5 Easy Ways to Clean a Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets are everywhere these days, and it’s easy to see why: they reduce stress and anxiety, and can help you sleep, too. Weighted blankets are similar to regular blankets except they are filled with stuffing like glass beads, sand, and even rice to weigh them down a bit. These fillings, those, can pose a bit of a problem; you want to keep your blanket clean, however, not washing it properly can damage the blanket and its fillings. So, how do you clean a weighted blanket?

There are many ways to clean a weighted blanket, from hand washing it in the tub to putting it in the washing machine and even steam-cleaning. In this article, we will take you through each method–and more–step by step. Let’s jump right in!

How Often Should You Clean Your Weighted Blanket?

The amount of times you should clean your weighted blanket depends on how often you use it. Most of the time, you should only be washing your weighted blanket four or five times a year. Washing it often can do more harm than good and cause damage to your blanket and its fillings. If you use your blanket every day, you might want to invest in a cover for it that can easily be taken off and cleaned! If you don’t have a cover on it and still use it in your daily life, you can wash it every few weeks to keep things like body oils and sweat from accumulating too much!

Can You Put a Weighted Blanket in a Washing Machine?

You can definitely put a weighted blanket in a washing machine but keep in mind the weight because if it’s too heavy it might cause wear and tear to your machine. If a blanket is more than 15-20 lbs it is generally too heavy to wash in a standard household washing machine. Before you wash your blanket, though, you’ll want to check the label and see if it even is machine washable!

Can You Put a Weighted Blanket in the Dryer?

Yes, you can put a weighted blanket in the dryer however it may not be the best choice for your blanket. You’ll want to be mindful of its weight and size, as well as the fabric it’s made from and the fillings inside. For instance, blankets made with glass beads can be washed and dried at any temperature, but not all fillings can.

How to Clean a Weighted Blanket?

1. Hand Wash it in the Bathtub

It is easy to hand wash your weighted blanket in the bathtub! Let’s go over how to do that!

• Start by treating any big stains with cold water–not hot or warm as it will set the stain–and bleach-free stain remover. Gently scrub the stain with your fingertips or a toothbrush.
• Clean out your bathtub and then fill it about halfway with cold water.
• Add about 1/2 cup to a full cup of mild detergent. Make sure, again, that it doesn’t have any bleach in it.
• Mix the water and detergent together until you’ve created a lather and then dunk the weighted blanket beneath it entirely.
• Wash the blanket carefully.
• Drain the tub, rinse it, and then fill it again with just water, no detergent this time.
• Rinse the blanket until it is fully rid of soap, even if you have to drain and refill the tub again to do so.
• Ring any excess water from it and then dry it!

We have detailed steps on how to dry your weighted blanket down below!

2. Steam Cleaner

You can also use a steam cleaner on your weighted blanket to freshen it up between washes! Using steam is a great way to remove bacteria, dust, dead skin cells, and dirt!

• Start by laying the blanket down on a flat surface.
• Use your handheld steamer as instructed.
• Make sure you lay it down flat to dry, as well!

It should be kept in mind that steam cleaning is not a substitute for washing your blanket! Since weighted blankets should only be washed at least every month, if not less, you can steam clean it to keep it clean in between washes, if you need to.

3. Large Washing Machine

If your weighted blanket can be machine washed, it’s easy to do so!

• First and foremost, check the label to make sure your weighted blanket is machine-washable!
• Secondly, check the weight. If your blanket weighs more than 15 pounds, it’s probably best to hand wash or take it to the laundromat!
• If you have a cover on your weighted blanket, remove it and wash it separately.
• Use a gentle, bleach-free detergent and either cold or warm water, depending on what materials your weighted blanket is made from; it should tell you on the label! Also make sure to avoid fabric softener.
  • Though, if you wish, you can use 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar in its place, since vinegar acts as an organic fabric softener; just pour it into the slot where fabric softener goes in your washer at the beginning of the wash cycle or directly into the basin as the rinse cycle begins.
• Make sure the blanket is the only item in its load.
• Use a gentle or light cycle while washing it!

4. Take it to the Laundromat

If your weighted blanket is too heavy to be used in your household washing machine, you might consider taking it to your neighborhood laundromat! Laundromats have commercial-sized machines designed to hold more bulk and weight, so any weighted blankets 15-20 lbs or more should be brought here if you don’t want to or can’t hand wash it.

