How to Wash a Weighted Blanket (Without Ruining It)
Machine, hand wash or laundromat: how to wash a weighted blanket by its fill and weight, how to dry it, and the mistakes that ruin one.
Last updated: 28 September 2026.
Most weighted blankets can be washed at home. The ones that get ruined are usually ruined in the same few ways: a washing machine that was too small, water that was too hot, or a dryer that was too hot for the fill. Start with the care label, then work out three things: what the blanket weighs, what it is filled with, and whether it has a removable cover.
Before you start: check three things
- The care label. It overrides anything general, including this guide.
- The weight. A 15 lb blanket gets much heavier wet. Check your washing machine's maximum load in its manual.
- The construction. A blanket with a removable cover only needs the cover washed most of the time. A one-piece blanket has to go in whole. Knitted weighted blankets have no fill at all; the weight is in the yarn.
How to wash a weighted blanket in a machine
- Shake it out and spot-clean first. Treat stains with a little mild detergent and cold water before the full wash.
- Use a large-capacity machine. A front-loader is kinder to heavy loads than a top-loader with a central agitator. Most home machines cope with blankets up to around 15 to 20 lb. Heavier than that, use a laundromat's large machine.
- Cold or lukewarm water, gentle cycle. Hot water can shrink the outer fabric and weaken the stitching that holds the fill in place.
- Mild detergent, and not much of it. No bleach. Skip fabric softener: it coats fleece and faux fur and leaves them flatter, not softer.
- Balance the load. Wash the blanket on its own and spread it evenly around the drum so the machine does not stop mid-spin.
How to dry a weighted blanket
Air-drying is the safest option for every type. Lay it flat on a drying rack or across two chairs, turning it once, so the weight does not stretch the fabric the way hanging it would. Expect it to take a day or more.
If the label allows a tumble dryer, use low heat. Glass-bead fills usually tolerate low heat; plastic pellets can deform at high temperatures. A heavy wet blanket can also strain a domestic dryer, so check its load limit too. When in doubt, dry it flat.
Washing by type
| How to wash | How to dry | |
|---|---|---|
| Removable cover | Wash the cover as its label says. Wash the inner blanket only a few times a year. | Cover per its label; inner blanket flat. |
| One-piece, glass beads | Cold, gentle, mild detergent, on its own. | Flat, or low heat if the label allows. |
| One-piece, plastic pellets | Cold, gentle, mild detergent. | Flat. Avoid high heat. |
| Knitted, no fill | Cold, gentle, or by hand; check the label. | Flat, never hung. The knit stretches. |
| Wearable weighted blanket | Cold, gentle, inside out if lined in faux fur. | Flat. |
Hand-washing a weighted blanket
If it is too heavy for your machine and there is no laundromat nearby, use a bathtub. Fill it with cold water and a small amount of mild detergent, press the blanket under and work it gently for a few minutes, then drain and refill with clean water to rinse. Press the water out rather than wringing it, which strains the seams. Roll it in a towel to take out more before you lay it flat.
How often to wash a weighted blanket
Wash a removable cover every week or two if you sleep under it, the same as your bedding. A one-piece blanket, or the inner of a covered one, needs washing a few times a year, and sooner after a spill or an illness. Airing it on a dry day between washes keeps it fresh.
Mistakes that ruin a weighted blanket
- A machine that is too small. The drum cannot move the load, the wash is uneven, and the motor strains.
- Hot water. It shrinks fabric and weakens stitching.
- High-heat drying. It can deform plastic pellets and scorch fleece.
- Hanging it wet. The weight drags the fabric out of shape and stresses the channels.
- Fabric softener on fleece or faux fur. It flattens the pile.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a weighted blanket in the washing machine?
Usually, yes, if your machine can take the weight. Check the care label and your machine's maximum load, use cold water on a gentle cycle, and wash it on its own.
Can you put a weighted blanket in the dryer?
Only if the label says so, and then on low heat. Air-drying flat is safer for every type, and for many it is the only option.
Why is my weighted blanket lumpy after washing?
The fill has shifted inside its channels, usually because the blanket was spun unevenly or hung while wet. Lay it flat and ease the fill back into place by hand while it dries.
How do you get a smell out of a weighted blanket?
Wash it as above, then let it dry completely. A blanket put away even slightly damp will smell again. Between washes, airing it outside on a dry day helps.
Can you wash a weighted blanket with glass beads?
Yes. Water does not harm glass beads. What matters is the stitching that holds them in their channels, which is why cold water and a gentle cycle are the rule, and why a blanket this heavy should be washed on its own.
Can you dry clean a weighted blanket?
Only if the care label says so. Most weighted blankets are made to be washed in water, and a large machine at a laundromat handles the heavy ones.
How do you wash a wearable weighted blanket?
The same way, with less weight to manage: a few pounds rather than fifteen. Turn faux-fur-lined pieces inside out to protect the pile, and dry them flat.
Washing Enfold
Enfold weighs four pounds, so it fits any home machine. Machine wash cold, on a gentle cycle, inside out. Lay it flat to dry. No bleach, and no dryer. The glass micro-beads are channel-sewn and fully enclosed, so they stay where they belong in the wash. If you are still choosing a wearable piece, see weighted blanket hoodies: what to check before you buy.