Yes, most heated blankets and heated throws can be washed, and the washing machine is fine for many of them. Unplug it, take the controller and cord off the blanket, then wash it by itself on a gentle cycle with cold water and a little mild detergent. Skip the bleach and the fabric softener, never wring it out, and let it finish drying flat or over a line. The only parts that must stay dry are the controller and the cord. The one thing that changes from blanket to blanket is the dryer, so check your blanket’s care tag before you start, because the makers do not all agree.
How to Wash a Heated Blanket or Throw Without Ruining It
Styling idea: a heated throw drying flat with its controller set aside.
Plenty of people put this off for a whole winter because the wires feel scary. A heated blanket, also called an electric blanket, is a soft textile with electrical wiring sealed inside it, and a washable one is made to get wet as long as the controller is off. A few plain steps do the job.
Can you wash a heated blanket in the washing machine?
Usually, yes. Sunbeam says its heated blankets, mattress pads and throws can be machine washed, and its own FAQ calls them machine washable and dryer safe. Berkshire says to wash a heated throw by hand or on the delicate cycle in the machine. Bedsure gives a gentle machine cycle too.
The care tag sewn into the blanket is the final word, because it is written for your exact model. If it says “do not wash,” or the cord cannot come off, skip the machine and use the spot-cleaning tips further down.
Before you wash: three quick checks
- Read the care tag. Look for the water temperature, whether a dryer is allowed, and any “do not wash” line. If the tag is gone, look up your model on the maker’s website.
- Take the controller off. Unplug the power cord from the wall first, then detach the control cord from the blanket, as Sunbeam’s manual says. If your blanket has a coupler, disconnect that too. Bedsure also says to let the blanket cool for 20 to 30 minutes first. Never wash or soak the controller or the power cord.
- Look it over. If you see a wire poking through the fabric or worn through, do not wash it. Sunbeam says to make sure none of the wires have worn through, and a blanket like that is one to take up with the maker.
How to wash a heated blanket in the washing machine
These steps follow the Sunbeam and Berkshire care instructions, which match almost word for word, and Bedsure’s guidebook.
- Dab any stain with a damp cloth and a small amount of mild detergent. Do not scrub.
- Presoak the blanket for 15 minutes in cold water with a mild soap. Sunbeam, Berkshire and Bedsure all start this way. A bathtub works.
- Put it in the washing machine by itself, so it has room to move. Pick the gentle or delicate cycle and cold water. Sunbeam and Berkshire both say to wash it for about two minutes. Most washers cannot be set that short, so choose the shortest gentle cycle you have.
- Use a small amount of mild laundry detergent. No bleach, which Sunbeam rules out, and no fabric softener, which Berkshire rules out.
- Rinse in fresh cold water.
- Spin the water out in the machine. Both makers allow this. Then gently pull the blanket back to its original size and shape. Never use a wringer or twist it.
How to wash a heated blanket by hand
Hand washing is the pick when the tag says so, or when the blanket is too big for your machine.
- Remove the controller and cord as above.
- Fill a clean tub or sink with cold water, or lukewarm if your tag allows it, and add a small amount of mild detergent.
- Press the blanket under and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Lakeland’s instruction booklet for its heated throw uses the same 15 minutes in lukewarm water.
- Swish it gently with your hands, then drain the tub and rinse in clean water until the suds are gone.
- Press the water out with your hands or a towel. Lakeland says a heated throw may be squeezed gently but never wrung.
How to dry a heated blanket
Air drying is the safe default, and it is the only drying method Berkshire allows.
- Gently stretch the blanket back to its full size.
- Drape it over a clothesline, a shower rod, or two parallel lines, or lay it flat on a drying rack with a towel under it. Sunbeam and Bedsure both say not to use clothespins, since pins can damage the wiring.
- Keep it away from direct heat, which Berkshire says can damage the fibers.
- It has to be completely dry before you plug the controller back in. Bedsure says the blanket and the coupler both have to be dry. This is the one safety line to remember, so give a thick blanket plenty of time.
Can you put a heated blanket in the dryer?
Sometimes. This is where makers disagree most, so go by your tag.
