How To Make Sherpa Soft Again

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Sherpa blankets and jerseys are so soft and buttery on the skin, and the first few times you use them, it feels like you’re up close with a cloud!

However, after some time, sherpa does tend to lose its softness and starts to matte up, and you might think that there is no way to get it back to the softness it once had. Luckily, there are a few ways that you can make sherpa soft again!

How do you make sherpa soft again? To make sherpa soft again, you should use proper washing techniques, avoid hot water, and use vinegar in the wash. You can also brush out the sherpa to remove any matting, which could cause it to feel coarse and dull.

With a few helpful tips and habits, you can keep your sherpa blankets or items of clothing as soft as ever and enjoy them for a longer time! Keep reading to find out the best ways to make sherpa soft again.

What Is Sherpa?

Contrary to what many people think, sherpa fabric is not from an animal. Original sherpa clothing is made from wool-lined fabric, but sherpa now is made from a synthetic fiber such as polyester, or sometimes a blend of cotton and synthetic fabric.

Sherpa and fleece can often be confused with one another, and understandably, they can look similar. Sherpa looks more like sheepskin, whereas fleece is slightly thicker and fluffier.

Sherpa fabric is soft and luxurious, but if not cared for properly, it can lose its softness and become matted over time.

There are two methods you can use to make sherpa soft again. One involves washing and the other involves brushing, and both work well to restore your sherpa to its original texture!

Washing The Blanket Using Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most useful pantry items to keep at home! From cooking to cleaning and everything in between, vinegar can also be added to your wash to make sherpa soft and fluffy again.

Not only will vinegar make your sherpa soft and fluffy again, but it will also remove any odors and some stains. It can also help to loosen up any fibers which have clumped and matted together, getting so much done in one wash!

Vinegar can simply be added to your washing machine to save you some time and effort too.

Here is how to soften sherpa with vinegar:

Set your washing machine to a gentle cycle and make sure to choose the cold water option.
Do not add in the sherpa blanket yet, instead place half a cup of baking soda into the machine and then place the sherpa fabric in.
If your washing machine has a separate section for fabric softeners, add half a cup of distilled white vinegar into this section. If there isn’t a separate section for fabric softener, just place the vinegar into the washing machine basin.
Switch the washing machine on and let it run through the cycle.
You can either then leave the sherpa to air dry, or you can place it onto the dryer on a gentle setting.

This is a method to soften sherpa blankets but is not a method you should use for regular washing. You should be able to wash your sherpa blanket without it losing too much softness, but there are some precautions to take when washing it.

Here is how to wash sherpa blankets:

Place the sherpa blanket into the washing machine. Switch it onto a delicate or gentle cycle. If there is an option, select the cold water option.
Do not place any other items of clothing or any other blankets into the washing machine with the sherpa blanket, make sure to wash it on its own.
Add a gentle liquid detergent to your machine as usual. Do not use fabric softener or powdered detergent, as these could cling to the blanket and cause matting.
Turn on the washing machine and allow it to run through the normal cycle.

Brushing Out Sherpa

If you do not want to place the sherpa in the washing machine to soften it, you could try brushing it out. This is a good method to use if the blanket isn’t necessarily dirty, but if it has become matted over time.

Sometimes a simple brush can restore sherpa back to its fluffy softness again. The best type of brush to use would be a boar-bristle hairbrush or a slicker pet brush.

Lay the sherpa blanket or jacket out over a flat surface. You could do this on the dining room table, or on the living room floor. Make sure to wipe the surface first, or vacuum if you are placing it onto a carpeted floor.
If there are any big clumps or loose flying threads, snip them away with some small scissors. Don’t go too wild doing this or you won’t have any blanket left!
Make sure the fluffy side of the sherpa item is facing upwards and start brushing it.
Brush the sherpa in one direction, and it should help to remove clumps and matted areas.
If this does not work out too well, you might have to mist the sherpa with some cool water before brushing it again. This could help to loosen the fibers a little more before brushing.

You could brush out the sherpa item every time you wash it, to prevent it from matting up at all. This will keep your sherpa blanket in the best condition and ensure that you won’t have so much brushing or softening to do in the future.

How Often Should You Soften A Sherpa Throw?

How often you soften a sherpa throw or jacket will depend on how soft it stays before becoming matted and a little rough.

As a general rule, you should wash your sherpa throw around once a month. Washing it more than this might lead to the sherpa becoming duller and losing its feel. Too much washing can cause too much wear and tear over time.

Obviously, you can wash it more than this if something happens and the sherpa throw becomes particularly messy.

Another option you could choose instead of washing your sherpa throw, especially if it isn’t dirty or if you do not need to soften it, is to just hang it outside in the sunlight. Some fresh air and UV rays can do wonders to remove any odors, and the sherpa will be almost like new again.

What Is The Best Way To Dry Sherpa?

The way you dry your sherpa will also determine how soft it feels. The best way to dry sherpa is to leave it to hang outside to air dry. The fresh air will also help to remove odors and sunlight will help remove bacteria too.

If the weather isn’t good and you do not have space inside to hang the sherpa to air dry, then you could place it in the dryer. When doing this, make sure to choose the tumble-dry setting, as this will not add any heat to the drying process, which will preserve the softness of the blanket.

What Is The Best Way To Soften Sherpa?

The best way to soften sherpa will depend on the condition of your sherpa blanket or jacket. If it has a few stains and a slight odor, you might want to soften it by washing it in the washing machine with some vinegar. This will remove odors and stains and work to soften the material, making it fluffy again.

If the sherpa blanket or item of clothing is not stained and does not need to be cleaned, and is more matted, then it might be best to brush it out. Brushing out the sherpa blanket does not put it through unnecessary washing, which could wear and tear the sherpa over time, but it does well to remove matting and clumps.

Final Thoughts

There are two great ways to soften sherpa, either by washing it with some vinegar or by brushing it out. Make sure to check up on your sherpa blanket to see whether it needs some softening or not and choose which method would be best for you.

Keep up regular maintenance of your sherpa to keep it in the best condition and avoid exposing it to high heat in the washer or the dryer!

How To Make Sherpa Soft Again

What Is Sherpa?