• First and foremost, check the label to make sure your weighted blanket is machine-washable!
• If you have a cover on your weighted blanket, remove it and wash it separately.
• Use a gentle, bleach-free detergent and either cold or warm water, depending on what materials your weighted blanket is made from; it should tell you on the label! Also make sure to avoid fabric softener.
  • Though, if you wish, you can use 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar in its place, since vinegar acts as an organic fabric softener; just pour it into the slot where fabric softener goes in your washer at the beginning of the wash cycle or directly into the basin as the rinse cycle begins.
• Make sure the blanket is the only item in its load.
• Use a gentle or light cycle while washing it!

5. Spot Clean the Blanket

If you don’t want to wash your weighted blanket often or if you find small stains on it between washes, you can spot clean it– either just before you wash the blanket or in between washes to keep it fresh!

Spot cleaning is easy, and it is often the best way to get rid of small stains.

• If you can, try and deal with the stain as soon as it happens.
• Start by using a clean paper towel and dab the stain with gentle movements. Refrain from rubbing the stain, as rubbing can harm the fabric and spread the stain around.
• Next, run the stain under cold water.
• If the stain is still there, you’ll want to use detergent! The kind you’ll use depends on what kind of stain you have.
  • If the stain is from food, mix a small amount of dishwashing detergent–about one teaspoon–with two cups of water. Use a clean cloth dipped in this solution to lightly cleanse the stain.
  • If the stain is a bit heavier, like blood, you’ll want to use an enzyme-based stain remover, as they are designed to cut through and dissolve the proteins in the blood stain! After you apply it, rub the sides of the fabric together and then let it sit for about ten minutes before you move on to rinsing it.
• Rinse out the treated stain by running it under cold water again.
• If the stain is still visible, treat it with detergent again until it’s gone!
• Then let it dry!

How to Dry a Weighted Blanket after Cleaning?

It’s usually best to simply let your weighted blanket air dry though it is possible to put it in the dryer!

To Air Dry…

• You can lay it flat and shake it out every so often to make sure every part of the blanket is drying the same.
• You can hang it in a well-ventilated area — make sure that whatever it is hanging on can hold its weight — and, again, shake it out once in a while or flip it to ensure that it is drying!
• If you plan to dry it outdoors, make sure it is not too hot and try to keep it out of the sun as best as you can.

To Use a Dryer…

• Similarly to using a washing machine, make sure the blanket is the only thing in the load.
• Use a low or medium setting to keep the stuffing safe and remove it as soon as it’s done to prevent damaging the stuffing.
• You’ll find that you might need to run it through more than once to ensure that it is properly dried.

No matter how you dry it, make sure that the blanket is fully dry before you use it again to avoid mold growth!

Weighted Blanket Washing FAQs

Can You Wash a Glass Bead-Filled Weighted Blanket?

Yes, you can wash a glass bead-filled weighted blanket! Fortunately, glass beads will not melt at any temperature so you don’t have to worry about possibly damaging them.

Can You Clean a Sand-Filled Weighted Blanket?

You can clean a sand-filled weighted blanket but you want to make sure not to wash it often, as sand expands when wet and can clump when it isn’t dried correctly. To ensure the best for you and your weighted blanket you might want to invest in a dry cleaning kit, rather than using water or putting your sand filled weighted blanket in the washing machine.

Can You Wash a Weighted Blanket Made with Rice?

You cannot wash a weighted blanket made with rice; the rice will develop bacteria and mold. Instead, you can spot treat it or use a cover and wash that when it needs it. If you plan to spot treat it, be watchful of how much water you’re using and try to use as little as possible to protect the rice filling.

How Much Does It Cost to Dry Clean a Weighted Blanket?

The cost of dry cleaning a weighted blanket depends on the fabric from which it is used, but generally speaking prices are under $20-$25 and can even be as low as $5.

Final Thoughts

There are many many benefits to using a weighted blanket, and if you want to own one the details and differences in washing and drying techniques should not stop you from having one! Washing your weighted blanket properly, no matter what it’s made of or what filling is inside it, is very important to your health and the life of your blanket–but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be easy!