Weighted blankets have become a common feature in many bedrooms since they can contribute to sound, restful sleep. But if you have one already or are thinking of getting one, you might be wondering how to keep a weighted blanket clean. No matter how you use the blanket, it’s bound to get dirty.
There are four methods of cleaning weighted blankets: spot cleaning, machine washing, dry cleaning, and hand washing. Spot cleaning is necessary if you don’t want to wash the entire blanket but want to remove stains. Some blankets can be machine-washed, while others need to be dry-cleaned.
Let’s take a closer look at the different ways to wash your weighted blanket and how to dry it.
How to Wash a Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets have become quite popular because they truly help people sleep better. You may be surprised to learn that a weighted blanket can help you with restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia.
But you can’t enjoy these benefits if your weighted blanket is dirty! That’s why you need to wash it as needed. Doing so will remove sweat, oils, spills, dirt, and other allergens it may have accumulated while in use.
Before washing the blanket, check the manufacturer’s care instructions, which can be found either on the manufacturer’s website or on the tag. Remember that weighted blankets are relatively heavy, so you can’t necessarily wash them the same way you wash ordinary blankets. They are so heavy thanks to the type of material used and the amount of fill.
If your blanket only needs spot cleaning, then all you’ll need is water (cold or warm), a stain remover (on Amazon), and a gentle detergent or soap. You can simply treat the stained areas with a stain remover, rinse the blanket with water, and then air dry it.
It’s advisable to deal with the stains immediately when you notice them to prevent them from setting.
If your weighted blanket has a duvet cover, it’s best to remove and wash only the cover rather than the whole blanket. Most duvet covers are machine-washable and can be put in the dryer, but you must check the care label first.
On the other hand, if your blanket needs to be deep cleaned, you can choose to wash it by hand in a bathtub or use a washing machine. Whichever method you choose, use an organic or mild detergent and use warm or cold water. Avoid using bleach and remember to rinse the blanket thoroughly.
Weighted Blanket Care Guidelines
The type of care your weighted blanket needs depends on its material, whether it’s wool, rayon, polyester, cotton, or another material. It also depends on the nature of the fill material, which can be plastic pellets, glass beads, or organic materials.
The manufacturer’s manual, the tag on the blanket, the owners’ manual, or the manufacturer’s website will have more information about how to care for the blanket. Generally, you’ll find guidelines like the following:
- Machine-wash and machine-dry: These blankets must be machine-washed and machine-dried. Use gentle, bleach-free detergent and warm or cold water. Set the washing machine to the gentle cycle. Use a dryer.
- Machine-wash and air-dry: Just as in the case above, use the washing machine to wash the blanket but dry it in the air. You can spread it on a flat surface and allow it to dry.
- Wash cover only: Such blankets require only the cover to be washed, not the entire blanket. Wash the cover as per the instructions on the care label.
- Dry-clean or spot clean only: Such a blanket requires dry cleaning and spot cleaning. For spot cleaning, use the stain remover suggested on the care label to treat such blankets. For dry cleaning, take the blanket to a professional dry cleaner. If you have time, you can buy a home dry cleaning kit and clean the blanket at home.
How to Hand-Wash a Weighted Blanket
If your weighted blanket can’t get washed in a machine, hand-washing may be your only option. In some cases, you might decide to hand-wash your weighted blanket to remove odors and stains. Follow the below steps to hand-wash your weighted blanket:
- Read the care label on how to wash the blanket.
- Fill a bathtub with warm or cold water.
- Add a chlorine-free detergent (on Amazon) to the water and agitate to mix well.
- Put the blanket into the water until it’s fully submerged.
- Squeeze it, and then allow it to rest in the water for about 15 minutes.
- Squeeze once more to remove all the dirt.
- Drain off the water from the bathtub and refill it with clean water for rinsing the blanket.
- Continue draining and refilling the bathtub until the blanket is rinsed well.
Once you’re sure the blanket is well rinsed, the next step is to dry it. Depending on the instructions on the care label, you’ll have two options.
You can air-dry the blanket or machine dry it on low heat with a gentle tumble setting. Using low heat when machine drying ensures you don’t interfere with the quality of the weighted beads.
How to Remove Stains From a Weighted Blanket
Your weighted blanket can get stained at any time by wine, coffee, tea, soda, or something similar. The method of removing these stains depends on the material of the blanket. Some of the methods used to remove the stains include:
- Pre-soaking: Some stains can come off your blanket if you soak it for about 45 minutes. You can use a gentle detergent and warm water to soak the blanket, then run it through a normal wash cycle.
- Bleach: Some blankets allow bleaching, especially the dark ones. It’s best to use non-chlorine bleaching agents to maintain the original color of the blanket.
- Spot cleaning: This is an option if you don’t want to wash the entire blanket. In this case, too, you can use a gentle detergent and some warm or cold water. Use a soft rag or soft bristle toothbrush to rub the water-detergent mixture on the stain using a circular motion. This is all you’ll need to loosen the stain. You can then run the weighted blanket through a normal wash cycle.
After washing the blanket, you can dry it by laying it on a flat surface. Shake it once in a while so the fill material can get distributed and dry evenly. If you want to use a dryer, set it on medium or low setting and remove it as soon as it dries.
Letting it stay too long in the dryer can damage it. There’s no need to iron a weighted blanket. Also, remember to use it only when it’s completely dry.