Have you recently bought a weighted blanket? If so, you might be wondering how to wash it. They can get dirty quickly, but they don’t take much time to clean. The easiest way to wash your weighted blanket is to use a washing machine on low or gentle. Wash the weighted blanket cover by itself if possible so your washer can spin more easily.
Not all weighted blankets are machine washable. In fact, each weighted blanket requires different care. Check out the care tag or instructions that came with your blanket. Be sure to follow those carefully.
If you have lost your instructions, we will provide you with some time-proven ways to wash and dry your weighted blanket.
Read the instructions carefully.
Before you follow any general advice on washing weighted blankets, read the instructions carefully. This will keep your blanket and blanket cover in good condition. You are much less likely to ruin your weighted blanket if you follow the instructions.
If your instructions have faded or you’ve cut them off, here are some general guidelines for washing different types of weighted blankets.
Rayon and Linen Blend Blankets
Wash your rayon linen weighted blanket in cold water only. Warm water breaks down the fabric. Set your washer to the gentle or delicate cycle.
Once your weighted blanket is out of the washing machine, don’t go straight to the dryer. Rayon linen does not hold up when exposed to heat, so it’s best to air dry this blanket. Make sure to consult the manufacturer’s instructions before drying your weighted blanket.
Dry cleaning is popular with the more delicate rayon linen blankets.
Rayon-linen is a soft breathable material that makes for a comfortable weighted blanket.
Fleece Blankets
Like with rayon linen weighted blankets, wash your fleece weighted blanket on the cold gentle cycle in your washer.
Your fleece blanket can be dried on low in your dryer. But, don’t use a dryer sheet. Dryer sheets have fabric softener which makes the fleece retain less water. So, it won’t be as comfortable if the weighted blanket gets too warm. So, just wash the blanket without a dryer sheet.
Or, you could hang it outside on a clothesline or off of your backyard deck to air dry.
Fleece is lightweight, breathable, and best of all, it doesn’t hold moisture. It’s a great material for those who tend to get hot in their weighted blanket.
Read Also: What Are Weighted Blankets Made Of?
Cotton and Cotton Blend Blankets
Cotton is lightweight, breathable, and durable. You can wash your cotton weighted blanket using cold water or warm water. Compared to other weighted blankets, you don’t have to worry as much about ruining the fabric. But, wash your blanket by itself for the best results.
Mink Fur Blankets
Mink fur is similar to the other weighted blanket materials on this list. Simply wash the blanket on the gentle cycle using cold water. For an even softer wash, add some laundry detergent before running the cycle.
Mink fur is a high-end soft fur used for coats, jackets, and blankets.
Remove the weighted core
If it has a removable weighted core, remove it and scrub it gently with soapy water. Not all weighted cores are machine washable, so your best bet is to hand wash the core. When in doubt, wash it by hand. Check your manufacturer’s instructions to see if the core can be run in your washing machine.
Wash the Cover
Most weighted blankets come with durable and comfortable covers. You can sleep with the cover on the blanket or without the cover. If you sleep with the blanket cover, remove the blanket on the inside first. Then you can wash the cover on a low cold setting and let it air dry. Wash the blanket separately from the cover to keep the fabric in prime condition.
If you need to remove stains from your weighted blanket, you have a couple of options.
Presoak the affected area.
Depending on where the stain is located, you can soak the blanket in soap and water to loosen the stain. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that your blanket is safe for soaking.
Use a scrub brush, soap, and water to work away at the tough stain(s).
If you are more hands-on, use a scrub brush and some soap and water to scrub away the tough stains. Just dip the brush in the soapy water and lightly scrub the affected area for a couple of minutes.
For more specific washing instructions, look on the blanket itself for the care tag. Or, consult your manufacturer’s website.
Drying
If the instructions allow, tumble dry the cover on the lowest setting. If not, air dry the cover.
It’s possible to dry clean your blanket. But, you should probably wash and dry the weighted blanket yourself. The dry cleaners might not know how to care for your specific blanket.
Ironing
Don’t iron a weighted blanket. You might think ironing will speed up drying your weighted blanket but it will cause more trouble than you want. The intense heat of the iron will melt or warp the blanket fillers.
Instead, wash your weighted blanket in the morning and let it dry outside throughout the day. This is one of the best methods to avoid wrinkles on your weighted blanket.
You may be able to iron the weighted blanket cover, but consult your manufacturer before proceeding. The best practice is to let them air dry and avoid ironing altogether.
Things to Avoid When Washing Your Weighted Blanket
Washing the core inside the cover – Be sure to remove the weighted blanket core before washing it in your washing machine. Not all weighted blankets have cores. But some cores are not machine washable.
Washing the cover and the blanket – Keep in mind that your weighted blanket has two parts: the cover and the blanket itself. To keep the fabric in good condition, wash the cover and blanket separately.
