But like a regular blanket, weighted blankets get dirty—and if you want to maintain yours over the years, it’s important to know how to take care of it. Here’s how to wash your weighted blanket and some tips for keeping it fresh for cozy nights to come. Some weighted blankets use dense fabric and are plenty heavy without fillers. These blankets—made from natural fabrics such as cotton, flannel, and fleece—can be easily washed in a machine in cool/lukewarm water and dried on low heat. Blankets that use artificial fillers such as polyester or glass beads should be OK in the wash as well, as long as you avoid high temperatures. (Plastic beads can melt, and glass shouldn’t be exposed to hot water.) When in doubt, go cool. If your weighted blanket comes with a detachable cover, you can throw that in the machine and wash and dry as you would a standard blanket. Before laundering any type of weighted blanket, you’ll want to make sure it’s not too heavy for your machines. Most household machines can hold anywhere from 7 to 20 pounds. If your blanket is too heavy for your washer or dryer, you can either take it to a laundromat that has heavier-duty machines or go the hand-washing route. To hand-wash your blanket, fill a bathtub up halfway with cool/lukewarm water and add a capful of mild, eco-friendly detergent. Before plunging your blanket in, clear up any spot stains on its cover. Pro tip: Jana Van der Linde with weighted blanket company Bearaby recommends soaking the stained area in cold water and rubbing down with a cloth or sponge that has a drop of detergent. Then, place your entire blanket into the water and gently scrub its sections together until you’ve cleaned the whole thing. (Use those muscles!) Allow it to soak for around 10 minutes, and then repeat the scrubbing process. Drain the tub and rinse the blanket until there’s no more soap. To dry, gently squeeze water out without wringing it. Lay flat to dry. (This can take a while, so try to find a place with good air circulation, sunlight, or near a heating vent.) There are some fillers you shouldn’t be getting wet at all, such as natural materials like sand, rice, or beans, as they could rot. This makes these pretty tricky to clean, so you’ll want to check in with the manufacturer for their tips.
