Weighted blankets are life-changing! Providing a whole host of incredible benefits, including the alleviation of stress, anxiety and depression through the comforting sensation of being cocooned, reducing inflammation, and promoting deeper, uninterrupted sleep, weighted blankets are simply not to be missed.
One thing is for sure, though -a weighted blanket is an investment. These items don’t come cheap, and although the cost is absolutely worth the gain for most, this doesn’t completely negate the fairly hefty price tag. For this reason, it is essential to properly wash, clean and and take care of the weighted blanket.
As most people use their weighted blanket regularly, if not each and every night, it can absorb body oils and sweat and can become exposed to dirt, spills and stains. Due to the unique design and composition of a weighted blanket, consisting of multiple pockets filled with tiny pieces of weighted objects like glass beads, plastic beads or organic materials, it requires very different care to your average, run-of-the-mill throw, sheet, blanket or duvet cover.
That’s why Sunday Citizen has created this handy guide, to give you the best tips and tricks of the trade to cleaning your weighted blanket properly. Follow along for some expert advice!
Step by Step Weighted Blanket Cleaning Process
Step 1: Check the Care Label!
Step 2: Remove the Cover
Step 3: Machine Wash the Cover
Step 4: Tumble Dry the Cover on Low
Step 5: Hand Wash the Inside Blanket
Step 6: To Iron or Not to Iron?
How to Wash a Weighted Blanket: Infographic
Step 1: Check the Care Label!
We know we don’t need to tell you this, but just in case – Step 1 to cleaning your weighted blanket should always be checking the label! If your weighted blanket comes with cleaning instructions like most weighted blankets, consider this a gift; you’re already halfway there!
Here at Sunday Citizen, we try and take the guesswork out of things as much as possible by making sure to include blanket care instructions on our product care tag and/or on our website for every item.
Whilst every weighted blanket is different, based on the cover and blanket material as well as the objects that fill the inside, the Sunday Citizen Snug Crystal Weighted Blanket and Bamboo Crystal Weighted Blanket both come with the following instructions:
“Removable cover: machine wash cold. Gentle wash cycle. Do not bleach. Tumble Dry low. Inside weighted blanket: hand wash with cold water. Lay flat to dry.”
Whether that makes perfect sense to you or sounds like a load of whole gibberish (at what point in our adult lives do we start speaking laundry!? Asking for a friend), let’s go ahead and break those steps down.
Step 2: Remove the Cover
On to Step Number 2 – machine washing the removable cover of your weighted blanket. Not all of the weighted blankets out there have removable or machine-washable covers to make sure the cover and the weighted blanket are washed separately.
But here at Sunday Citizen, we highly recommend investing in one that does. This is one of the best ways to ensure easy care of your weighted blanket and make sure it stands the test of time, for the following reasons.
When cleaning your weighted blanket, the aim is to avoid washing the inside blanket itself as much as possible, as this is the heaviest and most delicate part of the item to clean.
A removable, washable cover provides a layer of protection to avoid dirtying the inside of the blanket.
An additional layer of protection is to sleep with the blanket on top of your regular duvet covers, so that it does not come into direct contact with your skin. This means it is less likely to absorb sweat or dirt in the night as we sleep.
Step 3: Machine Wash the Cover
Once you removed the cover of your weighted blanket, machine wash the cover at a cold temperature, on a gentle cycle such as the “delicates” – the shortest and most gentle cleaning option available on most washing machines. While loading it in a top load washer of your laundry room, ensure the blanket's weight is evenly distributed.
Washing at cooler temperatures versus cranking up the heat makes items less likely to shrink, fade or wrinkle. Contrary to what some people believe, cool water is often just as effective as warm water at removing stains and is preferable when it comes to removing blood or sweat stains which can set deeper into the fabric when washed with hot water.
Other tips include using a gentle, laundry detergent that which does not contain any bleach including nonchlorine bleach. Plus, ensure that the mild detergent is dye-free. Any detergent advertised as “tough” is not friendly to the silky soft covers of your weighted blanket.
It’s best to avoid any ingredients which could change the cozy texture or pretty color of the material over time.
Photo Credit: Pexels - Sarah Chai
Step 4: Tumble Dry the Cover on Low
To “tumble dry low” essentially means to dry your item in the dryer on a low heat setting, which tends to be around 125 degrees Fahrenheit. This method is a simple, quick and easy alternative to line drying your weighted blanket cover or laying it flat to dry. However, both of these are also valid options, especially if you don’t have a tumble dryer.
