Should You Wash New Blankets & Comforters (How to Wash!?)

By / Cleaning

So you have just purchased a brand new blanket or comforter. The next million-dollar question is – Should we wash before using it?

It is not required to wash new blankets and comforters that come in a sealed package. Reputable brands will clean and pre-wash the blanket/comforter in the factory, even do a quality check before sealing them in the package.

But take that with a pinch of salt, as the packaging can be broken by so many things. Some may even sit in a dusty warehouse for a long time, some don’t even have a properly sealed package. So I will personally say “better safe than sorry”, wash before you use it – Read on for more!

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Machine Wash Hand Wash Tips & Bits
The End

 

MACHINE WASH

Washing different kinds of blankets and comforters are going to require different settings, but I will try to be “generic” here. But if your washing machine is too small to fit the blanket/comforter, I will highly recommend going down to a laundromat instead – The commercial-sized washing machines and dryers make things a lot easier.

 

 

STEP 1) CHECK THE INSTRUCTIONS & WASH LOAD

To not damage your spanking new blanket/comforter, always check the attached care or washing instructions first. Not all can be machine washed, some may require dry cleaning, and some cannot take high heat.

Also, take extra care if you have a big heavy blanket and a small washing machine – Check if it is able to take the load. For the uninitiated, a big heavy blanket that soaks up a lot of water is going to become heavier.

 

 

STEP 2) WASH THE BLANKET/COMFORTER

This is where everyone has different settings and methods to wash, but a couple of small tips and notes:

  • Some people like to start with a short pre-wash cycle. That is not because the blanket is very dirty, but to make sure that the blanket is completely soaked in water and the detergent is evenly spread out.
  • Personally, I don’t like to use high spin speeds for heavy loads. While it seems like a fun experience to watch a small washing machine hobble with the heavy load… The aftermath repair fees are something to consider too.
  • If it’s a new blanket/comforter, some light detergent will do. Don’t use any bleach or strong chemicals.
  • Using hot or cold water really depends on the material. Just follow the wash instructions.

That’s all. The washing isn’t much of a problem, but the drying part is.

 

STEP 3) DRY THE BLANKET/COMFORTER

Put into a dryer, let the blanket/comforter dry… That’s the basic idea. But again, check the instructions on how much heat to apply. Very often for small home dryers, we will probably need a few drying cycles to get the blanket to be “dry enough”. Even then, there may still be a few wet spots that need to be manually dried using a hairdryer.

P.S. Some people like to put tennis balls to help with the drying, but wool dryer balls actually work better.

 

 

HAND WASHING

If you have a king or queen-sized blanket/comforter that cannot squeeze into the washing machine – Here’s how to clean it manually.

 

 

STEP 1) FILL UP A BATHTUB OR HUGE TUB

  • Wash the tub first, because we will be using it to wash the blanket.
  • Fill it up with enough water, preferably lukewarm – Since this is a manual wash, freezing cold or boiling hot water isn’t going to be a good idea.
  • Add some light detergent in, don’t use any bleach nor strong chemical – We are manually washing here again, so yep.

 

STEP 2) SOAK THE BLANKET

Place the blanket into the tub, give it a good “message”, make it is thoroughly soaked. Then just leave the blanket in the tub for a good 30 minutes, let it do its thing.

 

STEP 3) WASH & RINSE THE BLANKET

Since this is a new blanket, a “simple wash and rinse cycle” should be good enough. Drain out the dirty water, refill with fresh water, and manually use your hands (or legs) to wring/rinse out the detergent. It may require a few cycles of rinsing if you accidentally put in too much detergent in the first place…

 

 

STEP 4) DRY THE BLANKET

The last part is probably the headache – If you have a big enough dryer, just put the blanket in. If not, the manual drying process is going to be quite painful:

  • Wring the blanket dry, as much as you can manually.
  • A hairdryer is probably going to take forever, a powerful fan works better.
  • Another idea is to use baking soda to soak up the excess moisture, then vacuum it clean afterward.

 

TIPS & BITS

Now that we are done with the washing, here is a final small section on the bits on maintaining your new blanket.

 

HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE WASH BLANKETS?

It is recommended to use coverlets (blanket covers), and wash them once every 2 weeks. The inner piece can be washed once every few months, or whenever it gets dirty.

 

HOW TO BETTER MAINTAIN BLANKETS

Normal wear-and-tear over the course of time is unavoidable. There really isn’t any “magic” to making blankets last longer, apart from regular washing and dusting. How to “better maintain” a blanket/comforter all boils down to personal hygiene and habits.

Some people like to watch movies and play games on the bed, that is understandable. But eating on the bed and using the blanket as a face towel is plain disgusting. Also, dear smokers, the bed is definitely not a good place to smoke. Drop some ash on the blanket and burn a hole in it?

 

 

HOW LONG DO BLANKETS LAST?

It really depends on how much you use the blankets, and how durable the material is. But good blankets are known to last for decades – A good 10 to 20 years.

 

THE END

Thank you for reading, and we have come to the end of this short guide. I hope it has helped to answer your doubts. Good luck and have better nights of sleep!

 

LINKS & REFERENCES