How to Wash Electric Blankets Without Ruining Them

Can You Wash an Electric Blanket?

Yes, you can safely wash electric blankets. Depending on the manufacturer, you can wash your electric blanket either by hand washing or in a washing machine. Do not dry clean, use harsh chemicals, or use laundromat facilities to wash your blanket. The key is to properly care for the internal wiring and ensure that no damage happens during washing.

It is important to pay attention to the type of detergent used, the water and drying temperature, and handling the heating element so as not to bend the wires. It is wise to consult your electric blanket manufacturer’s guide for your heated blanket’s specific washing instructions before embarking on this little adventure.

Have you been nervous about washing your electric blanket or throw? I get it. After all, we’ve been conditioned since childhood to know that water and electricity together are a big no-no. I know I’ve put off washing my heated throw because I didn’t want to ruin the blanket, accidentally do something that is unsafe, or that could cause a fire hazard. I know I’m not alone in those thoughts and fears, so I set out to do a bit of research on how to properly wash my electric throw.

I lost the original instructions to my heated throw, and that worried me a bit, but it turned out to be no problem at all. A quick search for my blanket manufacturer’s website lead me right to the care instructions. Most manufacturers have their product manuals online for easy access. If you cannot find them in your home or online, I suggest giving the manufacturer a call, and they will be able to help you. 

I will admit that the care and washing instructions for my particular electric blanket were rather vague, and I wasn’t overly comfortable with the lack of information. So I set out to do some research to see what others were doing successfully. I’ll share what I did and some other washing tips and tricks that I found from others along the way. 

How To Wash Electric Blankets

You’ll need:

1. Consult manufacturer manual 

For safety purposes, and so you don’t accidentally destroy your heated blanket, you should dig out the manual for your blanket and take a peek at the care and washing instructions section. 

Most of the time, the concern is about damage from chemicals, heat, or improper handling and storage. The more you can do to protect the fragile wiring inside the heating element, the better off you will be.

2. Remove from the power supply and disconnect control box or cord from blanket 

Turn off the blanket and unplug it from the wall. Then disconnect the entire power cord with the control box from the electric blanket. Inspect the cord and control box for damage that could make the blanket unsafe to use. Loosely coil the cord.

3. Inspect the entire blanket thoroughly 

Lay the blanket out flat and run your hands over it. Look closely for any worn fabric or wires protruding through the plush part of the blanket where they should not be. If you find any damage to your heated blanket, you should discontinue using it and probably need to purchase a new one.

4. Spot clean and remove any loose debris

First, you want to get rid of any loose stuff like crumbs, dog hair, fuzz, etc. I found the best way to do this is to take the blanket outside and give it a good shake off. Then, I use a sticky lint roller to get the stuff that is really stuck to it – that’s usually dog hair. 

If you have any stains on your heated blanket, you will want to remove them. Grab a clean cloth and add a little of the mild laundry detergent and gently work the stain out. Don’t scrub hard. If your electric blanket can tolerate it and the stain is set-in, it might be a good candidate for a pre-soak in the next step. 

5. Optional pre-soak

Some manufacturers, not all, recommend doing a pre-soak in cold water with mild laundry detergent for 5-15 minutes before starting the washing cycle. Check your manual to see if this is a necessary step for you. 

My manual did not say to do a pre-soak, so I did not do one. 

6. Set washer water temperature to cool or lukewarm

Most manufacturers recommend using cool water as heat can damage the heating element of the blanket. Make sure your rinse cycle is also set to cool water.

7. Add a small amount of your mild laundry detergent

Do not add fabric softener, bleach, or any other laundry aids. The mild detergent and water are enough to properly clean your heated blanket. Harsh chemicals can damage the insulation around the heating element. 

I’m not entirely sure what qualifies as a small amount of detergent, so I took an educated guess on how much to use for my throw.

8. Use a delicate or gentle cycle washer setting

The agitation of the wash cycle should be minimal. Depending on your model of washing machine, your setting may be called delicates or gentle. 

I have a delicate cycle on my machine, so I used that. 

9. Stop the machine after just a few minutes of agitation

My manual did not have specific instructions and only noted that I was to “machine wash in cold water, gentle cycle, or hand wash.” That’s it about washing. I wasn’t entirely comfortable just tossing the blanket in for a whole cycle. 

When I researched further, most sources said that you need to stop the cycle after just a few minutes of being agitated around by the machine. This is where things got a tad bit more difficult for me because of my front loader washing machine. I got creative and figured it out. I share how I made it happen down below in my notes on how to do this process when you have a front loading washing machine.

10. Do a short rinse cycle and spin

Rinse on cold or lukewarm. If your washer has the ability to control the speed of the spin cycle, set it to the lowest speed possible. 

