Blankets, like other clothing and bedding, should be washed regularly. If you regularly use bed covers and blankets, it is recommended to wash them once a month so that dirt and dust do not accumulate. Most blankets are machine washable if you use the right settings. However, if you're not sure what method is best for your type of blanket, hand washing can be a solution.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Hand Wash
Step 1. Fill the tub with cold water and detergent
Find a bathtub or sink large enough to fit a blanket, then fill it with cold water. Add mild detergent evenly. In fact, you'd be doing the same thing as a washing machine on a gentle setting, but using your hands. That way, you can control how the blanket is washed and make sure no part is missed.
Don't overfill the tub as the water may overflow when you put the blanket in
Step 2. Rock the blanket in the water
Gently rub the blanket while dipping it in soapy water. We recommend that you do it by section. Do this until you have worked through all of the blankets and removed any loose dirt.
Step 3. Squeeze out excess water
Remove the blanket from the tub and let the water drain. Fold the blanket in half or thirds, then squeeze with both hands to remove excess water. Pressing the blanket may be a safer option than squeezing, which can stretch and deform the fabric.
Step 4. Wash again using clean water
You should wash the blanket one more time in cold water. This step will rinse the remaining detergent that is still attached to the fabric fibers. Rock the blanket in the water, making sure that each part of the blanket is worked separately. Do this until there is no soap left on the blanket.
- Empty the tub and refill it with clean water. You may have to rinse the blanket several times until the rinse water is clear.
- Make sure you wash blankets made of delicate fabrics, such as wool, silk, and linen, by hand. These fabrics are woven from natural fibers and you can permanently damage them if you wash them too vigorously.
Method 2 of 4: Using the Washing Machine
Step 1. Make sure the capacity of the washing machine can accommodate blankets
Depending on the size of the blanket, you may find it difficult to put it in the washing machine. Front load and top load washing machines without stirrer will give optimal results because the space inside the drum is more spacious and allows the blanket to move easily. If the blanket is too large for the capacity of a standard washing machine or is made of a delicate fabric, we recommend that you wash it manually.
- Take the blanket outside and shake it a few times to remove any dirt and grime that may have stuck to it before washing it.
- Laundry machines are usually larger than standard washing machines on the market and may be the best solution if the blanket is very large or bulky.
Step 2. Do a color test to make sure the color doesn't fade
If the blanket has never been washed, it may be worth doing a quick test to see if the color of the blanket will fade when washed. Soak the colored part of the blanket in cold water for a few minutes, then press it down with a white cloth or paper towel to see if the color fades. Wash the duvet by hand if you notice the white cloth is stained.
Don't wash new or colorful blankets with other clothes
Step 3. Choose a gentle wash cycle and use cold water
When machine washing blankets, you should always use cold water and choose the gentlest cycle. The washing machine works way too hard for clothes. Maybe that's part of the reason why the laundry is so clean. The downside of using a washing machine is that the methods used, such as twisting, hitting and stirring, can stretch the blanket and change its initial shape. In addition, the use of hot water can shrink the fibers and make the color fade. You have to keep this in mind to protect the blanket from damage.
Step 4. Use a mild detergent
Pour a small amount of mild detergent into the washing machine after filling it with water, but before putting in the blanket. That way, the detergent will dissolve evenly and produce a softer solution for washing and avoid direct contact of the detergent with the blanket. Most detergents are shrinking and in high concentrations can cause fabric to wear and fade. Therefore, choose a detergent that is specially formulated for delicate fabrics and use only as needed.
In general, you only need a small amount of detergent for washing. A quarter of the dose is enough
Step 5. Put the blanket into the machine evenly
When putting the blanket in the washing machine, make sure the weight is evenly distributed in the drum. If not, there may be parts of the blanket that were missed and not washed. In addition, if the blanket distribution is uneven, the movement the machine uses in the washing process can create an imbalance. If your washing machine has a stirrer in the middle, arrange the blanket around it as you slide it in.
Step 6. Start the washing process
Run the washing machine and let it do its job. If the blanket is thick or synthetic, you can do a full wash cycle. However, you can also remove the blanket after 3-5 minutes. This method is recommended for blankets that are soft or made of natural fibers, such as wool or filled with fleece. You don't need to complete the entire washing, rinsing and spinning process.
- The longer you leave the blanket in the washing machine, the more likely it will snag, stretch, or break. The squeezing process may be too strong for some types of fabric.
- Machine-safe fabrics include cotton, which has been pre-shrunk, and synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon, which will not stretch or shrink.
Method 3 of 4: Machine Drying
Step 1. Select a low heat setting
If you want to tumble dry the blanket, choose a low or medium heat setting. Too high a temperature can shrink the fibers of the fabric or cause synthetic materials, such as polyester, to burn. If you are drying a wool or fleece blanket, run the dryer without heat.
