Weighted blankets can offer a range of important therapeutic effects. Among other things, the best of weighted blankets can reduce anxiety and stress. For that reason, they are often used by people with sensory disorders, PTSD, or autism.
Likewise, weighted blankets are cozy and comfortable. So, it is necessary to keep them clean and fresh at all times.
If you are one of those people who do not know how to wash a weighted blanket, this article is a must-read. So, keep going and learn the easy steps for cleaning your favorite blanket and restoring it to its former glory.
Always check the product care label first!
Even though those little pieces of cloth can be annoying at times, they hold valuable information. After all, manufacturers would not use care labels if they weren’t important!
So, the first thing you should do is to check the weighted blanket washing instructions.
Find the label on one of the sides of the blanket and read what it says. In most cases, the label will tell more about the ideal washing temperature, as well as some other ‘specific needs’, if there are any.
When it comes to washing a weighted blanket, the importance of care labels should never be underestimated. The reason for this is simple – weighted blankets can be made out of different materials. For example, some weighted blankets use metal pellets as the filler, while others rely on plastic or glass beads. Of course, the cover comes from all sorts of materials as well.
Different materials have different cleaning preferences. Therefore, make sure to check the instructions every time you think about washing blankets of any kind.
Pre-treat the blanket before washing it in the machine
Before you decide to put the blanket in a washer, don’t forget to treat visible stains and spots. Believe it or not, experts say that this step often removes the need to machine wash the blanket in the first place. When we consider the cumbersome nature of weighted blankets, this does not seem like a bad idea!
Pre-treatment starts by inspecting the cover of the blanket to find any visible spots or stains. In case you find something, apply a mild detergent to loosen the stain. In a way, spot cleaning is an essential element of the cleaning process. So, if you want to learn how to wash a weighted blanket – learn how to pre-treat the stains!
As we said, try using a gentle detergent or stain remover and apply it to the stain. Always use hot water when doing this step. Once you apply the detergent, leave it to soak for 10-15 minutes, depending on the material. After that, use a soft brush or a rag to lift off the stain. In the end, rinse off the chemical.
In general, harsh chemicals are a big no-no when it comes to washing a weighted blanket.
Wash the blanket on gentle cycle in the washer
The majority of weighted blankets in today’s market can be washed in a domestic washer. Before you do that, we recommend checking if your washer will be able to handle such a heavy item. On average, washable weighted blankets will weigh somewhere around 10-15 pounds.
Once you determine that the washer is powerful enough, you can proceed with the cleaning process. The next step is to load the blanket into the washer, which should be done in a gentle and careful way. Also, it is important to set the water temperature to lukewarm or cold.
Start the machine on the ‘gentle’ or ‘delicate’ cycle, with no harsh chemicals! In other words, avoid using bleach or any other whitening agents.
We already mentioned that weighted blankets come with different fillers. So, you may ask – how to wash a weighted blanket with glass beads? Or, if you own a different type of blankets, you may be interested in knowing how to wash a weighted blanket with poly pellets?
Well, the differences in the cleaning process are not enormous. But they do exist. For example, glass beads can handle slightly more heat than poly pellets. This means that you should never use hot water when washing blankets filled with poly pellets.
The same applies to the covers of the blankets as well. Materials such as linen or fleece will have different needs than Mink fur or cotton.
Air dry your weighted blanket at all times, if possible
Depending on how you wash a weighted blanket, the process of drying can be different as well.
Because of the fillers, weighted blankets should never be subjected to any heat treatment. Meaning, users should tumble dry the blankets on low. By doing so, the blankets will be dry enough so that you can continue with the drying process.
The next step is to air dry your weighted blanket. Once again, the fillers are making things a bit complicated. Because of the beads or pellets, you cannot put weighted blankets on a string in your backyard. As you can imagine, all the beads would go down to one side.
To achieve the ideal weight distribution, the safest way is to place the blankets on a flat surface. For example, you could use a big kitchen table to spread the blanket and avoid having clumped beads inside.
Likewise, people interested in knowing how to clean a weighted blanket should also avoid ironing. In case we need to explain the reason: the heat would melt the beads in a second!
The bottom line
Weighted blankets are another technological innovation that can improve the quality of our lives. Better sleep is a pathway to better wellbeing, and that is why weighted blankets can be a highly rewarding investment.
Nevertheless, these blankets are more demanding than the ‘standard’ ones. So, if you want to have one at home, you will need to learn how to wash a weighted blanket in a quick and easy way. If you follow the steps we described in this guide, the process will be a piece of cake.
Leave a Reply