How to Wash Your Weighted Blanket?

Ever had a hug that felt sooooo good you wished it would never end?

That’s how you’ll feel about your Serenity Engineered Weighted Blanket – which means whether you use it to enjoy a calming night’s sleep, ease autism or wrap it around you to reduce anxiety by snuggling up with your dog on the couch, it’s going to get a lot of use.  

It goes without saying that any blanket that’s loved that much is going to need to be cleaned periodically in order to keep it looking great and smelling fresh.  The good news is that because our anxiety, sleep aid weighted blanket is filled with top quality micro glass beads, it can be machine washed. Unlike weighted blankets that use other fill materials, one filled with glass beads is the best choice because it dries well and doesn’t clump up.

However, because even washable weighted blankets require a special kind of care, we want to give you some guidelines that will help you keep it clean and maintain its soothing weighted properties.

 

Cleaning your Washable Weighted Blanket Cover

• Remove The Cover and Check For Stains. The cover is the first line of defense for keeping your adult weighted blanket or weighted blanket for kids clean so make sure to always use it. Tossing it in the laundry when you do your weekly or every-other-week linen change is fine.  If you find a food, drink, or pet stain on the cover, run the spot under cold water, apply a mild detergent, rub it gently, and then rinse.  
• Machine wash the cover.  We generally recommend washing your weighted blanket cover with non-bleach detergent in warm water if there is little or no staining.  If the stains are more severe, wash it in cold.   
• Add an extra level of calm with a scented detergent. Although regular and cool weighted blankets help reduce anxiety, soothe autism, and relax restless sleepers, you can boost their soothing effects with the addition of a calming fragrance.  Washing your blanket cover in a scented detergent can add another dimension of comfort and luxury that will help you drift off to sleep on a cloud of delicious fragrance.
  
  If your weighted blanket for kids belongs to a child with autism, this kind of aromatherapy can be very effective in promoting a sense of peace and serenity. If your child associates certain scents with positive or comforting activities, pairing them with a heavy weighed blanket can enhance the experience.  Vanilla, lavender, and rose are generally considered calming scents while citrus, cinnamon, and mint tend to be invigorating fragrances that probably should be avoided at bedtime.
  
  Here’s a selection of our favorite scented detergents:
  • Seventh Generation Geranium Blossom & Vanilla. In addition to giving your weighted blanket cover a delicious non-synthetic scent, this all-natural detergent is a USDA Certified Biobased Product.
  • Tyler Glamorous Diva Laundry Detergent. This little-known detergent intoxicates with a blend of lily-of-the-valley, citrus, and rose that does a great job of cleaning all kinds of fine fabrics.
  • Mrs. Meyer’s Lavender Laundry Detergent. Infused with the classic scent of Provence, this detergent comes in a concentrated form so one bottle can easily tackle up to 64 loads of laundry. 
  • Ginger Mango Method Laundry Detergent. The zesty, yet fruity scent of this detergent will make heading off to dreamland under your heavy weighted blanket extra heavenly.
  • Laundress Laundry Detergent. Described as the Chanel of laundry detergent, this cleansing liquid’s scent is described as “blending lily of the valley and jasmine with sweet musk, sandalwood, and a touch of citrus”.
• Don’t use fabric softeners. Although they’re fine to use on our solky soft cooling MicroPeach duvet covers, avoid using fabric softeners if your weighted blanket has a Minky fabric cover.  Minky is made from polyester and has long, thin fibers that are extremely soft.    Fabric softeners will tie the long fibers together and your Minky cover will actually be less soft than it originally was.
• Dry the cover.   If you have a clothes line, you can hang the cover inside – or even better – outside in the fresh air and sunlight to dry.  If not, simply tumble dry it on LOW.  To preserve the softness of the fabric, never dry your weighted blanket cover on HIGH especially if it’s made of Minky fabric.