Washing your weighted blanket with other materials in the washing machine – It is best practice to wash your weighted blanket by itself. Weighted blankets can be quite heavy and you want to make sure that your washing machine can spin fast enough to clean it thoroughly. Also, if you wash a weighted blanket with other clothes of a different material, this can agitate and break down the fabric.
It is possible to run your weighted blanket with a small load of clothes that are the same material. For example, you could wash fleece weighted blankets with a couple of fleece jackets or pants. But if you want to be cautious, wash a weighted blanket separately.
Ironing the blanket – The heat from an iron is too intense for your weighted blanket fillings. Avoid ironing altogether to keep your weighted blanket in good condition for years to come.
Dryer sheets – Dryer sheets contain fabric softener which may irritate the fabric of your weighted blanket. So, it’s best to avoid them when drying your weighted blanket.
Without a dryer sheet, your weighted blanket may come out of the dryer smelling unpleasant. Let it sit outside for a couple hours after it’s out of the dryer. Or, you could just let it air dry completely after it is out of the washer. This will improve its smell.
Is washing your blanket simply not enough? Keep reading to learn how to remove any type of stain from your weighted blanket.
How to Remove Stains from a Weighted Blanket
Stains are always frustrating, whether it’s on your newly bought weighted blanket or one you’ve had for years. If you travel with your weighted blanket, it might have a few stains that you’d like to remove. You might have tried everything to remove your stain, but nothing has worked. Here is a quick guide on how to remove different types of stains from your weighted blanket. You can use these techniques to clean your weighted blanket core as well. Here are a few general tips to help you as you tackle the tough stains.
- After removing stains on your weighted blanket, put it in the washing machine on a gentle cold setting. Then, air dry it.
- If your stain is stubborn and doesn’t go away entirely, you can safely repeat the methods below.
- Don’t use bleach or other abrasive cleaners. Non-chlorine bleach is great for the worst stains.
- When soaking your blanket, use warm or cold water, not hot water.
How to Remove Coffee Stains
If you spilled coffee on your weighted blanket, no problem. Just follow these steps.
- Mix one ounce of liquid laundry detergent, one ounce of vinegar, and 10 ounces of water.
- Use a scrub brush, toothbrush, or washcloth to scrub the stain for a few minutes.
- After scrubbing, wait 10 minutes to allow the stain to break down.
Do not apply undiluted vinegar to your weighted blanket, as this may damage the material. But heavily diluted vinegar will not damage the outer cover or inner blanket. In fact, it helps break down the stains quicker.
How to Remove Urine Stains
Urine stains are one of the toughest types of stains to remove from your weighted blanket. But the process is easy.
Here are three ways to remove urine stains from your weighted blanket.
1 – Laundry Detergent, Vinegar, and Water
Mix one ounce of liquid laundry detergent, one ounce of vinegar, and 10 ounces of warm or cold water in a bowl.
2 – Soap and Water
You can also use soap and warm or cold water. Put some soap in a container and fill it in your sink to allow the soap and water to mix thoroughly. Then, apply the soapy water to your weighted blanket using a scrub brush, toothbrush, or cloth.
This is the weakest of the three methods to remove urine stains. It’s best for fresh stains. If you don’t have the extra chemicals for the other methods, just repeat using soap and water until you have removed the stain.
3 – Enzyme Stain Remover
If you don’t want to make your own stain-fighting mixture at home, buy an enzyme stain remover. Enzymes help break down tough stains, so this cleaner may be more effective than our other two methods.
Here is a popular enzyme cleaner from Amazon to remove stains from your weighted blanket in minutes. (see below)
How to Remove Sweat Stains
Sweat stains can be difficult to remove because they might span a large area of your weighted blanket, if not the whole blanket.
For large stains, presoak your weighted blanket in soapy water. Check your manufacturer’s instructions before presoaking your weighted blanket. Then, wash it on gentle cold and air dry the blanket.
If you can’t presoak your weighted blanket, buy an enzyme stain remover and spray the surface of the entire stain.
For smaller stains, soap and warm or cold water or one ounce of laundry detergent in a medium-sized bowl of water will break down stains effectively.
How to Remove Wine Stains
Wine stains, particularly red wine stains, will take a strong chemical to remove. You don’t want to use a typical bleach, because that is too abrasive. It will remove all the color in your clothing. But there are non-chlorine bleaches that are designed to use on non-white clothing.
- Use a scrub brush to apply non-chroline bleach to the affected area.
- Wait 10 minutes for the stain to break down.
- Wash your weighted blanket on a gentle cold setting.
- Let it air dry.
Check out this non-chlorine bleach from Amazon below. It’s so good.
Recap
Hopefully washing a weighted blanket is much less daunting for you. First and foremost, call your manufacturer for their advice on how to care for the specific weighted blanket you purchased. Beyond that, use cold or warm water when treating your weighted blanket. Also, if you wash your blanket in the washer or tumble dry it in the dryer, use the lowest setting.
Did you like this article? Be sure to check out our other posts on weighted blankets!