Color, Material & Textiles
How to Wash Blankets: Wool, Fleece, Knit, and Throws Without Ruining Them
5 min read
How to wash blankets by fabric: machine settings for cotton, fleece, and sherpa, how to wash a wool blanket, drying tips, and how to prevent pilling on blankets.
Throws and blankets get used daily and washed rarely, and when they do get washed, a hot cycle can shrink, felt, or pill them in one go. Here's how to wash blankets by fabric.
Always check the label first
The care label is the best guide. When there isn't one, treat the blanket as delicate: cold water, gentle cycle, low or no heat.
Cotton blankets and throws
Machine wash on warm or cold with regular detergent, on a normal or gentle cycle. Tumble dry low and remove while slightly damp to reduce wrinkles and shrinkage.
Fleece, microfiber, and sherpa
Wash cold on gentle with a mild detergent and no fabric softener, which mats the fibers. Tumble dry on low or air dry. High heat is the fastest way to make sherpa clump and fleece lose its softness.
How to wash a wool blanket
Wool shrinks and felts with heat and agitation, so be gentle:
- Air it outside first; wool resists odor and often only needs freshening.
- Spot clean small marks with cool water and a wool-safe detergent.
- For a full wash, use the machine's wool or hand-wash cycle with cold water and wool detergent, or hand wash in a tub without wringing.
- Press out water by rolling the blanket in towels.
- Dry flat, out of direct sun. Never tumble dry.
Knit and chunky knit throws
Hand wash or use a delicate cycle in a mesh bag, and always dry flat. Hanging a wet chunky knit stretches it out of shape.
Blankets with fringe or tassels
Tie loose fringe in small bundles, or put the blanket in a large mesh bag, so it doesn't tangle. Comb the fringe straight while it dries.
Pilling on blankets: how to prevent and fix it
Pilling comes from friction, both in use and in the wash. To limit it, wash blankets inside a mesh bag or with similar soft items (not towels or jeans), use gentle cycles, and skip high heat. To remove existing pills, use a fabric shaver or sweater comb lightly on a flat surface.
How often to wash blankets
Throws on the sofa: every few weeks, more with pets. Bed blankets used with a top sheet: every two to three months. Wool needs washing least often.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a blanket in the dryer?
Cotton and synthetics on low, yes. Wool and chunky knits, no.
Should I use fabric softener on blankets?
No. It reduces softness over time on fleece and sherpa and coats natural fibers.
My blanket is too big for my washer. What now?
Use a large-capacity machine at a laundromat; overloading a small drum causes uneven cleaning and extra wear.