Whether you’re doing some Spring Cleaning, or you’re just tired of that musty smell, knowing how to wash electric blankets without ruining them is a great way to freshen your bed while protecting your investment!
I’m ashamed to say that I destroyed three — three! — electric blankets over the years before I finally found out how to wash them properly. One fell apart in the washing machine, while two survived intact only never to work again. Little did I know that you can’t just throw an electric blanket into a washing machine, add detergent, and assume everything will come out all right in the wash, so to speak.
DO NOT DRY CLEAN THEM!
Years ago, I thought the only solution was to dry clean them. Wrong! According to the Electric Bedding Care Institute (who knew there was such a thing?), dry cleaning is more harmful to electric blankets than washing them. The trick, these folks say, is to expose them to water for the shortest possible time and limit their time in the dryer.
Armed with that knowledge, and an electric blanket full of dog and cat hair, I followed their advice and was thrilled when my electric blanket came out clean — and it worked! Now I wash mine every two weeks throughout the cold season and again before storing it for the summer.
How To Wash Electric Blankets
1. Unplug it: Remove all plugs and electric cords from your blanket.
2. Shake it: If it’s possible, take the blanket outside and shake it vigorously to dislodge as much lint and pet hair as possible. Since we’ll be doing a very short wash cycle, this step helps.
3. Top Loading Machines: Fill your washing machine’s tub with cold water and a minimal amount of detergent. Set the washer for the gentle cycle. Immerse your blanket in the tub, let it agitate for 2 to 3 minutes, then skip to the rinse cycle. Allow the machine to complete the rinse and spin, then remove it immediately.
4. Front Loading Machines: Set the washer on the shortest period with a Cold/Cold water setting. Add a minimal amount of detergent and the blanket. Let it agitate for 2 to 3 minutes then skip to the rinse cycle. Allow the machine to complete the rinse and spin, then remove it immediately.
5. Dry it: Place the blanket in your dryer on a LOW setting for no more than 5 minutes. Remove the blanket and stretch it gently with your hands until it returns to the proper size. (You can lay it on a flat sheet, so you know when it’s the right size again.) Once you’ve reshaped it, hang the electric blanket over a laundry line or clothes drying rack overnight.
6. Plug it in: Feel the blanket in several places with your hands to ensure it’s completely dry before you return it to your bed and plug it back in.
STORE IT PROPERLY
To store an electric blanket for the season, unplug the cords, fold the blanket, and place it all in a plastic storage container. Be sure to stash your blanket in a dry location, preferably off the floor, so it smells fresh next winter when you get it out again.
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Pin How to Wash Electric Blankets:
I am attempting to wash my electric mattress pad. I have a question for YOU. The little plug like attachments that are secured to the pad..the ones you place the cord into..they are OK to wash? THANKS !
I don’t have an electric mattress pad, Kate, so I can’t honestly answer your question. If it were mine, I’d look at what the manufacturer says. If it’s safe to wash the mattress pad, then the plugs secured to it can go in the wash, too. At that point, I’d still use the gentle cycle and wouldn’t spin it for long so they aren’t submerged in water for long. Please let me know how it goes!
Just spray the electric blanket with Lysol disinfectant spray on both sides and toss in the dryer on high for 3-4 minutes. Let the dryer cool and do it again until blankets feels dry. Simple, done.
Um, do you wash your sheets and clothing like that? How clean would you feel they were if you did?
You might also want to check out the Lysol label: it’s to be used for spot treatment (2″x2″ area) only. That’s because it needs to saturate the area to disinfect it. (The instructions for treating soft surfaces say to spray until the area is wet.) However, since Lysol is highly flammable and its fumes are hazardous to humans and pets — and it says so on the label — it’s not a good idea to saturate the entire blanket then throw it in a hot dryer.
So I’ll stick with washing mine. 🙂
I have to agree with you on washing and rinsing the blanket as I would with any bedding. I tried this today after not using my blanket for weeks because I was nervous to wash it. The care instructions it came with didn’t explain enough to make me confident, so thank you!
You’re welcome!
does this really work. Because I have tried other ways and nothing has really worked. help.
It worked for me.
Katie,
I am embarrassed to give evidence to support that it is a very bad idea to use Lysol and heat together. WE sponge cleaned a mattress, treated with Lysol and dried with a hair dryer. FORTUNATELY we had a FIRE EXTINGUISHER very close by. What seemed like a good idea at the time went horribly awry. (We were much younger then.)
Just sign me,
Older but Wiser Now.
Oops, I forgot-
Do you have any advice for cleaning the electric blanket using a HE washing machine?
My blankets inside heating coils appear to be sewn into the blanket, how exactly did you get yours out?
You don’t remove the coils from the inside of the blanket. Unplug it from the wall and wash it.
Katie how can I wash an electric throw? I live in apartment complex and my washing machine locks and it runs through a 45 min cycle and once it starts it cannot be altered in any way?
Thanks
Katie
I think I’d do it in the bathtub by hand, in that case.
So I’ve been reading all the stuff about how to wash an electric throw,so I am under the impression that you unplug the cord from the wall outlet of course,then you unplug the cord from the blanket.Doesn’t it damage the inner plug and coils if you put them into the washing machine even for 2-3 minutes and run it through a spin cycle?
That’s the point, Donna — a very short cycle shouldn’t damage the coils in the blanket. Even most manufacturer’s instructions suggest a very short wash. These steps worked just fine for mine and plenty of other people, but you should make your own decision about whether to try them.