what, it's a military blanket. I like these blankets very much. Very useful and utilitarian.
suitable for earthquake relief By Twitchyfinger from Rogue valley,Or on 01/18/2009 Cons: Long course hair, Not as advertised, Poor Quality, Poor value, Stinks Best Uses: Earthquake relief Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: this was advertized as a premium blanket.It is not,unless you think having stenciled letters and numbers on each corner (on both sides)and long hairs (not wool)poking out premium.It is not the color or pattern shown.I have aired it out (it took over a week)and will keep it only because it was purchased at extreme discount.Had l paided anywhere near the asking price,it would have been returned.
By Camper from NYC on 01/17/2009 Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: This product arrived damaged (holes in the creases) and had an overpowering smell of Naphthalene.
a real throwback--not what I expected By JFS from Pittsburgh on 01/17/2009 Pros: Authentic, Durable, heavy, Historical Cons: Hasmilitary ink stamps, Heavy, Scratchy, Stiff, Strong mothball aroma Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Wow. This seems to be felted or boiled wool. Not at all soft, and heavy the way that a board is heavy. Given that the Swiss military is mostly using the same bikes and personal equipment as in 1940, this is probably Swiss or Italian military issue. It arrives reeking of mothballs. (I had to throw it in the corner for 2 weeks with a small hole in the bag to let the smell dissipate). Mine has 3 areas where there are blurred but official-looking stamps in black ink. My mom (Swiss) had one like this that lasted for ~35 years until moths got into it. That one was stiff, very warm, scratchy, and you could probably have used it to sled down a gravel slope without doing any damage. I just tossed mine in the washing machine, BTW, never mind the "dry clean only." This is absolutely NOT "fine Italian wool" in the dressy sense. And it's not at all what I thought I was buying. But I'm glad I got it. It's subtly beautiful like old saddles, and I think it will be tough as nails.
Swiss-Link Italian Wool Premium Blanket By kellertwin from Charlottesville, VA on 01/14/2009 Pros: Comfortable, Heavy thick good WOOL Best Uses: Spring/Fall, Winter Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Great. Much more than I thought I would get for the price. Reminds me of the virgin wool blankets my grandmother used to have on the beds at her house.
By Chris from Nashville, TN on 01/14/2009 Pros: Attractive Design, Extremely warm, Large size Cons: Difficult to Clean, Itchy wool, Smell when new Best Uses: Spring/Fall, Winter Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: The blanket is very large so it easily covers you. It is also very warm. You will want to use it more as a stadium blanket than for everyday use at home, as the wool is very itchy if you aren't wearing layers. It is also dry clean only. The worst part of the blanket is that they package it with moth balls in the cartons so it has a strong odor when removed from the packaging that lasts for several weeks, but gradually diminishes and goes away over time.
I would buy this product again By missy from CT on 01/13/2009 Cons: Difficult to Clean, Uncomfortable Best Uses: Spring/Fall, Winter Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: The blanket is very heavy. It also smells like old basement/moth balls. It's scratchy. I have no doubt that it will keep me warm at the soccer games.
If you like the smell of mothballs.... By Unemployed from Atlanta, GA on 01/13/2009 Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: When the blanket arrived, I could not figure out why my house smelled like mothballs as I have never used them myself. I realized it was coming from the blanket package, so I never even pulled it out once I felt the wool. I knew it wouldn't be cashmere, but thought "Italian Wool" might be luxurious nonetheless. I was wrong. I was stiff and scratchy so I had to send it back.
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