Weighted blankets have proven helpful time and time again in providing better sleep for those suffering from anxiety and stress. The weighted blanket can provide much-needed rest, but it is pretty expensive.

This is why it is of the utmost importance that you keep your weighted blanket clean and in good condition so that this investment lasts and continues to give you a good night of sleep for many years. If you want to improve relaxation and get the most out of your weighted blanket, consider adding lavender essential oil to your nighttime routine for the ultimate anxiety-reducing rest.

If you want to learn how to wash a weighted blanket, keep reading. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to keep your weighted blanket clean and in good shape.

How To Wash A Weighted Blanket?

This section will cover everything you need to know about the washing process of weighted blankets, including which substances you can use, whether to use cold or warm water and whether the weighted blanket is machine washable.

Read Blanket Care Instructions

Your weighted blanket should come with some care instructions, usually in a pamphlet when you buy it. If you do not have care instructions for your blanket, you can try researching online to see if the brand offers any guidance for blanket care on their website. 

It is essential to read the blanket care instructions for your specific blanket, as each blanket is made using different materials and may have additional washing requirements.

How To Approach Different Stains

All stains were not created equal, and so you must know which substances and stain removal techniques work for each kind of stain. Check out this A-Z guide on removing different stains for more assistance.

Cold Water

If you notice a stain on your weighted blanket, you should run some cold water over the fabric to remove the dirt that can stick to the material. Do not use warm water, as this can cause the stain to set into the fabric, which will make it extremely difficult to remove.

Bleach-Free Stain Remover

Bleach-free stain remover works well for bodily fluids like sweat or liquid spill stains like soda or juice. Apply bleach-free stain remover to the fabric and use a toothbrush to gently scrub it, being gentle to ensure you don’t cause wear on the fabric.

Soap For Grease Stains

For grease stains, you will want to use soap. Grease stains include residual oils from greasy foods that can be pretty difficult to get rid of if you don't know what to use to wash them out. Ensure that the soap you are using does not contain bleach and scrub gently.

Rubbing Alcohol

You can use rubbing alcohol to remove ink stains from your weighted blanket.

Enzyme-Based Stain Remover

This stain remover works to help remove difficult grease stains that may be on your weighted blanket.

Washing The Weighted Blanket

When it comes to washing your weighted blanket, you should always refer to the label or tag, which will contain symbols denoting the manufacturer's instructions for washing. If you do not know what these symbols mean, then google is your friend. Your blanket may come with a removable cover, which you should wash separately.

Machine-Washing Weighted Blanket

If your weighted blanket is suitable for a machine wash, then you can machine wash it at home using a gentle cycle with mild detergent. However, if the blanket weighs over 12lbs, it could potentially break your machine by damaging the drum suspension. If this is the case, you can simply take your blanket to a commercial washing facility with large machines to accommodate your weighted blanket.

You should look at your weighted blanket's label to determine whether you should wash it in cold or warm water, and you should ensure that a gentle detergent is used not to damage the fabric. Then, pop your machine to a low or medium setting before placing your entire blanket in the drum. Avoid fabric softeners as they will have the reverse effect on weighted blankets, making them scratchy and stiff.

Hand-Washing Weighted Blanket

If your weighted blanket cannot be put into the washing machine or is too heavy for your washing machine, you may want to try hand washing it. You can handwash your weighted blanket by taking the following steps:

1. Fill Up Your Bathtub

Make sure your bathtub is clean before filling it with lukewarm water and a moderate amount of gentle laundry detergent, as too much mild detergent will be hard to wash away.

2. Wash Your Blanket

You can hand wash your weighted blanket by placing it into the lukewarm mixture and squeezing the fabric to ensure the water is soaking through it. Let it soak for 15 minutes. Then, drain the tub, refill it with cold water, and squeeze the blanket to get the mixture out. Repeat this process, filling and squeezing, until there are no suds left.

How To Dry A Weighted Blanket?

Machine Drying

The only kind of weighted blanket you can tumble dry is those filled with glass beads. If you have a glass beads blanket, place your weighted blanket into the tumble drier on a low heat setting and wait for it to be dried so you can enjoy your freshly laundered blanket. BluZen's weighted blankets are machine driable.

Air Drying

You should use the air-dry method in most instances. Place your weighted blanket flat over a protective tarp to stop your floors from getting wet while you let your blanket air dry. Ensure that the filling of your cotton weighted blanket is spread evenly to promote drying. Then, take a couple of clean, dry towels and place them over the blanket, gently pressing to remove excess liquid. After this, you should let it air dry.

What To Avoid While Washing

You can do some things that will ultimately damage your weighted blankets and make them unfit for use. You must avoid these things when washing your weighted blankets:

Hot Water

You should always substitute hot water for warm or cold water in the washing process. This is because hot water will help stains set on the fabric and could be too harsh for the material.

Bleach

Bleach can damage your weighted blanket, and so it's best to avoid using any kind of bleach or bleach products during the washing process.

Fabric Softener

Fabric softener can cause your blanket to become stiff and scratchy and have the opposite effect on a weighted blanket. This has something to do with the way weighted blankets are made.

Iron

Ironing your weighted blanket isn't necessary and can melt the fibers inside the blanket and spoil it.

Guidelines For Different Types Of Fabrics

There are additional requirements for the different types of fabrics used in weighted blankets, and it is essential to know exactly how to treat each of these fabrics.

Cotton

Cotton is extremely easy to wash because it is a highly durable fabric. You should be able to put a cotton weighted blanket into the washing machine on a low temp setting and dry it on a cooler spin.

Flannel

Flannel is durable, much like cotton, and so would be able to withstand washing and drying on lower temperature settings, depending on the filling used in the weighted blanket.

Silk

Silk isn't commonly used in weighted blankets, and if you have a weighted silk blanket, it is recommended that you dry clean it, as this fabric is extremely delicate.

Wool

Wool is susceptible to shrinkage, so hand-washing or dry cleaning is recommended. Since there is still a risk of shrinkage with hand washing, dry cleaning is the safest option with wool weighted blankets.

Rayon

Rayon is easily damaged or susceptible to shrinkage, so hand washing is recommended for weighted blankets in this fabric, taking extra care with this delicate fabric.

How Often Should Weighted Blankets Be Washed?

Now you know how to wash a weighted blanket, you should also be aware of when to clean a weighted blanket. How often you use your weighted blanket determines how often you wash it. For instance, if you use your weighted blanket daily, it should be cleaned every few weeks to ensure that germs and dirt do not build up on the fabric. 

If you don't use your weighted blanket every day or use a duvet cover to protect the blanket that is washed regularly, then you can wash your weighted blanket between three and four times per year. BluZen offers a weighted blanket that is fully machine washable and dryable with cotton fabric and glass beads so that washing your weighted blanket doesn't have to be a tiring ordeal.

Conclusion

BluZen is a family-run business that prides itself on improving customers' lives by offering a series of products and essential oils that help promote relaxation and improve mental health. The scents BluZen offers are personal to the user and should be curated according to their preferences.