My good people! Ho-ho-hold up there! Have you got your hands on one of those chunkified cuddle parcels? Ah, yes, weighted blankets, I’m talking about. If you do, how bloody exhilarating they can be! Like a doughnut filled with tranquility. But alas, if the thought of washing them sends you in a tizzy, hapless and horrified at the prospect of ruining your oh-so-precious mood mender, hey! Stop sweating the proverbial small stuff, mate. This here blog-post, my friend, will hold your hand, with the grace of a waltzing matador, guiding you through the process of washing your bundle of bliss.
Now, these marvels usually need a good scrub-a-dub about once a lunar cycle. But, if you’re a dweller in dusty dominions or have a nose more sensitive than grandma’s choicest porcelain, you might need to plonk it in for a wash a bit more often. And when you finally decide to roll up your sleeves and conquer the laundry beast, check that all revealing little tag that whispers sweet care instructions in your ear. You’ll find that many of these adult-sized comfort companions can have a lovely, gentle waltz with the washing machine using cool water and not-so-aggressive detergent. Aha! If yours has come from the land of nature weaved in cotton or wool, go old school and hand-wash your way to cleanliness. Soooo, let’s clean your blanket!
But why, pray tell, the hullabaloo about washing a weighted blanket?
Because, dear friends, these marvelous creations come with a mission to help battle anxiety, stress, and insomnia by using pressure to kickstart serotonin – the feel-good messenger in our bodies – and throttle down cortisol – that hormone playing tag-you’re-it with stress. Keeping the blanket pristine is akin to ensuring a healthy playground for these chemical interactions.
Now, caring for your weighted blanket is a piece of cake, or, shall I say, a slice of comfort pie! Just a few little nuggets to remember:
1). Always sneak a peek at the care label, some like the whirl of the machine, others prefer the gentle undulations of a hand wash.
2). Cool or warm water with a mild detergent does the trick, and remember, hot water is a no-no; it threatens to clump up the filling and damage the fabric itself (Not what we want, now, do we?)
3).Avoid the temptation to stuff your washer like a Thanksgiving turkey; it’s a bad deal both for your machine and the blanket.
4).On the sunny side, try line drying your weighted blanket; tumble drying might send it to Fabric Hospital.
‘So can I throw my blanket in with my jeans and t-shirts?’ you ask.
Most of them do swim quite happily in the washer, just mind the water temperature, detergent type and avoid overcrowding. ‘What about my energy-efficient tumble dryer?’ Hmm, not recommended, my friend. The heat can frizz the fabric and clump the filling. Line drying is best, but if your darling dryer is irresistible, toss it in on low heat protected within a mesh laundry bag.
‘Do they need more washing than my old teddy bear?’
Not necessarily. Weighted blankets bathe less often than regular ones, but they do appreciate a gentle rinse every few months. If it’s part of your daily snuggle routine, go for a scrub every two months.
And what about a duvet cover for my snuggle-monster? Not mandatory but will extend the life of your blanket by protecting it from wear and tear and help keep it clean. Just make sure, it’s machine-washable, so it can join the weighted companion in its watery escapade.
Ah, and the joy of owning a weighted blanket, my friends! Like wearing a comforting bear hug constantly. The peace and tranquility they offer is incomparable. But with that comes the responsibility of looking after them. Weighted blankets can be woven using cotton, fleece, or minky and the material dictates how often you need to be hands-on with the wash.
Folks using blankets made from natural fibers like cotton or wool should peruse the detergent aisle for gentler options, shunning the bleach and fabric softeners altogether. Meanwhile, those armed with synthetic fabrics like polyester or microfiber can afford to be a bit more aggressive during their laundry rounds.
Now, those tiny little tags on your blankie might seem unimportant but pay heed, amigo! They’re the cryptic guide to your blanket’s washing wonders. Most can survive the gentle twirling of a machine washer, but some need a hand wash or even a trip to the dry-cleaners.
If you want me to wash it right, do it light! That’s what keeps your weighted blanket happy and peppy.
Knowing when to wash (cotton every 2-3 weeks, fleece or minky less often), what to use (gentle for natural fibers, harsher for synthetics) and how to wash (usually machine gentle cycle, sometimes hand-wash or dry-clean), works wonders for the longevity of your fuzzy friend.
Related: Clean Silk Blankets – Machine Washing
Remember always to take out any loose hair (furry pet owners, are you listening?), use a mesh bag to protect it in a front-loading washer, shake it out once the cycle ends to shake off any rebel dirt clumps or detergent clusters and hang it to dry in a well-aired area.
Guidelines aside, washing a weighted blanket is easy peasy lemon squeezy. The best method? Cold water, delicate cycle, low heat on the dryer or air dry. And voilà! Just with a bit of care, your weighted blankie stands ready to serve your comfort and warmth demands for several moons to come.
‘Should I be avoiding certain fabrics?’ Well, it’s not a matter of avoiding; it’s a matter of knowing. Whether it’s cotton, minky, silk, wool, or fleece, each has a unique story, a unique dance, and a unique cleaning method.
But, remember, always pay homage to that care label before you wrangle with the washing. It’ll tell you the dos and the don’ts. No fabric softeners, please; they can numb the blanket’s tactile magic. More than any other blanket, weighted ones need TLC to maintain their exceptional comforting capabilities.
So, now you’re ready to prance around in jammies and socks, with your clean weighted blanket draped regally, knowing you’ve cared for it just right. Enjoy the newfound calm and coziness, wrapped up in those pounds of bliss.
