How To Clean White Blanket

How to Clean Blankets

Photo: Daniela Gorny

I've tested more than 80 blankets at Wirecutter, and that means I've spent hundreds of hours washing and drying them. Blankets aren't hard to clean. But I've learned it's important to use the right technique for each blanket's size and material, to ensure they all have a long life.

You don't have to wash your blankets as often as you wash your sheets, but it's a good idea to clean them properly a few times a year.

What you need

Four blankets of different material types, shown folded and arranged next to a bottle of Tide Ultra detergent and Shout stain remover. — Photo: Daniela Gorny

Laundry detergent: We like Tide Ultra Stain Release.
Spot remover: For treating stains, we like Shout, Zout, or an overnight soak in OxiClean. Cleaning expert Jolie Kerr wrote an excellent piece on how to do laundry that covers the best treatments for a host of different stains on fabric.
A roomy washer and dryer: Some bulky bed blankets may need a lot of room for spin cycles and consistent, even drying. If you don't have machines at home, or if they're on the small side, you may want to head to a laundromat to use commercial machines.
Space for air drying: Some wool blankets can't go in the dryer. So in testing, to help them dry evenly, I've spread them over railings, large ironing boards (like the Homz Durabilt DB100), and even tabletops.

How long will this take to clean?

Washing a bed blanket shouldn't take more than a single washing-machine cycle, unless the blanket comes out sopping wet (this means it didn't spin thoroughly, which can happen when you're laundering big, bulky blankets). In that event, we recommend that you run a second rinse and spin cycle, without soap.

The time it takes to dry a blanket depends on the material it's made of. Most will take anywhere from one to three hours in the dryer on low heat, depending on how big the blanket is. For some blankets, like wool ones, you may need to air dry them, which (depending on the climate) can take up to 24 hours.

A bottle of Tide Ultra detergent, a spray bottle of Shout stain remover, and a folded, synthetic fleece blanket. — A grimy synthetic fleece blanket before it was treated with stain remover and washed with one of our favorite detergents. Photo: Daniela Gorny

First, spot treat

Stain removers will help treat hard-to-wash stains before you launder your blanket. But before you treat anything with a stain remover (like Shout), make sure it's safe to use on the material you're treating. Stain removers are not usually safe to use with delicate materials, such as wool.

Before putting a blanket in the washer, spritz any minor stains with stain remover, and then rub the sides of the stained area together to work in the stain remover. Let the blanket sit for five to 10 minutes, and then wash normally.

For dry or tough stains, you can try leaving the blanket to soak overnight with a stronger treatment—like OxiClean—before washing it.

After you wash your blanket, check it before you put it in the dryer to see whether the stain is gone. Some stains don't set until they're zapped by the heat of the dryer, so you can repeat the process above if the soiled spot is still there.

How to wash cotton or linen blankets

Cotton and linen tend to shrink a little in the wash, but the fibers can still withstand more aggressive cleaning over time than wool or synthetics like polyester fleece.

A hot wash and a high-heat dryer cycle will disinfect bedding after someone has been sick, too. Most shrinkage occurs during the first few washes, before the fibers settle. So washing a new cotton or linen blanket in cold water before using it and then drying it on low heat should reduce the amount of shrinkage later on, if you need to use hot water. I do this at least once (and sometimes two or three times) before I use any new blanket, in case I need to disinfect it after testing.

For regular cleanings, I wash blankets in cold water (or, if a blanket seems grimy, in warm water) a few times a year.

Dry on low or medium heat, removing the blanket occasionally to redistribute folded areas that might be holding moisture.

An alpaca wool throw, shown draped over a drying rack that is placed in front of a window. — An alpaca wool throw air drying on a clothing rack. If possible, try to move the blanket around as it dries so there aren't any deep creases. Photo: Daniela Gorny

How to wash and dry wool blankets

Many wool blankets are "dry clean only," but the ones we recommend can go in the washing machine. Wash on the coldest, gentlest setting your machine has; to keep wool blankets from shrinking significantly, you want to avoid any serious agitation or heavy spin cycles.

Never put a wool blanket in the dryer, unless the fabric's label specifically says it's okay to do so. Using the dryer is a surefire way to felt (or drastically shrink and mat) wool blankets. Instead, spread the blanket over the largest surface you can find, unfolding it completely or adjusting it frequently to give all sections air exposure. It could take 24 hours, or even longer, for the blanket to dry, depending on its size.

A white, synthetic fleece blanket, shown cleaned and folded into a rectangle. — A newly washed synthetic fleece blanket. Photo: Daniela Gorny

How to wash and dry synthetic fiber blankets

Synthetic blankets, such as fleece and plush, can be put through the washer and dryer just like cotton or linen. They just can't handle higher temperatures, so wash them on cold or warm settings. You might not notice damage after a few hot washes, but Kozen told us that in the long run, synthetic fibers don't keep their shape, thickness, or integrity for as long as natural fiber blankets. So frequently washing them in hot water or drying them on high heat will speed up their decline.

The good news with synthetic blankets is that they're lightweight and don't hold as much water as natural fibers, so they don't need as much time in the dryer. An hour on low heat is probably sufficient.

A stack of four folded blankets of different material types that have recently been washed. — A fresh pile of washed blankets. From top to bottom: alpaca wool throw, 100% cotton blanket, 100% cotton gauze blanket, synthetic (polyester) fleece blanket. Photo: Daniela Gorny

About your guide

Jackie Reeve

Jackie Reeve is a senior staff writer covering bedding, organization, and home goods at Wirecutter since 2015. Previously she was a school librarian, and she's been a quilter for about 15 years. Her quilt patterns and her other written work have appeared in various publications. She moderates Wirecutter's staff book club and makes her bed every morning.