Using a washing machine makes cleaning blankets easier; however, there are times when throwing them in the wash will ruin the fabric. At such times, follow the washing instructions below.
How to wash bedding
Comforters come with detachable covers that protect them from dirt and can be put in the washing machine. Wash your comforter on a gentle cycle, using cold or warm water with a mild detergent. Spot clean your bedding to minimize washing. This will definitely prolong the life of the fabric.
Do the same with other items, such as sheets and pillowcases. Remember not to use high temperatures or strong chemicals.
Washing the blanket by hand
Fill a plastic container with cold water and add liquid detergent. Make sure the water and soap are sufficiently mixed and combined.
Submerge the fabric under water and knead the fabric one piece at a time.
Once the fabric has been thoroughly cleaned, remove the blanket and squeeze out the excess water without wringing out the fabric as this will distort it.
Repeat steps 1 through 3, using clean water until there is no trace of soap.
After squeezing all the water out of the fabric, place it between two dry towels to drain the water. This will speed up the drying process.
Then hang dry to preserve the shape of the fabric.
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How to wash fleece blankets
Fleece blankets are made of a material that you can tell over time if it’s high quality. Low-quality fleece peels, losing its velvety softness. Meanwhile, high quality fleece does not mothball and remains soft for a very long time.
Either way, using the following method will help you keep your fleece blanket soft longer.
Using the right amount of laundry detergent, load the washing machine as you normally would: soap first, then the blanket.
Wash with cold water set on a gentle cycle.
Add softener during the rinse cycle.
After washing, hang the blanket on a string and let it dry. This will prevent the wrinkling that often occurs in the dryer.
How to wash wool blankets
The biggest risk associated with cleaning your own wool blanket is shrinkage. In the next four steps, we’ll show you how to wash a wool blanket without worrying about damaging the fabric.
Make sure the blanket is machine washable. If so, place a mild detergent on the bottom of the drum and then on the fabric.
Set the machine to a gentle cycle with cold water.
After a minute of the spin cycle, stop the machine so the blanket doesn’t stretch.
Hang dry on a rack. Placing the wool in a heated dryer will shrink the fabric.
How to wash electric blankets
Washing heated blankets can be tricky. The wires running through the fabric can be dangerous if cleaning is not done properly. We generally recommend spot cleaning such a blanket. Heated blankets can cause a fire or electrocute you if the wires are not handled gently.
Before washing, unplug the cord from the blanket – if you have a blanket whose cord is not detachable make sure it is not plugged in – and inspect all cords in the fabric to make sure none are damaged.
If your blanket has a detachable cord, you can place the fabric in the washing machine and soak for 5 to 15 minutes. You can use cold or warm water.
If the blanket does not have a detachable cord, you will have to hand wash the fabric without getting the cord wet.
Wash the detachable blanket on a cycle lasting no longer than 3 minutes on a gentle program using a mild detergent.
The rinse cycle should take no longer than 1 minute.
Let the blanket dry in the dryer for 5 to 10 minutes. Then hang to dry.
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