You Don’t Wash Your Blankets Enough (and That’s Disgusting)
Throws, along with mattresses and duvet covers, are household items whose cleanliness is taken for granted. Because we can only use them for an hour or two every day, it’s easy to forget them when it’s laundry day. But given that they mostly exist in common areas where all sorts of food, dust, pet hair and stinky feet come into contact with them, they may need more washing than we think. How much is enough?
How often should blankets be washed?
In the most general terms, throws should be washed every two to four weeks, depending on use. As Stephen Light, co-owner of Nolah Mattress , told The Spruce, “If [a blanket] is lying on the couch and barely used, you can probably wash it once a month.” However, he notes, if it’s wrapped around you every day, “your pets sleep on it and it drags across the floor as you shuffle to and from the fridge, you’re better off sticking with one or two times a week or two.”
And what about blankets that are actively used by pets?
Blankets that spend a lot of time under your favorite four-legged family member require extra laundering. In general, pet bedding should be washed every 1-2 weeks, and more often if someone in the home has pet allergies or asthma. ( The Sleep Foundation recommends washing sheets every 3-4 days if your pet sleeps in them.) Products like the Fur Zapper , which moves pet hair into the dryer’s lint trap, can improve hair removal and overall cleanliness.
How should blankets be washed?
While specific care instructions vary, John Mahdesian, founder of housekeeping specialist Madame Paulette , told Apartment Therapy that, unless the duvets are dry-clean-only, “throwing them in the washing machine shouldn’t be a problem.” Stick to a cold (or lukewarm) wash on a short, gentle cycle and don’t overdo the detergent or softener because too much can break your duvet faster.”
It will be difficult for a machine to completely wash off excess detergent in one cycle, while fabric softener is not suitable because it coats the fabric with a waxy film , which can trap dirt, create deposits and make it less soft over time. . Delicate fabrics, such as loosely woven knits, can be washed in a mesh laundry bag to keep them from stretching.
What about wool blankets?
Wool is too delicate to be machine washed and should only be washed by hand. And that “wash” can be as simple as soaking the duvet in a mild detergent for 30 minutes before rinsing. The result of this extra work is that wool repels stains and odors better than other fabrics and doesn’t need to be washed as often, only once every few months.
Should duvets be put in the dryer?
After referring to the duvet care label, a general rule of thumb is to avoid tumble drying if possible. Overdrying can cause your duvet to lose its softness and shape more quickly (and get snags and pills). If you don’t have the time or space to hang dry your duvet for several hours, tumble dry it on the Off or Low heat setting until it is about 80% dry, then hang it up. for the rest.