How to Wash a Plush Blanket

Blankets made from plush fabrics like fleece have a luxuriously cozy feel, but keeping them that way requires special care. Most blankets can safely be run through the washing machine on the gentle cycle with warm water and regular detergent. When it comes time to dry your blanket, stick to the tumble dry cycle and a low heat setting, or hang it up to air dry, if possible. Keeping your blanket away from high heat and harsh chemicals like bleach will also help preserve its soft texture.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning Your Blanket

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1
Follow the care instructions provided on the tag or label. Before you attempt to wash your blanket, read the directions listed on the tag to find out the best way to do it. Most manufacturers include specific instructions for cleaning and maintaining their blankets that are meant to help keep them soft and snuggly for years to come.
- The care instructions on a synthetic blanket may specify a maximum heat setting, for example, while blankets in vibrant colors or patterns might call for a particular type of detergent.
- If your blanket didn’t come with care instructions, try looking up tips on how to safely wash the fabric online.
2
Pretreat stains with dishwashing liquid.^{[1]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Squeeze a small drop of mild dish soap onto any heavily soiled or discolored areas. Allow the soap to soak in for 10 minutes, then blot it gently with a wet paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible.^{[2]XResearch source}
- To lift away greasy or oily residue, try sprinkling a small amount of corn starch onto the stain and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes. It will absorb the oils in the stain, after which you can simply wipe it off.
- Avoid scrubbing at stains too forcefully. Doing so could just end up spreading them around and making them worse.
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3
Put your blanket through the washing machine by itself. Fleece and similar fabrics should always be washed on their own. When thrown in with other items, they have a tendency to rub together, which leads to matting, pilling, and other problems that can leave your blanket feeling less than comfortable.^{[3]XResearch source}
- If you need to wash multiple blankets, separate them by material and color to minimize friction and prevent them from bleeding dye onto one another.
- Wash your plush blanket in as small a load as possible.^{[4]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
  Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
4
Wash your blanket on the gentle cycle. Just like putting your blanket in with the rest of your laundry can rob it of its soft finish, more aggressive wash cycles are often too much for delicate fabrics. During the gentle cycle, the machine’s agitator will slowly whisk your blanket back and forth, cleaning it without roughing it up.^{[5]XResearch source}
- An added benefit of going with the gentle cycle is that it's shorter than the other cycles, which means you’ll be back bundled up under your favorite blanket in less time.
5
Use a regular dishwashing detergent. Stick to a standard-strength liquid detergent free of additives like bleach, fabric softeners, or perfumes. You’ll only need to add a small amount—excess detergent doesn’t always get rinsed off and can coat the fibers of your blanket, making them feel sticky to the touch.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Most fleece blankets are designed to be stain-resistant, so a basic soap-and-water combo will usually be more than enough to get them nice and clean.
- Fabric softeners can actually damage fabrics that have been treated with water-repellent finishes, so it’s best to forego these products.^{[7]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
  Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
Expert Answer
Q
Can you use fabric softener on blankets?
Safir Ali
Laundry Specialist
Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.
EXPERT ADVICE
Answer from Safir Ali:
Fabric softeners can damage some fabrics—especially those that contain water repellant. It's best to just use detergent on your blanket.

Part 2

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Drying Your Blanket

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1
Hang your blanket up to dry to preserve its softness. If you have access to a clothesline or drying rack, stretch the damp blanket over the top and allow it to air dry naturally. You can also lay out a just-washed blanket on your bed or an ironing board and leave it overnight. This is arguably the best way to dry fabrics like fleece, as it restores them to their original softness with no risk of heat-related mishaps.^{[8]XResearch source}
- It may take up to 24 hours for a wet blanket to dry completely.
- Turn on your overhead fan or situate your blanket in front of a portable fan or air conditioning vent to get some extra air circulating around it.^{[9]XResearch source}
2
Tumble dry your blanket to cut down on drying time. Tumble dry is the gentlest of all dryer settings, as it relies on continual movement to eliminate lingering moisture rather than heat. Still, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your blanket as it makes its rounds so you can take it out as soon as it’s done. The less time it spends in the dryer, the less unnecessary wear and tear it will receive.^{[10]XResearch source}
- On some dryers, the tumble dry setting may be labelled as “air fluff.”^{[11]XResearch source}
- Avoid timed drying cycles, as these typically apply the same amount of heat as regular and permanent press settings.
3
Make sure you use a low heat setting. If your dryer features adjustable heat settings, choose the lowest one. A little heat will help fluff up a lifeless blanket, but too much may cause it to shrink. It’s also possible for higher temperatures to scorch synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylic, if you’re not careful.^{[12]XResearch source}
- It will take longer for your blanket to dry completely on a lower heat setting, but it’s the best way to keep it looking and feeling new.
- If you want, you can toss a dryer sheet in with your blanket to infuse it with a fresh, clean scent. While liquid fabric softeners should be avoided, dryer sheets won't cause harm to delicate fabrics like fleece.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Caring for Your Plush Blanket

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1
Avoid ironing your blanket. If using a high heat setting in the dryer is a no-go, ironing is definitely out of the question. Irons can easily burn or even melt the loose fibers of your blanket. Even if the iron isn’t turned on, its heavy enough to make matting and pilling more likely to occur.
- To smooth out wrinkles after blanket has dried, fold it and drape it over the back of your couch or place it at the bottom of a stack of other blankets.
2
Stay away from bleach and other harsh chemicals. Bleach is highly abrasive, and can make your favorite blanket feel scratchy and brittle over time. It can also ruin the dye used to color the fabric. Fortunately, most newer types of fleece have stain-resistant properties, which means bleaching won’t generally be necessary.^{[13]XResearch source}
- If you need a heavy-duty solution to dirt or discoloration, look to alternatives like white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen-based cleaning products instead.^{[14]XResearch source}
3
Remove pilling using a disposable razor. With frequent washings, the fibers of your blanket can begin to bunch up, causing tiny balls known as “pills” to form. One simple way to get rid of pills is to drag a disposable razor lightly over the surface of the blanket. The blades will shear off the annoying clumps and your blanket will be soft and smooth again.
- Be careful not to press down too hard with the razor, or you could accidentally cut or scrape the fabric.
- A razor can work wonders on minor pilling, but it may not be as effective for dealing with matting and other textural imperfections.

Expert Q&A

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Question
What is the best way to wash blankets?
Safir Ali
Laundry Specialist
Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.
Safir Ali
Laundry Specialist
Expert Answer
If you're washing a plush blanket, do so in a small load with cold water. Then, dry it on a fluff or air-dry setting. Better yet, simply air-dry it. Just be careful not to use fabric softener, as that can leave residue behind.
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How do I make my plush blanket soft again?
Drew Hawkins1
Community Answer
Whenever you wash your plush blanket, add white vinegar instead of detergent and wash it on a long, gentle cycle. The vinegar will loosen the fibers and make it soft again. When it's clean, hang it up to dry to preserve its softness.
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Question
How do you keep fleece fluffy?
Drew Hawkins1
Community Answer
To keep fleece soft, avoid ironing it and drying it on high heat or you could damage the fibers. Never use bleach to clean it or it'll become scratchy and could potentially stain the material. If the fibers start to bunch up and form pills, use a disposable razor to shave them off and keep the material soft and fluffy.
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Before you put away your clean blankets, fold a dryer sheet up with them to keep them smelling pleasant while they’re in storage.
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