Weighted blankets are all the rage right now. They help with anxiety and support a good night's rest. But like any other blanket in your home, they get dirty. Find out how to wash a weighted blanket using various methods. Learn how often to wash your weighted blanket and the benefits of a duvet cover.
How to Wash a Weighted Blanket Step-by-Step
It's the worst of disasters. You are all snuggled up in your bed with your weighted blanket, watching a scary movie when you jump, dumping your red juice all over your blanket. What do you do now? Can you wash a weighted blanket? Dab up the spill and grab a few supplies like:
- Gentle detergent without bleach
- Stain remover
- Dish soap
- Cloth
- Old toothbrush
Care Instructions for Weighted Blanket
Before you start dumping stain remover or adding your blanket to the washer, you need to look at the care instruction. Weighted blankets are made of different materials and have different weights. How you wash your weighted blanket depends on:
- Bulk: Blankets over 12 pounds need larger machines.
- Weight Material: The materials adding weight require special care. Glass or plastic beads are machine washable, while organic materials like corn, sand, and pebbles are not.
- Blanket Material: Be sure to follow the care instructions for the specific materials your blanket is made of. Specific materials require special care.
- Duvet Cover: You might be able to just wash the duvet cover if you're blanket has one.
Easy Way to Spot Clean a Weighted Blanket
If you just spilled something on the blanket, but it's not all over grimy, you can typically just get away with a spot cleaning of the material. Spot cleaning removes the stain but saves you the hassle of washing the whole blanket. For a spot clean, grab the dish soap, water, and a cloth. Use these tips and learn how to spot clean a weighted blanket to keep it fresh between complete washings.
- Run cold water over the stain.
- Rub it with your fingers. (This might be all you need to do.).
- Mix a bit of dish soap and water.
- Use this to rub the stain with the cloth or old toothbrush.
- Rinse the area.
- Allow it to dry fully.
If you still have some remaining stain, follow the same steps with a bit of stain remover. Allow it to sit on the material for the recommended time and rinse.
Hand Washing Your Weighted Blanket
Spot cleaning isn't going to cut the dirt and oils that build up over time. So, you are going to need to wash it. If your blanket is under 12 pounds, you can choose to hand wash it in your tub or wash it in the washer. 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 feet, agitate the blanket well.
- Drain the tub.
- Fill with clean water and agitate the blanket again to rinse.
- Drain and fill a third time.
- Agitate the blanket a final time and drain, ensuring 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.
How to Machine Wash a Weighted Blanket
Hand washing a blanket takes time and sweat. Can you machine wash a weighted blanket? If you are looking for an easier solution for your weighted blanket under 12 pounds, the answer is yes, you can also throw it in the washer. Grab your mild detergent and follow these steps.
- Put the blanket in the washer. Try to distribute it evenly in a top load washer.
- Add a mild detergent without bleach. (Do not add fabric softener.)
- Use a gentle cycle with cold or warm water.
- Pull it out immediately after it completes.
How to Wash a 20lb or Heavier Weighted Blanket
If you have a blanket that weighs over the maximum capacity of your washer, like 15-20 lbs, you need a large-capacity commercial washer to get it clean. So, you need to head to the laundromat. Find the large machine designed for bedding. You can then follow the instructions for machine washing.
Simple Ways to Dry Weighted Blanket
Some weighted blankets allow you to dry them in a machine, and some don't. You need to pay attention to the care label to ensure you use the correct method. If you're looking for how to dry a weighted blanket, consider the following options.
Fresh Air Dry
When it comes to drying your fabulous sleep aid, outside drying is the best.
- Lay the blanket out flat in the sun.
- Turn it over 30 minutes.
- Shake it out periodically to ensure the weights distribute evenly.
Since weighted blankets have weights, throwing them over a line can shift the weights, which you don't want.
Machine Dry
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).
- Use a medium or low heat setting. Since there are weights of various materials in the blanket, you don't want to dry it high.
- Periodically stop the dryer and fluff the blanket to help distribute weights.
- Tumble drying can help to fluff it back up.
How to Wash Dry Clean Only Weighted Blankets
If the tag on your blanket indicates it is dry clean only, you need to take it to a professional service to get it clean. If you are willing to chance it, home dry cleaning kits are available. However, it's essential to proceed with caution when using these.
How Often to Wash a Weighted Blanket
Washing a blanket isn't an exact science. If you use it every night to sleep, then you might want to wash it every few weeks to a month to remove the sweat you leave at night. However, if you only use it occasionally to help with anxiety, you might only wash it every few months. Just remember that washing your weighted blanket frequently can affect its durability.
Consider a Duvet Cover
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.
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.
