Electric blankets improve the quality of your sleep by providing additional warmth, which is especially useful on chilly nights or when recuperating from an illness or injury.
But did you know that heated blankets can not be dry-cleaned? The solvents used to dry clean regular fabrics can wreak havoc on a heated blanket’s heating element and wiring.
In this article, you will learn how to wash your heated blanket safely at home and some simple care tips you can follow as you do so. Keep reading
How Do You Wash a Heated Blanket Without Ruining It?
Given that they cannot be dry cleaned, how can you wash a heated blanket at home without ruining its electric components? You can do so by hand or simply load it in a washing machine – the choice is yours.
Forceful agitation and twisting may negatively impact your heated blanket’s internal components, especially older ones. Because of this, washing heated blankets by hand is beneficial because it’s gentler to wash them that way. However, in this article, you will learn how to wash your heated blanket safely by hand or using your washing machine.
Method 1: Machine Washing a Heated Blanket
It’s easy. Get your regular detergent, cool or warm water for the wash, and your washing machine ready, then you’re all set. Follow the instructions below to wash your heated blanket in a washing machine safely.
Step 1 – Unplug the Control Cord
Heated blankets have a control cord that delivers electricity through a wall connection; you must unplug the power cord before putting it in the washer. But first, turn off and disconnect the blanket before removing it.
Next, agitate the blanket as much as possible to remove any loose debris before putting it in the washing machine.
Step 2 – Check the Care Label
Check and adhere to the instructions on the care label. Most electric blankets can be machine-washed, and some can even go in the dryer.
Many heated blankets may be machine-washed on a moderate, cold cycle and tumble-dried on low heat in the dryer.
Most manufacturers advise that you use the pre-soak setting of your machine to soak the heated blanket for 5–15 minutes. Water temperature preferences differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, ranging from freezing to warm. If there are no particular instructions, start with a 15-minute cold water soak.
The bottom line is that you should always follow washing and drying advice from your manufacturer. If the care tag is hard to find, you may head to the manufacturer’s website to find tailored instructions for your heated blanket.
You may also like to learn how to wash a weighted blanket at home.
Step 3 – Load Blanket Into the Washing Machine
Because most blankets only require a few minutes of washing, most manufacturers do not advocate running a complete cycle. Just wash on the gentle setting, using the shortest cycle available, and your heated blanket will still turn out fine.
To prevent excessive suds that make blankets hard to rinse, only a tiny amount of mild laundry detergent should be used, and no bleach or fabric softeners should be added to the load.
When you load your heated blanket, spread it evenly across the drum in normal washers and try throwing in a pair of lint-free towels to balance the load. For water temperature to use, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s advice.
Method 2: Washing Heated Blanket By Hand
Some heated blankets cannot be tossed in a washing machine to be washed – it’s just not good for their electrical components. The way to bring them back to tip-top condition is by hand washing them. Follow these steps to hand wash your heated blanket:
Step 1 – Detach the Control Cord
Unplug the control cord from the wall socket to avoid damaging it when you soak the blanket.
Step 2 – Let It Soak
Fill your bathtub with an appropriate amount of cool water to submerge your heated blanket.
Next, put in the recommended amount of soap, depending on your product. We recommend using Tide laundry detergent because it is not only color-safe but also makes whites even whiter and comes with a measurement cap so that you never go wrong with the amount of soap to use.
Submerge the heated blanket gently and let it soak for about 15 minutes before you start squishing and working it with gentle pressure (don’t twist or wring).
Step 4 – Rinse Blanket
After step 3, it’s time to rinse the suds away. Drain the tub completely while holding up the blanket to let the water drain properly. After that, refill the tub with clean water and rinse the suds away. Repeat this step as often as required to make the water run clear.
If you must squeeze the heated blanket, use only mild pressure.
Should You Iron a Heated Blanket?
No, you shouldn’t. Heated blankets typically contain wires, and high heat may damage their insulation; plugging them in afterward could be dangerous as it may start an electrical fire.
If your heated blanket is wrinkled, try hanging it on a shower rod. Let gravity pull on it until the wrinkles straighten out.
Can You Put an Electric Blanket In the Dryer?
Some heated blankets can go in the dryer as long as you set the dryer to low heat. To answer your question, it depends on the manufacturer’s instructions. Therefore, always confirm from your blanket care tag to be sure.
However, if you can’t find a care tag for your heated blanket, we recommend you take the steps in the next section (below).
How To Dry a Heated Blanket
Washing your heated blanket is only half the battle. After that, you need to figure out how to dry it depending on the manufacturer’s suggestion. Typically, heated blankets should be partially dried in the heat of a dryer, then finished off by air drying in the open.
However, you must set the dryer to low heat. Also, avoid using dryers in laundromats because they can run at much higher temperatures than regular dryers. When you use a regular dryer, let the heated blanket dry
Follow these simple instructions to dry your heated blanket safely:
- Turn on the dryer on low heat and let it run for about two minutes.
- Next, put in your heated blanket and let it tumble dry – still on low heat – for 10 – 15 minutes before taking it out. In this amount of time, your blanket will not dry completely (which is OK).
- Hang your heated blanket out to dry on a strong clothesline until completely dry. Also, read how to keep sheets from balling in the dryer.
Note: Do not take your heated blanket in until it is completely dry; otherwise, moisture might damage its internal electrical components.
Tips On How To Care For Heated Blankets
- Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners while washing a heated blanket.
- Never iron your heated blanket to avoid damaging it permanently.
- Dry cleaning a heated blanket is strictly prohibited – we’re sure your dry cleaner will say the same.
- Avoid using mothball spray on your heated blanket.
- The blanket’s controller should never be submerged in water for any reason.
- Always dry your heated blanket on low heat for no more than 15 minutes.
- For spot cleaning, use a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water to treat the soiled area. To do that, put the vinegar solution in a spray bottle and spray the spot liberally before washing the blanket.
- Be careful not to squeeze or agitate the heated blanket excessively, as doing so might damage its electrical components.
How Often to Clean an Electric Blanket?
If you use your heated blanket every night, then you should wash it at least once a month. If not, you should wash it as you see fit. If you don’t use your heated blanket often, then there is no reason to wash it every month if it’s not dirty.