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How To Wash A Heavy Weighted Blanket (20ibs+)

How to Wash a heavy weighted blanket that is 20 pounds or more

Heavy weighted blankets are here to stay and for obvious reasons. They seem much more soothing and comfier during cold winter nights as well as breezy afternoons. To top it all off, there are various options available at everyone’s disposal when it comes to the filling. Some are filled with glass beads meanwhile others are manufactured with poly pellets. If you own a heavy weighted blanket, then there’s one particular act you can’t be weary off. Yes, we’re referring to your weighted blanket’s laundry routine.

You simply can’t wash heavy weighted blankets like any other clothing item or fabric lying around the house. To maintain a heavy weighted blanket’s durability for years on, there’s a small list of “dos and don’ts” you need to keep up with. Here’s a brief guide on how to wash a heavy weighted blanket and keep it in its original state for much longer;

How To Wash A Heavy Weighted Blanket (20ibs+): Summary

How To Wash a 20lb Weighted Blanket?

washing a heavy weighted blanket in the washer

Before starting washing your 20ib weighted blanket, make sure to read the care instructions for your weighted blanket. You can find those on the company’s website or the tag attached to your weighted blanket. These suggestions from the manufacturers are extremely essential because it can keep your product safe from any accidental damage. If your weighted blanket can be machine washed then it’ll be mentioned on the care instructions. The care label will also mention the weight of the blanket. Consequently, you’ll know whether or not your washer can even handle the weight of your weighted blanket when washing. Furthermore, these instructions often include a fair warning against using detergents that have bleaching agents inside them.

You can also purchase a duvet cover for your weighted blanked when you buy one in the first place. The duvet cover will not only shield the blanket for stains it’ll also make the laundry routine much easier. You can simply take off the duvet instead of washing the entire weighted blanket every time.

Now let’s cut to the chase and get started with the routine. You can follow this step by step guide for each scenarios and pick the one that suits you.

Scenario # 1: Dry Cleaning Only / Commercial Cleaning

If the care instructions include the “dry cleaning only” label, don’t bother putting your hands to use. Just take your weighted blanket to a commercial laundry center and they’ll be able to wash your heavy weighted blanket for you. If it’s a job set for the professionals then washing it at home will probably damage it.

Scenario # 2: Manual Washing

If your heavy weighted blanket cannot be machine washed you’ll have to put in some manual effort. You can wash it in the bath tub or the sink. Just make sure you’re using a bleach-free washing powder. Using a fabric softener isn’t that much of a great idea either.

Use warm or cold water while rinsing the blanket or the duvet cover of your blanket. Clean the tub prior to filling with clean water and adding soap. It’ll keep your blanket or duvet from getting stand by any residues. Once it’s cleaned and treated with soap free water, you can leave it to air dry. It would be amazing if you own a sturdy drying rack because it will noticeably speed up the drying process. Just fluff it up gently every so often so the filling gets distributed evenly. Depending upon the weight of the blanket, most 20 pound heavy weighted blankets can take up to 40-45 hours while drying thoroughly.

Scenario # 3: Machine Washable Fabric

Usually it’s better to use a top-load or front-load washer while washing an item as big as this. If the blanket’s way too heavy or big, don’t try to push it into the washer. That’ll only create a huge mess for you so just take it to a laundromat. While machine washing a heavy weighted blanket’s duvet make sure the care instructions for the fabric do not advice against doing that.

Use an enzyme based spot cleaner on tougher areas before you put the blanket inside the machine. Let the spot cleaner sit on the stain for at least 15 minutes before carrying out the next step. Use a bleach free detergent and warm water. Move the power button on medium or low settings while the machine makes its round. Afterwards you can either let it air dry or use a drier on medium speed.

How To Spot Clean Stains on a Weighted Blanket?

spot cleaning weighed blanket that is over 15-20 pounds

After learning how to wash a heavy weighted blanket, here is also a step by step guide on how you can successfully lift off stains via spot cleaning. Make sure you spot clean before placing the weighted blanket in a tub or in a washer.

  • If it’s a fresh stain you should firstly use a piece of card board or a knife to lift off any staining agent off the spot. If you’ll start by rubbing the stain you might accidentally push the staining agent deeper into the blanket or duvet.
  • Now if there’s any involvement of food stains on your 20ib heavy weighted blanket, then there are chances of oil being involved. You can use a blotting paper or a piece of bread to lift off the excessive oil/fluid from the stain. Just align either of these items on top of the stain for a quick minute.
  • Next, use a clean piece of white colored fabric to lift off the rest of the stain from your heavy weighted blanket. Work from the ends and the sides of the stain instead of working from the top or the center. Using a white fabric ensures that you don’t stain the blanket further with the dye.
  • In the next step, you’ll dip a clean white cloth or swab with the stain removing agent and repeat the last step once again. Work your way from the edges towards the center of the stain.
  • Now’s the time to let the cleaning agent work its magic while it’s air-drying.
  • Once the time entailed on the cleaning agent’s packaging has passed, you can wash off the stain with warm or cold water.