11. Tumble dry or air dry

The key to drying is making sure that the wires do not get bent or crimped in any way. If you have a large electric blanket, you may not be able to fit it in your dryer. There needs to be enough space for it to properly tumble around. You can also remove the blanket from the dryer after a short time and air dry it the rest of the way. This can prevent too much heat and also shrinkage. 

Speaking of shrinkage, you may need to get the help of another person and carefully stretch your blanket back into its original shape before it fully dries.

If you want to air dry, you can hang it from a shower rod like me, or from a clothesline (do not use clothespins!), or find a clean flat space to lay your blanket to dry. A note about laying it flat, you will want to be sure to flip it over so it can completely dry on both sides.

My manual said that my electric throw could be tumble dried on low. However, I know from experience that my dryer gets really hot even on the lower settings, so I did not want to risk it. I hung mine from the shower rod to air dry. 

12. Don’t use your electric blanket until it is completely dry 

Make sure your blanket is dry. Do a thorough check to see if you come across any damp areas. Do not use your blanket if there is even the slightest amount of dampness. It’s best to err on the safe side and let the blanket dry for a longer period than you may feel is necessary. 

Using HE Front Loading Washing Machines

Washing your electric blanket in a front-load high-efficiency washer is a little different. It can be a bit tricky, depending on your washing machine’s adjustability of cycles, water level, and water temperature. Be aware that some front loaders won’t have the adjustability needed to properly wash your heated blanket. If you find that this is the case for you, the other option is to follow the handwashing instructions below. 

Here are my basic instructions for how to wash an electric blanket in a front loading washing machine. You may need to modify these directions for your machine. Note: these are just the instructions for the machine part of the process, and steps 1-5 should still be done.

1. First, you will need to find out if your machine can be stopped mid-cycle and reset or forwarded to the rinse and spin cycle. Most can, but there are always exceptions to the rule.
2. Then, if your washer can be stopped mid-cycle, you will pause or stop the cycle after 2-3 minutes of agitation and reset the cycle to the rinse and spin cycle.
3. If you have a spin speed control as I do, set it on low to be as gentle to your heated blanket’s internal wiring as possible.

How To Hand Wash an Electric Blanket

You may find that it would be best to hand wash your heated blanket. Some reasons might include: the cord is not detachable, the blanket is too large for your washing machine, or you just might feel more comfortable handwashing it.

The handwashing process follows all the same preparation steps 1-5 as the machine instructions. See above for more detailed instructions on these steps.

1. Consult manufacturer manual 
2. Remove from the power supply and disconnect control box or cord from blanket 
3. Inspect the entire blanket thoroughly 
4. Spot clean and remove any loose debris
5. Optional pre-soak
6. Fill your washing tub: Fill your bathtub or large washing tub with cool water 
7. Add a small amount of mild laundry detergent: Add enough of your laundry detergent to make some suds. Don’t overdo it. Mix it around the tub. Use a swishing motion with your hands to create some suds and to disperse the soap throughout the water. 
8. Put your electric blanket in the tub of water: Submerge your blanket and agitate it around gently in the water with your hands for a few minutes. If you did the pre-soak method from step 5, you just need to agitate.
9. Rinse and remove excess water from the blanket: Discard the washing water by draining or dumping your tub and rinse your blanket. You may want to fill your tub again with clean water or use the shower sprayer to help you out.  Resist the urge to do any wringing to remove any excess water. Instead, carefully squeeze the blanket, being careful not to disturb the wiring. Squeeze out as much water as you can before hanging the blanket to dry.
10. Hang your blanket to air dry: A good place to air dry your electric blanket is over the shower rod. This is especially true if it has water that may drip from it. You could also hang it on a clothesline outdoors, weather permitting. 
11. Don’t use your electric blanket until it is completely dry: Make sure your blanket is dry. Do a thorough check to see if you come across and damp areas. Do not use your blanket if there is even the slightest amount of dampness. It’s best to err on the safe side and let the blanket dry for a longer period than you may feel is necessary. 

Washing an Electric Blanket Isn’t That Hard

So that’s how to wash electric blankets easily and, above all, safely. I was nervous about washing my heated throw, but it really wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought it was (so it goes for many things in my life), and everything came out fine. I actually want to buy a larger heated blanket now that I know how to properly wash and care for one. My electric throw was a good test subject. 

If you’re nervous and unsure about how to wash your electric blanket, I hope this guide helped you. I know that safety was at the top of my mind, and in second place was the fear of completely ruining my blanket. Thank goodness neither of my worries came to fruition and I can cuddle up in my heated throw without worry. A major bonus is that it no longer smells like dog. I will be regularly throwing that baby in the wash from now on.