If you decide to dry your blanket with an electric dryer, be sure to choose a low heat setting. For a wool blanket, avoid the tumble dryer and opt for air-drying, being mindful to keep it out of direct sunlight. Now that you know how to wash a blanket, you're ready to add them into your regular laundry day rotation.
Only dry blankets in a dryer if it is indicated on the laundry care label. If your blanket is dryer-safe, evenly load it into the dryer drum and shut the door.
Lay Flat to Dry: Place the blanket on a clean, dry towel and roll it up to absorb excess moisture. Then, lay it flat on a drying rack or another clean surface to air dry, away from direct sunlight to prevent fading. Once the blanket is dry, shake it out again to fluff the fibers and restore its softness. Tips:
High heat can damage materials. Tumbling can damage blankets.
Wash it in warm water, but no warmer than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a mild detergent, with no bleach or fabric softener, and do not wash with other textiles. Tumble dry on the lowest possible heat setting – again, no more than 120 degrees – and without other textiles or fabric softener present.
Risk of Damage: Introducing a heavily soaked blanket into your dryer can significantly strain the appliance's mechanism.
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.
Washing and drying your bedding can be a major chore. The items are often large and heavy, and hard to handle or hang up to dry. Luckily, your dryer is the best place for you to dry all your bedding items. It saves time and space, it's more hygienic and it actually protects your delicate items better than air drying.
Don't use your dryer when you are out of the house or asleep in bed. Don't overload your tumble dryer – as well as your clothes taking much longer to dry and costing you more money, overloading can cause a fire risk; the element at the back of the tumble dryer can cause the clothing to overheat and combust.
No problem. Find a spot where you can hang your comforter to air dry. Just make sure it's somewhere clean and dry, but ideally away from direct sunlight to prevent fading. This method may take a bit longer, but it's gentle on your comforter.
You don't want to scorch the down, so low heat or air-fluff settings are always best. The drying time will depend on the size of your comforter and how much water remains inside from the spin cycle. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to fully dry your comforter before you need to go to bed.
Add Dryer Balls
Just as you might fluff up pillows, you can toss a few dryer balls into the machine with your blanket to make it fluffy. These dryer balls can be wool, rubber, or even clean tennis balls. They help separate the fabric as it dries, allowing air to circulate more effectively.
This happens when too much detergent is used or when it's not properly rinsed out. Improper Drying Temperature: High heat settings can cause the filling to clump and become rigid. The intense heat affects the fiber structure, leading to a crunchy texture.
Hang the blanket.
Make sure the blanket is completely stretched out when hang drying. Greater surface area means faster, more thorough drying.
If you live in a detached house with ample distance between you and your neighbors, doing nightly laundry won't likely bother anyone. In contrast, if you share walls in an apartment or condo, it's in everyone's best interest to stick to daytime laundry hours.
One of the most prevalent New Year's superstitions is that on January 1 no washing should be done. However, some people go one step further and make it a custom to keep any dirty clothes unwashed from Christmas until New Year's Day.
If you decide to dry your blanket with an electric dryer, be sure to choose a low heat setting. For a wool blanket, avoid the tumble dryer and opt for air-drying, being mindful to keep it out of direct sunlight. Now that you know how to wash a blanket, you're ready to add them into your regular laundry day rotation.
Using a low-heat setting also keeps your fitted sheets fitting snugly—if the dryer is too hot, it may damage the elastic. Avoid dryer sheets, as they can weaken the material and cause pilling over time. Remove your sheets while they're still slightly damp to limit wrinkles or shrinkage.
Keep an eye out for any scorching or burn marks, including checking any visible electrical wires. Don't leave appliances unattended – don't turn the tumble dryer on before you leave the house or go to bed.
You can put soaking wet clothes in the dryer. However, you need to be careful when doing this, as it can potentially damage your dryer or your clothes.
It depends on how often you use them. Aim to clean regularly-used blankets once a week, casually-used ones every few weeks, and rarely-touched throws every couple of months. Always follow care instructions on your garment's tag to ensure your blanket stays clean and cozy for a long, long time.
Drying a Comforter in a Dryer
You can evenly dry your comforter by carefully loading it into the dryer, selecting a bulky cycle setting and customizing the cycle temperature—if possible—to a low or no-heat setting. Rebalance and fluff your comforter and reload it into the dryer periodically to promote even drying.