Bahama Coast Cotton Blanket

Unfortunately this blank was a disaster for us in more than one way. We took the blanket out of the heavy plastic wrapping paper and washed with gentle detergent on the bulky/gentle setting in cold water and medium low spin. We have a nice very capable LG washer and dryer. The blanket was heavy when loading. We followed the washing instructions precisely. Upon opening the washer drawer, thousands of small cotton microbeads fell out of the washer. I think these came from the stamped pattern in the blanket. I ran the rinse/ spin cycle a second time because the blanket was completely water soaked and now extremely heavy. After the second spin, I transferred to the dryer and dryed carefully on bulky but medium low setting. While dyring I cleaned out the washer and filter which was now clogged with heavy cotton beads. It is as if the blanket fell apart in the washer. It took over an hour to clean the washer. Next up was three cycles on the dryer and three laundry room waste baskets full from the lint trap. Micro beads everywhere in the dryer. The mess continued. I then proceeded to air dry the blanket for the remainder of dryring. Amazing, the blanket did not shrink as far as I can tell. But it seems more transparent in the light. The horrible smell from packaging was now gone and the blanket is very soft to the touch. But it snags easily so it needs another layer like a light comforter over it. The clothers dryer is now totally ruined and the drum sounds like a pounding nightmare. My blanket seemed like a bargain until the service man told me the dryer can not be repaired. I just ordered a new washer and dryer through Costco ($1,800 on July 4th sale) and I think any future blanket buyers should take this blanket to a professional cleaner which will charge about $35.00. I am thinking this blanket will not have a long life so I plan to reach out to Tommy Bahama for a remedy to the situation. This was obviosuly a very expensive purchase, Not a good use of my $50.00 reward card.