Weighted blankets are great for sleeping. However, they aren't so great when it comes time to clean them. Rather than stress over how to clean your weighted blanket, you can do it at home through easy steps. Learn the steps for machine and hand washing your blanket, as well as pre-treating stains and drying.
Step 1: Prepare Weighted Blankets for Washing
If a spill can happen, it will. That's just gravity or fate. Either way, it's bothersome. Therefore, before just chucking your weighted blanket in the wash, you'll want to check it for stains. While everyone knows it's best to catch stains when they happen, sometimes that's a pipe dream. So, give your blanket a good once over before washing it. If you do happen to spot a stain, there are a couple of things to do.
- Run cold water over it and rub the stain with your finger. This might be enough to eliminate the stain.
- If it's still there, you can treat it as you would any other laundry stain of the same material. If in doubt and your blanket or cover isn't made of a delicate material like silk or fur, vinegar is a great stain fighter. Dawn dish soap is another great alternative, especially for grease stains.
- Rinse the area before putting it in the washer.
Step 2: How to Wash a Weighted Blanket
Before you throw your weighted blanket in the wash, you'll want to look at the tag. The laundry care tag will provide you with valuable instructions for what to do and not do when washing your weighted blanket. Generally, you can follow these rules.
- Only blankets 20 lbs or less can be washed at home.
- Use the gentle cycle in front load washers. (Top load washers should use the normal wash cycle.)
- Wash on cold water.
- Use a mild detergent.
- Add ½ cup of salt or vinegar in the first wash to lock the color of bold colored blankets.
- Do not use bleach or fabric softener.
When to Use a Commercial Washer
If you have a blanket weighing in at over 20 lbs, then you're going to need to take that bad boy to the laundry mat. Your washer just isn't meant to handle that kind of bulk. At the laundromat, you'll want to look for the larger machines designed for washing bedspreads and bulkier items. Again, you'll want to look at the tag to set the machine properly.
Hand Washing Your Weighted Blanket
If you don't want to go to the laundromat, handwashing your weighted blanket is also an option. To hand-wash a weighted blanket, follow these steps.
- Clean out your bathtub. (You don't want to make the blanket dirtier.)
- Fill the tub about halfway with cold water and throw in ½ cup of mild detergent.
- Swish the detergent so it's nice and mixed.
- Submerge the entire blanket.
- Using your (clean) hands or your feet, agitate the blanket well.
- Drain the tub.
- Fill with clean water, agitate the blanket again to rinse.
- Drain and fill a third time.
- Agitate the blanket a final time and drain, making sure all the soap is gone.
- Flatten the blanket out as best you can.
- Fold the blanket in half (long ways) and roll it to remove the water.
- Repeat until most of the water is gone.
Step 3: Dry a Weighted Blanket
When it comes to drying your fabulous sleep aid, outside drying is the best. To do this, you'll want to lay it out flat in the sun, turning it over every hour or so. Since weighted blankets have weights, throwing it over a line can make the weights shift, which you don't want.
Machine Drying
If you don't have the time to wait for it to line dry, you can throw it in the dryer (if your material allows it). In the dryer, use a medium or low heat setting. Since there are weights of various materials in the blanket, you don't want to dry it on high. Additionally, tumble drying can help to fluff it back up.
Things to Consider
When it comes to caring for your weighted blanket, there are a few things for you to consider.
Ironing a Weighted Blanket
You might be a stickler for ironing laundry. However, you don't want to iron your weighted blanket. Why? Because ironing can be harmful to the filler of the blank and even the body of it. So, say no to ironing.
Getting a Duvet Cover
Washing a weighted blanket can be a bother, especially if you have a heavier one. You don't want to have to lug that thing to the laundromat every time you get a spill on it. In this case, a duvet or outer blanket cover can come in handy. Rather than taking the whole blanket in, you can just pull off the cover and put it in the wash. Just like with the blanket, remember to follow the instructions for washing your cover just like you would for your blanket.
Washing a Weighted Blanket
Washing a weighted blanket isn't stressful. It might be as easy as throwing it in the washer like you do when washing laundry. However, if you have a heavier blanket, investing in a cover can save you a lot of hassle.
