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Can you machine wash a cooling blanket?
Cooling blankets have changed how many people sleep, offering a cool feel even on the hottest nights. They’re designed to help manage warmth and wick away moisture, so they need proper care to keep working well. This guide covers machine washing your cooling blanket, from understanding the materials and prepping to washer settings, drying, and upkeep. Short answer: yes, if it’s cold, gentle, and the label agrees.
Understanding the Materials and Technology Behind Cooling Blankets
Cooling blankets use advanced materials, each with its own properties. Common ones include:
- Cotton: breathable and soft, with natural moisture-wicking that lets air circulate.
- Bamboo: an eco-friendly fibre often described as soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking.
- Phase Change Materials (PCMs): these absorb, store, and release heat, so the blanket takes in warmth when you’re hot and gives it back when you cool down.
Some also include:
- Cooling gels: gel-infused fibres that give an immediate cool feel on contact.
- Moisture-wicking fabrics: polyester or nylon blends that draw moisture away from the body.
Fibre-built cooling handles repeat washing well, while surface coatings wear faster.
1. Preparing Your Cooling Blanket for the Washing Machine
Before the blanket goes in, a few steps give the best results and help avoid damage:
1. Always Check the Care Label
The manufacturer’s care label is your most important guide, since it’s based on how your blanket was built and tested. Follow it, and it overrules general advice, including this guide.
2. Spot Clean and Pre-Treat Stains
Inspect the blanket for stains first. Work a gentle, fabric-safe stain remover into marks with a soft cloth or brush and leave it a few minutes before washing.
3. Wash Your Cooling Blanket Separately
Wash your blanket on its own, away from zips or rough textures, to avoid damage and colour transfer. This lets it move freely for an even clean.
2. Mastering the Art of Machine Washing Your Cooling Blanket
With the blanket prepped, focus on the wash itself.
1. Select the Gentlest Washer Settings
Be as gentle as possible to protect the fibres and the cooling feel.
- Delicate or gentle cycle: lowers spin speed and agitation, so there’s less stress on the fibres.
- Cold water, always: hot water can damage fibres and dull cooling performance.
2. Opt for a Mild and Suitable Detergent
Choose a mild liquid detergent without harsh chemicals, bleach, or fabric softener, ideally one made for delicates, and use the recommended amount or slightly less. Too much leaves a film that can trap warmth. Check the care label for specific advice.
3. Load the Washing Machine Properly
Give the blanket room to move so it washes evenly, and don’t overload the drum. A front-loader is gentler, and a bulky blanket may need an oversized machine at a laundromat.
3. Drying Your Cooling Blanket: Tips and Techniques
After the cycle, drying properly protects the blanket’s quality, texture, and cooling feel.
1. Air Drying: The Safest and Most Recommended Method
Air drying is the safest, most recommended method.
- Take it out of the machine and give it a gentle shake to loosen excess water and fluff the fibres.
- Lay it flat on a clean, dry surface like a large towel, rack or clean floor, away from direct sun and heaters.
- Let it dry completely, which can take several hours. Don’t hang it, since that can stretch the fibres.
2. Tumble Drying: Proceed with Caution
Short on time? Take care.
- Choose the lowest heat or a no-heat, air-fluff cycle. High heat can damage delicate cooling fibres. A couple of wool dryer balls help keep any fill moving.
- Take it out while slightly damp to avoid over-drying, which can cause shrinkage and stiffness.
- Finish by laying it flat or hanging it up until completely dry.
4. Maintaining Your Cooling Blanket Between Washes
- Spot clean as needed: dab small spills straight away with mild detergent, cold water, and a soft cloth, which also cuts the need for full washes.
- Air it out regularly: hang it somewhere well-ventilated, out of direct sun, to keep it fresh and moisture-free.
- Store it well: loosely folded in a cool, dry place away from sun, heat and damp. Avoid airtight plastic bags, which can trap moisture and encourage mildew.
Conclusion
Machine washing your cooling blanket properly helps protect its quality, performance and lifespan. Follow the care label, use mild detergent and choose gentle washing and drying, and your blanket can stay in good condition and keep offering a comfortable, refreshing sleep for years.
FAQs
How often should I wash my cooling blanket?
Every 1 to 2 weeks if it’s used nightly. Less frequent use or careful handling can stretch that out.
Can I use fabric softeners or dryer sheets when washing my cooling blanket?
Avoid them. They can coat the fibres and dull the cooling feel, so use a mild liquid detergent for delicates instead.
Is it safe to iron my cooling blanket?
Better not, since heat can damage the fibres. Steam gently or lay it flat to let wrinkles fall out, and check the care label.
What should I do if my cooling blanket loses its cooling properties after washing?
Hot water, harsh detergent or leftover residue may be the cause. Re-wash cold on a gentle cycle with mild detergent and a thorough rinse, and contact the manufacturer if it persists.
Can I dry clean my cooling blanket?
Generally not recommended, since dry-cleaning chemicals can damage the fibres and dull the cooling feel. Follow the machine wash and air dry steps here.
Does washing a cooling blanket remove its cooling feel?
Usually not if you wash it gently. Fibre-based cooling handles repeat washing well, while coated fabrics wear faster.
Is a front-loader better for washing a cooling blanket?
Check the label first. A front-loader is gentler on bulky blankets, and a larger drum lets the blanket move freely for an even wash.
Can I use bleach on a cooling blanket?
It’s best to skip it. Bleach can be too harsh for delicate cooling fibres, so stick to a mild detergent.