How to Wash a Blanket? a Guide to Cleaning

Cleaning your blankets is really not that challenging. You can clean any kind of blanket by using this guide.

It is very upsetting to take a beloved blanket out of the dryer only to discover that it is crumpled, pilled, or dull. Although you shouldn’t wash your blankets as frequently as you wash your sheets, it’s a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning a few times a year.

We have learned some tried-and-true tips and techniques for cleaning a variety of blanket types in order to keep your blanket incredibly comfortable and in good condition.

Read More:

• Throw Blanket Size: Which is Right for You?
• How to Fold a Blanket? 4 Methods
• How Many Granny Squares to Make a Blanket?

What Do You Need to Wash a Blanket?

• Laundry detergent: We enjoy Tide Ultra Stain Release.
• Spot remover: We prefer Shout, Zout, or an overnight soak in OxiClean to remove stains. Cleaning expert Jolie Kerr wrote a fantastic article on how to do laundry that covers the best treatments for a variety of different stains on the fabric.
• A roomy washer and dryer: Some large bed blankets might require a lot of space for spinning cycles and steady, even drying. You might want to go to a laundromat to use commercial machines if you don’t have any or if your home machines aren’t very large.
• Space for air drying: Some wool throws can’t be dried in the dryer. In order to help them dry uniformly during testing, I’ve spread them out over tabletops, big ironing boards (like the Homz Durabilt DB100), and even railings.

Spot Treat First

Before you wash your blanket, stain removers will help treat difficult-to-wash stains. Make sure the stain remover is safe to use on the material you’re treating before applying it to anything (like Shout). With delicate materials like wool, stain removers are typically not safe to use.

Spray any small stains with stain remover prior to washing the blanket, and then rub the stained area’s sides together to help the stain remover penetrate. After allowing the blanket to sit for five to ten minutes, wash it as usual.

Try soaking the blanket overnight in a stronger solution, such as OxiClean, for dry or difficult stains, then washing it the next morning.

Check your blanket after washing it to make sure the stain is gone before putting it in the dryer. You can try again if the stain is still present because some stains don’t set until they’re destroyed by the heat of the dryer.

How to Wash a Blanket?

In terms of cleaning, every blanket varies slightly. Your choice of the cycle, detergent, and water temperature for washing a blanket will largely depend on the kind of blanket you’re washing and the material it’s made of.

The best-suggested cleaning technique will be listed below for each type of blanket.

Acrylic Blankets

Before washing acrylic blankets, stains should be removed with liquid dish soap. Apply a gentle detergent and cold water. Hot water is too harsh and could harm the fabric. Because of this, you shouldn’t dry blankets made of acrylic.

Afghan Blankets

The steps for washing an Afghan are the same as those for washing a knit or crocheted blanket. Use a gentle cycle and detergent, and place it first in a mesh laundry bag to stop the yarn from unraveling. The material should never be heated for drying; always air dry.

Cashmere Blankets

Cashmere blankets don’t need to be washed as frequently as other types of blankets. Use cold water and a mesh laundry bag to clean them when the time comes. Only about a tablespoon of laundry detergent should be used, and afterward, lay flat to dry.

Cotton Blankets

Some of the simplest blankets to clean are made of cotton. They can be washed alongside other cotton clothing right in the machine. Wash on a gentle cycle after adding a mild liquid detergent. In order to prevent cotton from shrinking, use the coldest water possible.

Dry in the dryer on low or normal heat for half the time. Hang it up to dry naturally for the rest.

Fleece Blankets

You want fleece blankets to always be cozy and plush. Start by blotting any stains with a clean washcloth after treating them with a drop of regular detergent. Place in the machine with detergent and fabric softener after 10 minutes of sitting.

By washing the blankets in cold water on a gentle cycle separately, you can avoid pilling. Use caution when using the dryer because the heat can be harmful.

Knit Blankets

When washing blankets made of knit or crochet, the yarn might become tangled in the machine. By putting them in a mesh laundry bag or even a pillowcase in advance, you can avoid this problem.

In the course of the gentle or permanent-press cycle, this will safeguard the blanket. If you’re worried, just hand wash your knit blanket and let it air dry afterward.

Linen Blankets

Machine washing with cold water and a gentle cycle is an option for linen blankets and sheets. Given its propensity to shrink in hot environments, this material is very comparable to cotton. Because of this, you should hang dry clothes rather than use a dryer.

Mohair Blankets

Hand washing a mohair blanket is highly advised due to the delicate fibers. You can quickly wash it in a front-loading washer using cool water if you’re in a hurry. Avoid tumble drying because it could harm the fabric.

Silk Blankets

Silk blankets should be hand washed, but if you’re short on time, use a gentle cycle, cool water, and about ¼ cup of mild laundry detergent. The best option for drying the blanket is to hang it up to dry naturally or use a no-heat setting.

Throw Blankets

If your throw blanket is made of a secure material, you can wash it in the washing machine without any additional steps. Throw blankets made of cotton, fleece, or polyester can typically be washed in the washing machine. Use a brief, gentle cycle and cold water. Avoid using fabric softener. Hang up to air dry.

Wool Blankets

Wool blankets are relatively simple to maintain! Set the washing machine to use cold water on a gentle cycle. So that the blanket doesn’t stretch, stop the machine after only one minute of the rinse cycle. Wool blankets should be air-dried rather than placed in the dryer.

How Long Will This Take to Clean?

As long as the blanket doesn’t come out sopping wet (which can happen when washing large, bulky blankets), the washing machine shouldn’t need to run more than one cycle to wash a bed blanket. In that case, we advise you to perform a second rinse and spin cycle without soap.

Depending on the fabric it is made of, a blanket will dry at a different rate. Depending on how big the blanket is, it will typically dry on low heat for one to three hours. Wool blankets in particular may require air drying, which could take up to 24 hours (depending on the climate).

How Often Should You Wash Your Blanket?

Well, it depends. If the blanket in question stays on your guest bedroom mattress and only gets used when your in-laws come to town, it probably only needs to be washed once in a while.

Blankets that get a lot of use though, like the throw that lives on your couch and behind your couch, and wadded up in a corner of your living room because your kids were using it to make a fort, and sometimes migrates to your bed when you have a cold, and occasionally is mistaken for a litter box by your kitten should be washed fairly regularly.

In order to tackle stains and prevent dirt and grime from building up on your most-loved blankets, try to wash them every two weeks to once a month.

You can get away with waiting a little bit longer to wash your bedspread, comforter or other blankets that do not come into direct contact with your body, like decorative throws on your bed.

If your comforter has a duvet cover, try to wash the duvet seasonally. Your large down comforter, which you only bring out for the nine chilly weeks of winter each year? When you are getting ready to pack it back up to put it in storage, that really only needs to be washed once a year.

Conclusion

Whether you prefer to cuddle up in a throw blanket, an old fleece blanket, or a wool blanket you received as a gift, it’s crucial to routinely clean your favorite blankets.

There are a few guidelines that you should abide by when washing any type of blanket. First and foremost, check the tag. A laundry care tag that specifies how to wash the item should be attached to every piece of linen. If the tag says “dry-clean only,” dry-clean it to be safe and ensure longevity.

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