Can you wash a weighted blanket?

Glass-bead weighted blankets are generally machine washable; older plastic-pellet fills can melt or deform at high temperatures and should be washed cool. The real constraint is the machine rather than the blanket: a wet 9 kg blanket can weigh well over 20 kg, which exceeds the drum capacity of most domestic washers and puts real strain on the bearings and suspension. If your blanket is heavier than about 7 kg, use a commercial machine at a laundrette. Wash cool, on a gentle cycle, with mild detergent and no bleach or fabric softener — softener coats the fibres and stops the fill redistributing evenly.

How to do it properly

1. Weigh the blanket. Over about 7 kg, use a large commercial machine.
2. Remove the duvet-style cover if there is one and wash that separately.
3. Cold or warm gentle cycle, mild detergent, no bleach or softener.
4. Tumble dry low or air dry flat, redistributing the fill by hand every so often.

What goes wrong

• An overloaded drum can damage the machine bearings.
• Hot water can deform plastic pellet fill.
• Hanging a wet weighted blanket stretches the seams and makes the fill pool at the bottom.

Other "can you wash" questions

• Can you wash pillows? It depends — Down and polyester pillows wash fine. Memory foam and latex must never go in the machine.
• Can you wash sneakers in the washing machine? It depends — Canvas and synthetic trainers survive a cold gentle cycle. Leather and suede do not.
• Can you wash memory foam? No — No. Memory foam disintegrates in a washing machine and cannot be dried through.
• Can you wash silk? It depends — Hand wash cold with a pH-neutral detergent. Never use biological powder or hot water.
• Can you wash wool? It depends — Yes, cold and without agitation. Heat plus movement is what felts it, not water alone.
• Can you wash stuffed animals? It depends — Most wash fine in a pillowcase on cold gentle. Anything with electronics or glued parts does not.
• Can you wash a down jacket? Yes — Yes, and you should — but it must be tumble dried with dryer balls or the down stays clumped.