- Sunbeam allows a household clothes dryer only: preheat it on low for 2 minutes, tumble the blanket for 10 minutes on low, and take it out while it is still damp. Then shape it and hang it to finish drying. Never use a commercial dryer or one at the laundromat, because they run too hot and can damage the wiring.
- Bedsure gives the same low-heat method.
- Berkshire says no dryer heat for its heated throws and blankets.
- Beurer’s heated throw booklet and Lakeland’s both say do not tumble dry.
If you are unsure, hang it. It takes longer, but it cannot hurt the heating wires.
Wash settings by maker
Every maker wants the controller off and no bleach. After that, the details drift. This is what each one’s own instructions say.
| Maker | Water and cycle | Dryer | Where we read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbeam | Cold water, delicate or gentle, 2 minutes, after a 15 minute presoak | Household dryer on low for 10 minutes, then air dry; no laundromat dryers | Sunbeam heated throw manual and care page |
| Berkshire | Cold water, delicate or slow cycle, 2 minutes, after a 15 minute presoak | None, air dry only | Berkshire washing and care page |
| Bedsure | Cold water, gentle cycle, after a 15 minute presoak | Household dryer on low, remove damp, then air dry | Bedsure heated blanket guidebook |
| Westinghouse | Cold water, wash alone | Low | Amazon listing for the wearable blanket; we found no care page or manual |
| Beurer | 30 degrees C (about 86 F), wool cycle, delicate detergent | No tumble drying; dry flat | Beurer heated throw instructions |
| Lakeland (StaySnug) | 30 degrees C, wool programme | No tumble drying; air dry | Lakeland instruction booklet |
Beurer is a German maker and Lakeland is a UK retailer. They are here to show how much a tag can differ, since both call for a wool cycle and skip the dryer entirely. Westinghouse is the weakest row: the machine-wash line comes from the listing text, so read the tag that came with yours.
How often should you wash a heated blanket?
Once or twice a season is the usual advice from Martha Stewart and Southern Living, and more often if you share it with a dog, spill tea on it, or use it every night. Wash it again before you put it away for spring.
Washing wears a blanket out, though. Sunbeam says normal wear and repeated wash cycles slowly change a warming product, and it suggests replacing one at least every five years. Spot cleaning between washes keeps the big wash for when it needs it.
How to clean a heated blanket without washing it
For a small mark, you do not need the machine.
- Unplug it and take off the controller.
- Dab the mark with a damp cloth or sponge and a drop of mild liquid detergent. Beurer’s booklet says exactly this for small marks.
- Blot with a clean towel, then let it dry completely before you plug it in.
Wipe the controller with a dry, lint-free cloth only, the way Beurer’s instructions say. Treat the electrical wiring gently, which means no scrubbing and no twisting.
What not to do with a heated blanket
- Skip dry cleaning. Sunbeam, Berkshire, Beurer and Lakeland all say no, and Sunbeam notes that the solvents can damage the wires.
- Do not use bleach, cleaning sprays or fabric softener.
- Do not wring, twist or iron it.
- Do not use a laundromat or commercial dryer.
- Do not wash the controller or the power cord.
- Do not clip it to a line with clothespins.
- Do not plug it in until it is completely dry.
Why did my heated blanket stop working after I washed it?
Start with the easy fix. Let it dry longer, and make sure the connector is dry before you plug the controller back in. A thick blanket that feels dry on top can still be damp inside.
Then remember that a heated blanket is not a heating pad. Sunbeam says it will not feel hot when it is laid out flat. Its fold test is simple: fold the blanket, plug it in, set it to the highest setting, wait 5 to 7 minutes, and feel for warmth between the folds. Never run the test longer than 7 minutes. If there is still no heat, Sunbeam says to stop using it, unplug it and contact the maker. Sunbeam’s manual warns that improper laundering can harm the heating wire, which is why the steps above matter.
Storing a heated blanket after you wash it
Make sure it is cool and completely dry, loop the cord loosely, and avoid tight folds or heavy things on top, which can bend the wires. Bedsure suggests a dry, well-ventilated place.
Buying a new one?
If yours is past its best, our gifts for someone who is always cold guide compares three name-brand heated throws and says what each maker tells you about washing it.