 

Cleaning your Washable Weighted Blanket

• Decide whether your blanket really needs to be cleaned.  As we mentioned earlier, the cover is designed to protect your weighted blanket from everyday dirt and stains so it shouldn’t have to be cleaned every time you wash the cover. 
  
  This is partly because our heavy weighted blanket’s micro glass bead filler is completely hypoallergenic. These beads don’t absorb and harbor dust and dirt the way down feathers, wool, cotton or other fillers do.  So, unless you have a serious spill that soaks through the cover and seeps into the queen size weighted blanket or twin size weighted blanket, there is relatively little need to wash it.
  
  But if you decide that your washable weighted blanket does need to be freshened up a bit here are the steps you need to take – and a few things to keep in mind.
• Forget about sending your weighted blanket to the dry cleaner.   The process may damage or ruin your blanket.  If needed, machine washing is very effective and is what we recommend.
• Check how much load your washing machine can handle. The average home washing machine can probably handle a 10lb weighted blanket for kids.  However, if you have a 15lb or 20lb queen sized weighted blanket, check your owner’s manual to see if it’s too heavy for your machine to wash.  If it is -- or you want to save your home washing machine the wear and tear – you can take it to a laundromat and wash it in a commercial-size machine.
• Wash your heavy weighted blanket separately. Laundering your 10 lb weighted blanket, 15 lb weighted blanket, 20 lb weighted blanket or 25 lb weighted blanket with other clothes or linens can potentially damage or tear the blanket.
• Use a mild detergent. Don’t use harsh cleaning products, vinegar, or bleach that could weaken the fabric of your washable weighted blanket.
• Wash on the “Gentle” or “Delicate” cycle in warm or cold water.  Never wash your adult weighted blanket or weighted blanket for kids in hot water.   Also avoid aggressive spin cycles, since centrifugal force combined with the heaviness of the blanket can cause your home washer to violently rock or “walk” off its stand or even damage your weighted blanket.
• Hand wash your blanket. If you don’t have a home washing machine or don’t want to take your queen size weighted blanket to a laundromat, you can take the old school route and hand wash it.  Simply fill up your bathtub halfway with cold to warmish water.  
  
  Add ½ to a full cup of mild bleach-free detergent.   Froth the water until bubbles form and submerge your weighted blanket in it. Agitate the blanket with your hands for several minutes to distribute the soapy water to all parts of your regular or cool weighted blanket.  
  
  Then drain the tub and fill it up again with clean water.   Rinse and repeat until no sign of soap suds remain. Empty the tub.  Then wring the remaining water out of your weighted blanket in preparation for drying it.
• Air dry your washable weighted blanket. If you choose this method, don’t hang it on a clothes line.  Instead drape your weighted blanket over something flat and even like a banister or lay it out flat on some towels on your deck to dry in the sun.  Be sure to flip it and shake it out every couple of hours until it’s dry. 
• Tumble dry your blanket.  No place to dry it outside? Tumble dry your adult weighted blanket or weighted blanket for kids on LOW in your home dryer.  Or dry your blanket in a commercial dryer at a Laundromat.

 

Being able to easily clean your weighted blanket promotes physical and mental health.

Both medical doctors and psychologists agree.  Cleanliness helps people live healthier and happier lives.

According to a National Sleep Foundation survey conducted in 2011, people who made their bed each morning had a 19% better chance of enjoying a deep relaxing night’s sleep.  Not surprisingly 75% of the survey participants said that their sleep was even better when their bedding was clean and fresh.    And no wonder.  People naturally feel more physically relaxed and comfortable in a bed that feels and smells great.

The health benefits of clean bedding are also well-documented.  Dust mites, pet dander and mold can trigger allergic reactions, decrease air quality and increase potential asthma problems in even the most meticulously kept homes.  

Knowing that you can easily reduce these triggers in your washable weighted blanket and enjoy the pleasures of a fresh, clean, calming experience every night can help you sleep even easier.

All reasons why when it comes to choosing the best weighted blanket for anxiety, autism, and restful sleep, you should also factor in how easy it is to keep it clean.