How To Wash Your Weighted Blanket: Do's, Don'ts & Care Tips

Weighted blankets—on top of being extremely comfortable—can be a godsend for a number of issues like anxiety and poor sleep. If you're unfamiliar: Weighted blankets are essentially heavy blankets that range from 10 to 20 pounds and are meant to promote deeper relaxation.

There are a few types of weighted blankets, each one with its own care needs.

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.

Hand-washing and drying weighted blankets works too—and it's actually gentler on the fabric.

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.)