The Recent Hype Around Heavy Weighted Blankets

During the past year, weighted blanket manufacturers have encountered booming business. Particularly during black Friday and Christmas shopping season, people have really invested their earnings on buying weighted blankets, especially the heavy weighted blankets that weigh closer to 20 pounds (or 9 kilos). So, if you’re anything like us, you might be intrigued what seems to be the reason behind this sudden hype. Weighted blankets are much more preferred as compared to common blankets, because of the calming affect they provide. It’s almost like receiving an intimate, calming hug as you doze off to sleep. Thank to the pressure stimulation mechanism, weighted blankets also do help with anxiety. Individuals that struggle with insomnia also rave about how using a heavy weighed blanket seems to really help doze off during the night.

Additionally, people who are on the Autism Spectrum and individuals struggling with ADHD also find it to be very comforting. There’s still room for further research but scientists believe that weighted blankets alter tactile inputs which induces better sleep. Of course it’s not an exact.

alternative for the originals pharmacological approach to these disorders, but it does help a lot.

Why Should You Wash Your Heavy Weighted Blankets?

If you rarely use your weighted blanket that you really don’t have to wash it that often. If it’s simply lying around your living room and you use it less often, you can wash it 4-5 times a year. On the contrary, if you use it more regularly it needs to be cleaned every 2-3 weeks. Here’s why you should be washing your heavy weighted blankets with more regularity;

  • Overtime any kind of fabric can accumulate lots of dust, dead skin particles, oil splatters, sweat and fecal matter. Not washing your weighted blanket can expose you to germs and cause health hazards. People that often struggle with acne and skin infection might find unwashed blankets the main culprit behind their anomalies.
  • If you eat in bed more often than others its necessary to keep the case very clean. Consequently, the chances of coming in contact with bacteria often gets minimized, reducing any health hazards.
  • If your pet sleeps next to you on your bed, washing heavy weighted blankets can get rid of pet hair. Cats in particular shed a lot of hair which is why cat owner should be more vigilant.
  • Not washing your heavy weighted blanket increases your chances of coming in contact with bacteria and fungus. This can trigger contact dermatitis and eczema among people that are already struggling with these skin conditions.
  • Individuals that often struggle with breathing issues, dust allergies or a breathing disorder like asthma should be more vigilant in this case. Washing weighted blankets on the right time minimizes contact with allergens and dust particles that can worsen the situation.
  • If you share your heavy weighted blanket with a partner or child, not washing them at the right time can spread infections both ways.
  • Unwashed weighted blankets can start releasing a very funky and unfavorable smell over time. Sleeping in that same heavy weighted blanket can make you smell unfavorably too.

6 Things You Should Be Avoiding at All Costs While Washing a Heavy Weighted Blanket

  • Avoid entirely washing a recently washed heavy weighted blanket because of a small spot. You can simply take care of that matter through spot treatment. Just use a little bit of detergent or stain remover on that particular area and then wash it off. If it’s a fresh stain then treating the spot with a gentle soap will also get the job done. The major reason behind being this careful is to preserve the durability of a heavy weighted blanket. Repeatedly washing a weighted blanket can make it less of a long-lasting purchase. If you’ve spilled a liquid that seems to have travelled into the duvet, then you should be washing the entire thing.
  • Don’t wait too long if you’re aware that there’s a stain on your weighted blanket. Getting rid of a fresh stain is much easier and would require much less effort as well as the exclusion of harsh chemicals.
  • Avoid using those detergents, soaps or spot treatment fluids which include bleach. Using bleach on a weighted blanket can be detrimental for its condition in the long run.
  • Avoid machine washing a heavy weighted blanket if the manufacturers suggest against it. Same goes for the duvet cover you’ll be using for your heavy weighted blanket. Avoid going to a commercial washing center if the care instructions clearly suggest hand washing.
  • Always avoid using the dryer on a high setting while drying your weighted blanket after its washed. This reduces the chance of moving the fill and spoiling the fabric.

Weighted Blankets: Which Types of Fillings Are Washable?

Some fillings are washable, meanwhile others aren’t. To make this task a little more swift, we’ve organized commonly used filling material into differentiable categories.

  1. Weighted Blankets With Sand or Organic Filling Material: These weighted blankets aren’t washable at all. Any stains, spots or splatters can be handled via spot treatment.
  2. Weighted Blankets With Steel Shot Beads and Smooth Pebbles: This filling material isn’t machine washable. Blankets with this filling can only be air dried.
  3. Weighted Blankets Filled With Plastic Pellets: These blankets are washable but you cannot use a dryer afterwards.
  4. Weighted Blankets Filled With Microglass Beads: These blankets should be only washed with cold water. You can also tumble dry them but make sure it’s done at a low temperature.

Conclusion

Lastly, don’t forget to wash the duvet and weighted blanket separately. Once both items are dried, only then you can assemble them again. In case you drop something, spot clean your weighted blanket as soon as possible because old stains are harder to remove. By following the care label and maintaining a proper laundry routine you can make any heavy weighted blanket last for a long time. Usually people opt for a new one after 5-6 years, so keep that mind. Hopefully this guide on how to wash a heavy weighted blanket you in properly washing your weighted blanket without accidentally damaging it in the process.

References

Mike Horton (head of Weighted Living)

by Mike Horton

Mike is one of the lead editors at Weighted Living and the author of this article. He's become fascinated with weighted products (a bit too much we think) and loves to see all the different ways they can improve our loves. He's written quite a few weighted product guides as well.

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