How to Wash A Weighted Blanket

Many people use a weighted blanket to help them sleep better. With its comforting pressure stimulation, a weighted blanket can help reduce anxiety. So you can sleep with ease. A study found that participants who used a weighted blanket for a month showed a significant reduction in symptoms of insomnia and fatigue, as well as a higher daytime activity level.

Once you try a weighted blanket, you might never want to leave its amazingly cozy and comforting cocoon. But sooner or later, you’re going to have to hop out of bed so you can wash your weighted blanket so it stays fresh and clean.

Don’t let washing a weighted blanket intimidate you – it’s not that much different from washing a conventional blanket, though there are a few special steps you’ll need to keep in mind.

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Why You Need To Wash Your Weighted Blanket

Like any type of bedding accessory, weighted blankets absorb all our bodily oils, fluids, and dead skin cells when we sleep. In fact, experts say we shed about a gram and a half of dead skin cells each day – enough to feed a million dust mites. Yikes.

How Often Should Weighted Blankets Be Washed?

If you sleep with a flat sheet, the weighted blanket cover should be washed at least four times a year, though you can certainly wash it more often if needed. If you don’t use a flat sheet with your weighted blanket, it’s a good idea to wash the cover every few weeks. If you follow proper care instructions, you can wash the blanket’s outer cover as often as it needs to stay clean and fresh-smelling.

Do I Need To Hand Wash My Weighted Blanket?

Whether you need to hand wash your weighted blanket is a question that is best answered by your blanket's care instructions. If you can't find any information on this, though, you can follow these general guidelines.

Some materials can withstand machine washing, such as cotton, bamboo, flannel, minky, and non-wool fleece. The same goes for fillers. Glass microbeads, plastic poly pellets, and steel shot beads are all washing machine safe. On the other hand, blankets made of wool, rayon, silk, and linen, and/or that are stuffed with organic materials such as grains are better off hand-washed.

That being said, weighted blankets can be difficult to hand wash precisely because of their weight. These types of blankets can weigh anywhere between five and 30 pounds, as studies have shown that, to get the desired benefits of a weighted blanket, you should opt for a blanket that weighs at least 10 percent of your body weight.

Purple weighted Blanket Washing Instructions

Wash separately in cold water, on a delicate or permanent-press cycle, using mild or eco-friendly detergent. Tumble dry on low. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners.

Note: Your Cotton Napper may take more than one cycle to be fully dried. Avoid hanging your Napper to dry – it'll stretch out its loops. Avoid using top-loading washing and drying machines.

Step-By-Step Guide To Machine Washing A Weighted Blanket

To ensure long-lasting enjoyment of your weighted blanket, it’s important to know the right settings, detergent, and cleaning process.

1. Follow The Instructions On The Label

Again, we cannot stress this enough. First and foremost, make sure you’re familiar with your manufacturer’s blanket washing instructions. Weighted blankets can be made with a variety of materials, and you want to make sure not to damage the insert or fabric cover.

2. Remove The Blanket Cover

Many weighted blankets have a removable outer cover, like a duvet cover. This is a great way to protect your entire blanket and to keep it clean and fresh without having to wash the weighted filler itself.

Once you’ve removed the outer cover, check it to make sure it doesn’t have any staining that might need to be soaked or pre-treated before you wash. Otherwise, you run the risk of baking the stain into your cover’s fabric throughout the washing and drying process. You can always pre-treat stains with gentle dish soap or laundry detergent mixed with water, a mix of baking soda and water, or a spritz of distilled white vinegar.

3. Machine Wash Cover With Like Colors

Wash the cover in your washing machine in cold water on a gentle cycle. Use non-chlorine bleach and a mild detergent. You may want to wash your blanket cover alone, but if you include other items, make sure they are like colors so that you don’t take any chances of colors bleeding and making a mess.

Once your blanket cover is finished machine washing, you can put it in the dryer on low heat, which helps it to dry evenly and isn’t overly harsh on the fabric. You can also lay your blanket cover flat or line dry it, too, especially if you’re a fan of that “dried in the fresh air” smell.

4. Spot Clean

If you spill a drink on your weighted blanket, don’t panic. Accidents happen, and there are a few fixes. If the stain soaks through the cover and into the weighted core, spot cleaning can often remove the stain so it looks good as new.

To spot clean, mix some warm water with a gentle dish soap or mild detergent, then use a soft bristle brush or a soft, damp cloth to scrub the stain away. You may want to let the blanket sit for a few minutes after you’ve applied your chosen cleaner before blotting it away with a clean, damp cloth.

Once the stain has loosened, you can also give it one final blotting with a dry cloth and then let it air dry. Wait for the inner core to dry completely before using it again.

5. Hand Wash The Insert For Deep Cleaning

If you’re dealing with older, deep stains or odors that have made it through the blanket cover into the filler, you can still get your inner blanket clean by hand washing. Keep reading for more detailed instructions on how to hand-wash a weighted blanket.

Step-By-Step Guide To Hand Washing A Weighted Blanket

So your blanket needs a good old-fashioned scrubbing. Here's how to hand-wash your blanket without ruining the fabric or filling:

1. Fill A Container Or Bathtub With Water

Before hand-washing, check the care instructions on the label to find out if your blanket can be pre-soaked. Pre-soaking will help loosen up tough stains.

Next, fill up a tub with warm water mixed with a gentle detergent or dish soap and soak the blanket for 45 minutes.

2. Spot Clean For Stains

With a soft brush, toothbrush, or cloth, rub the stain until it comes off. You could add more dish soap to the stain to make cleaning easier.

3. Agitate The Blanket With Your Hands

After spot cleaning, it's time to get to work. Press and squeeze the blanket core to get all dirt and stains loose from the fabric. Next, drain the tub, fill it with cold water, and rinse the blanket until the soap comes off. Repeat this once more until all the suds have been washed off.

4. Remove From The Container And Wring The Weighted Blanket

Once the tub has been drained, roll the blanket and wring off any excess water.

How To Dry Your Weighted Blanket

The safest way to dry the core is to hang and air dry. Depending on the material of your weighted blanket core, it may or may not be safe to put in the dryer.

Most importantly of all – make sure your blanket is completely dry before using it again or folding it up for storage. A damp blanket can easily become a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can permanently damage the outer cover and inner weighted core.

Frequently Asked Questions For Washing A Weighted Blanket

Are weighted blankets machine- and dryer-safe?

You'll need to check your blanket's label to see if it is machine- and dryer-safe.

Can you wash a 12-lb weighted blanket?

Blankets under 12 pounds can be washed at home. Anything over 12 pounds should be brought to a commercial laundromat.

Why can't you wash a weighted blanket?

Some types of weighted blankets cannot be washed in a washing machine, especially if they're made with delicate materials and organic fillings.

The Bottom Line

Weighted blankets are great for helping people with anxiety to get better sleep. While washing one may seem intimidating, it's really not that hard. Just follow your manufacturer's care instructions, do your research, and be gentle!