It is an absolute pleasure to snuggle inside the comfort of your new weighted blanket, reading a book while sipping your favorite coffee. Given a choice, you might want to spend your entire life under this weighted goodness.
But maintaining the best weighted blankets in their tip-top conditions requires you to follow certain clean and care procedures. Please go through this article to understand them.
Read and Understand the Washing Instructions
Spills, body fluids, and messes will inevitably make their way into your weighted blankets. So when it is time to give your blanket a good wash, it is important that you clearly understand the washing instructions.
Some blankets can only be dry cleaned, whereas some can be easily cleaned in your washer at home. Many blankets have an outer cover that can be removed and washed separately so that you don’t have to go through the nerve-wracking process of cleaning the entire blanket.
Determine the Fiber Content
Whether the outer cover is removable or not, you will still need to determine your blanket fabric’s fiber content to make wise washing decisions. The washing cycle, washing temperature, detergent used, and drying cycle is determined by the fiber content. The best weighted blankets come with tags showing information about the fiber content of the blanket.
Check for Stains
Sometimes your blanket would look clean and smell fresh but still have some stains. You can easily clean the stained spots rather than going for a full cleaning. Even if you opt for a full wash, you may not remove the stains if you do not pre-treat the stain according to the stain type.
An enzyme-based stain remover can remove most food and drink based stains. Apply a small quantity of it to the stained area and thoroughly work it into the fabric with your fingers. Allow the stain remover to work for 15-20 minutes before washing it off.
Handwashing Your Blanket
A host of washing machine features means you would not need to hand wash at all, but if you still prefer to hand wash your blanket, please ensure that you follow the right procedure.
Make sure that your tub contains no products or grimes that can stain your blanket. Fill your tub with cold or hot water, and add the recommended detergent. Wash your blanket in parts by kneading it with soft strokes. After washing one part, smooth it out and wash the next one.
After every part of the blanket is washed, fold the blanket and apply pressure to remove excess water. Do not squeeze or twist your quilt. Rinse the blanket several times in lukewarm water until the water in the tub becomes clear. In the meantime, always use the pressure method to remove excess water.
Drying Your Blanket
Almost all the best weighted blankets out in the market are rated for dryers. However, it is essential to dry them on low to avoid overdrying the fabric. Cool dry remains the best option if you are not sure of the blanket’s fillings. Another option to dry your blanket is laying it flat on top of a plastic tarp on the floor. The plastic tarp can protect the flooring. While drying flat, ensure that you turn the blanket after every four or five hours to speed the drying.
The weighted blanket is an invention that is truly bliss for the utmost comfort it provides while relaxing after a long day at work. But how long your weighted blanket remains comfortable and serves its purpose depends on how well you take care of it.