Low heat helps to protect fabrics from stretching, warping, fading, wrinkling or fraying – basically all the things we want to avoid.
Photo Credit: Pexels - Rachel Claire
Step 5: Hand Wash the Inside Blanket
Since most weighted blankets have a removable cover, the actual insert does not come in direct contact with skin, so it does not require a frequent wash. It is still a good idea to give the inner blanket a thorough clean to remove dirt and bacteria and leave it feeling new and fresh.
Our recommendation here at Sunday Citizen is to hand wash your inside weighted blanket with cold water, to avoid causing any damage to the fabric.
Harsh chemical additions such as bleach can cause the breaking down of fibers and eventual wearing out of your blanket’s material. Neither should a fabric softener, as some fabric softeners can build up in the fibers of your weighted blanket and remain there, causing the material to stiffen gradually.
Many weighted blankets can tolerate fabric softeners, but you need to perform extra-rinsing with cold or warm water to ensure no softener residue remains.
Some weighted blankets, especially fleece blankets, include the manufacturer's instructions regarding how the blanket should be machine washed plus drying instructions.
However, this can be risky. Machine washing must be extreme gentle to ensure there are no rips or tears, and depending on the weight of the entire blanket, some heavier weighted blankets units that include fillers like poly pellets and plastic pellets will be too heavy for the average household washing machine, which tends to have an upper weight limit of 25 pounds.
These blankets will then require being taken to a laundromat or dry cleaning facility where larger, more industrial washing machines are available. Hand washing is the way forward if you want to do it at home. Just wring the excess water and proceed with air drying.
Photo Credit: Pexels - Edward Jenner
Step 6: To Iron or Not to Iron?
The short answer is: Avoid ironing!
While our Bamboo and Snug microfiber covers may technically be iron-safe on a low heat setting, the glass pearl beads and natural crystal filling inside the freshly laundered blanket itself are not suitable for direct, intense heat.
Our cover material is also designed to stay relatively neat and wrinkle-free after drying to avoid the need for ironing, especially if it is laid flat and smoothed out by hand as soon as it comes out of the tumble dryer. So, machine dry in low or medium setting if you're short on time. But in most cases, it's recommended to line dry or air dry the blanket.
Photo Credit: Pexels - Cottonbro
Bonus Tips: Stain Removal
It’s inevitable – accidents happen. At some point in time, an unwanted substance will come into contact with your weighted blanket, leaving stains and unwanted marks.
One of the best ways to remove stains gently is to either use a diluted solution of liquid laundry detergent or apply distilled white vinegar to the stain. You can add a stain remover and dish soap with the detergent as well to tackle stubborn stains.
Then, for spot cleaning, you need to blot carefully with a wet towel then a dry towel to remove the remaining stain and the odor that comes with it. You can also use a toothbrush to scrub the stained spots gently. Always ensure that you're using a gentle detergent solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I wash a weighted blanket?
Ideally, you should wash your weighted blanket about once a month and the covers about once a week. This will help to keep the fabric and fill material fresh and clean, and it will also help to prevent any build-up of allergens or dust mites. However, if you have allergies or sensitivities, you may need to wash it more often.
Can a weighted blanket go in the dryer?
The short answer is yes—you can put your weighted blanket in the dryer. Always use low heat when drying your weighted blanket in the dryer. High temperatures can break down the materials used in the filling, causing your blanket to clump and lose shape. We recommend air drying, though!
Do dry cleaners wash weighted blankets?
Yes! Dry cleaners can wash weighted blankets. Many dry cleaners specialize in washing heavy bedding and other items that are difficult to clean at home. When you take your weighted blanket to the dry cleaner, be sure to mention any special instructions or concerns that you have. That way, the dry cleaner will know how to best care for your blanket.
Why you should not put a weighted blanket in the washer?
Weighted blankets are often filled with glass beads or pellets, which can cause serious damage to your washing machine if they escape from the blanket during the wash cycle. In addition, the extra weight of the blanket can put undue stress on the washer's motor, which can shorten its lifespan. If you must wash your weighted blanket, do so by hand using gentle detergent and cool water. Allow the blanket to air dry completely before using it again.