- Because it doesn't use heat, this method takes longer and should only be used if you're concerned about damaging the natural fiber fabric.
- As noted above, cotton and synthetic materials are more flexible fabrics and are therefore safe to dry in a tumble dryer. Be careful when using high temperatures for synthetic materials as they may catch fire over time.
Step 2. Put the blanket in the dryer
Again, you have to make sure the weight of the blanket is evenly distributed. Try to allow the blanket to move freely, don't squish it.
Clean the lint trap before you run the engine. Fluffy fabrics such as blankets tend to release a lot of lint, which can burn if they accumulate in the filter
Step 3. Take the time to dry the blanket
If the blanket is tightly woven or has been washed and dried many times, it's okay to do a full drying cycle on low heat. Dry any soft or loosely woven blankets briefly and make sure you keep an eye on them. Set the timer on the machine for the desired period of time, or keep an eye on the blanket during the drying process.
- Drying a soft blanket without heat can take hours. Reset the dryer at the end of the cycle and repeat until the blanket is no longer damp.
- Drying the blanket for too long can cause shrinkage or damage. Choose the right time for drying the blanket and check from time to time if you are drying for a long time.
Step 4. Remove and hang the blanket
Remove the blanket from the machine while it is still slightly damp. In most cases, it's a good idea to continue the drying process on the air. This method will help make the blanket softer while the remaining water evaporates slowly and reduce the worry of the blanket shrinking, burning, stretching and electrostatic discharge. Flatten the blanket by hand, then you can hang it on a clothesline or spread it out on a wide, flat surface. Allow the blanket to dry completely.
- A clothesline or ironing board can be very useful for hanging blankets to dry if you don't have enough space to attach a clothesline.
- Flip the blanket occasionally so that both sides are exposed to the air.
Method 4 of 4: Air-Drying
Step 1. Remove excess water
If you decide to aerate the blanket, be sure to remove as much excess water from the blanket as possible. This step will speed up the drying process. Remember, you just press the blanket, do not squeeze it by twisting.
Step 2. Hang the blanket
You can use a clothesline or ironing board to spread out or hang a blanket to dry. Drying the blanket with this method is best done outdoors as the movement of the air will help with the drying process, but if that's not possible, you can also turn on a fan or hang it up overnight.
- Smooth out creases and creases before hanging the blanket up. Otherwise, the blanket will wrinkle and the drying process will be uneven.
- Make sure you spread the blanket fully when hanging it up. The more surface area exposed to air, the faster the drying process.
- Blankets of wool, silk, linen, and loosely woven threads, such as knitted fabrics, should be hung and air dried. This method is safest for fragile fabrics and will help protect the blanket for subsequent washing and drying.
Step 3. Roll the blanket between two dry towels
You can also place a wet blanket between two dry towels and roll or fold them together. The towel will absorb moisture from both sides of the blanket so it dries faster. Place a heavy object, such as a book, on a roll and press the towel against the blanket to allow for better contact between the dry towel and the blanket.
- One of the advantages of this method is that you will get a dry blanket that is flat because it has been tightly rolled up or folded neatly.
- Using an object heavier than a textbook to squeeze water out of a blanket rolled up between towels can deform the blanket or cause creases when dry.
Step 4. Spread the blanket
If you don't have enough space or don't want to use the towel method, find a clean, flat surface on which to spread the towels. Place a few towels under the blanket to absorb excess water and don't forget to turn the blanket over so that both sides are exposed to the air. Drying blankets with this method takes more time than others, but is the most practical. You may need to iron the blanket once it is completely dry to remove wrinkles.
- This method is also suitable for blankets made of delicate fabrics such as wool, which stretch easily and lose their original shape when washed and dried by harsh processes.
- Use low heat when ironing. To get rid of the creases, don't press the iron too hard and only scrub once or twice.
Tips
- You can put a tennis ball or two in the dryer along with the blanket. The ball helps move the blanket inside the machine for more even drying.
- Rinse at least twice when washing the blanket by hand. The soap residue left behind can be irritating if you have sensitive skin.
- Use a detergent specially formulated for delicate fabrics when washing blankets made from natural fibers or fabrics that are easily damaged. Camping supply stores also sell “detergent for sleeping bags”. This detergent dissolves easily and does not produce too much foam so it is easier to rinse.
- For best results, you should add detergent to the water before putting the blanket in the washing machine so that it dissolves completely. If you pour it on a blanket, there's a chance that the detergent will get stuck in the crease.
Warning
- Wash the blankets separately and do one at a time. Water and soap will have a harder time circulating effectively if the washing machine is too full.
- Do not dry the blanket in the machine for too long. Synthetic fabrics can burn and melt if exposed to heat for too long and high heat can cause strong materials such as cotton to shrink.
- Do not put a blanket that is still damp on the bed because it can cause mold to develop.
