Are you planning on buying a cool weighted blanket but are not sure whether maintaining and cleaning them would be easy or not? Then you are definitely not alone. Weighted blankets will cost you a lot, so it is almost necessary to take good care of them and clean them properly. After all, weighted blankets help you to sleep better, aid you in relieving the symptoms of anxiety, restlessness, autism, depression and many other certain conditions.
Cleaning a weighted blanket can be both easy and challenging task. It all depends on the type of material used in its manufacturing. So, before you jump into the cleaning process, it is essential to check the tag for materials and consider the overall construction which will affect the way it should be washed.
Here are 10 tips for you which will surely help you in maintaining a clean blanket.
1. Air Your Blanket Every Now and Then
Sometimes all you need is to air your best weighted blanket just to make it smell like a new one. It is a quick and efficient way to refresh your blanket. You can air it outside or you can just open up the windows of the room for a couple of hours. In this way, you will just need to do the basic spot cleaning as airing your blanket will prevent the dust and bacteria to pile up.
2.Handwash/Machine Wash
In order to prevent the damage, it is better to hand wash the weighted blankets. However, there are washing machines available that allow you the same result as a handwash and are capable of washing even the most delicate fabrics available in the market. But if you are looking at cleaning only a single stain then spot cleaning is the best option.
3.When to visit Laundromat?
If your blanket weighs more than 20lbs, the best option is to take it to a laundromat. Even if your blanket has too many stains, it is better to be kind to your home washer and hand the blanket to the professionals. If you want to save yourself from too many trips to a laundromat, we suggest you to use a duvet to cover your blanket.
4.How to Wash Weighted Blanket?
A cold-water gentle machine wash is recommended for most of the weighted blankets. You might find some blanket with removable outer layer, like a duvet cover which can be washed separately.
There is no doubt that the fabrics and Polly pellets used in the manufacturing of weighted blankets are very durable. But to ensure a longer life span, it is essential to maintain and clean them regularly. Wash blanket separately with a mild detergent to keep it top notch. Never use a harsh chemical such as chlorine bleaches as it will cause nothing but damage. Waterproof blankets must be machine washed with warm or hot water and avoid using vinegar or bleach in order to keep the material safe.
5.How to Hand Wash Weighted Blankets?
Fill your tub with water and put half or quarter cup of gentle detergent based on the size and weight of your tub. Avoid to fill your tub up to the brim to avoid the mess.
Clutch one part of the blanket and rub it with very gentle strokes. Now smooth it out and grab a new part of the blanket and wash it. Keep on repeating this until each and every part of the blanket is washed out.
Drain water from the blanket, use your hands to apply pressure in order to remove excess of water but don’t squeeze or twist.
Now use lukewarm water to rinse your blanket several times until the detergent is removed completely from it. Again, apply the pressure method to remove water and dry your blanket.
6.Dryer is Okay, Not Recommended
All the weighted blankets are rated for the dryer. The fabrics can be dried without receiving any damage and the poly pellet filling can also be dried using a dryer without any consequences. But we recommend you to cool dry or hang dry. In fact, it is for the better life of your blanket as your blanket will stay healthier and last longer.
7.Hang Drying the Blanket
You can hang dry your blanket. Nothing is wrong with it, but you have to take some precautions just to maintain its shape. Hang the quilt evenly over the laundry line and never hang blanket from the edge, especially a weighted one. Most of the washing machine do a fine job during the drying cycle and get most of water out successfully, which means you won't have to hang dry your blanket for too long.
8.Say No to Detergent, Fabric Softener, Bleach
Using any chemicals is certainly not a great idea when it comes to washing a gravity blanket. Ironically fabric softeners can make your blanket less soft by building up in the quilt. Bleach will break down the fibers of your blanket. If you want a longer life span of your blanket then it is best to use a mild detergent and use only non-chlorine bleach when necessary.
9.Avoid Ironing
We feel difficult imagining a scene where someone would feel the need to iron their blanket. But just in case if you are wondering, we suggest you not to iron the blanket. The only blanket that could be ironed is the 100 % cotton with glass beads. But ironing a weighted blanket would not be a hectic task. So, our suggestion is that make peace with how your blanket looks. One solution could be to cover your blanket with a duvet.
10.Remove stains before drying
Removing stains depend upon their type. Some stains go away easily while some give you a hard time. The tip that we are going to give you is that no matter what you do to remove your stains, just treat them before you put your quilt in the dryer. The reason is that the dryer acts like an oven and it would do nothing but bake your stain which will remain on your weighted blanket for eternity.
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