How to Wash a Heated Blanket Without Damaging the Wiring
Can you wash a heated blanket? Usually, yes: unplug it, detach the cord, then use the makers' cold, gentle, short cycle.
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Can you wash a heated blanket? Yes, if the cord detaches
Heat, twisting and harsh chemicals damage the wires inside.
Steps from Sunbeam's manual for its heated blankets, pads and throws; safety advice from CPSC and UL. How we pick
What you need to wash an electric blanket
- The care label or manual
- Mild soap or detergent
- A washer with a gentle cycle
- A dryer with a low setting (optional)
- A clothesline or shower rod
Before you wash: unplug, detach, inspect
A look tells you whether to wash or replace it, but it can't show damage inside (Fairfax County Fire and Rescue).
- Unplug at the wall firstThen detach the control cord, and check none is still connected (Sunbeam).
- Look over the wiringCracks, breaks, dark, charred or frayed spots (CPSC), or wire worn through the fabric (Sunbeam).
- Check for a recallSearch the brand and model on CPSC's recalls list.
Found damage? Don't wash it. CPSC calls it a potential fire hazard, and CPSC and UL say discard it.
How to wash a heated blanket in the washing machine
Sunbeam's steps. Other makers' times differ a little; where your label differs, follow it.
- Unplug it and detach every cordWall plug first. No control or cord ever goes in water (Sunbeam).
- Presoak 15 minutes in cold waterWith a little mild soap, before the cycle starts.
- Wash on gentle for about 2 minutesCold water. No bleach (Sunbeam), no fabric softener (Sleep Foundation).Hot water could damage the wiring, Sleep Foundation warns.
- Rinse in cold water, then spinLet the washer spin it; no wringer (Sunbeam).
- Stretch it back to its original sizeGently, while damp.Sunbeam: a blanket washed wrong may shrink, and shrinking may cause a fire hazard.
Machine wash or hand wash a heated blanket?
In the washing machine
The method makers give
Sunbeam's manual gives this method only: the five steps above.
By hand
Only if your label shows it
Sleep Foundation says the Beautyrest blanket it lists can be hand washed. Keep the controller and cords out of the water (Sunbeam).
How to dry a heated blanket
Briefly, on low, then air-dry the rest of the way (Sunbeam).
- Preheat on low2 minutes
- Tumble on lowAbout 10 minutes
- Take it out dampStretch it to size
Never a laundromat or commercial dryer: Sunbeam says they get too hot and would damage the wiring.
Dryer times differ by source
| Source | In the dryer | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Sunbeam manualMaker | Preheat on low 2 min, then about 10 min on low | Take out damp, drape to finish |
| BeautyrestMaker, via Sleep Foundation | 5 to 10 minutes | Hang to finish |
| Sleep FoundationGeneral guide | About 15 minutes, if the maker says tumble-drying is safe | Otherwise, hang it to air-dry |
| Your care labelAlways wins | Whatever it says | Whatever it says |
What never to do when washing a heated blanket
Each line is from Sunbeam's care instructions, and protects the wiring or the controller.
- Dry-clean itThe solvents may damage the wires
- Use bleach or cleaning fluidsMild soap only
- Use a wringerSpin it in the washer instead
- Iron itThe manual rules it out
- Use mothballs or spraysOf any kind
- Plug it in while dampWait until it is completely dry
If the cord does not detach: spot-clean only
Sleep Foundation warns even spot cleaning can be a concern: excess moisture can damage the wiring.
- Unplug itAt the wall
- Dab the markBarely damp cloth
- Keep it dryController and cord
- Dry fullyBefore you plug in
Washing heated mattress pads and throws
Sunbeam's manual gives the same steps for its blankets, mattress pads and throws. Sleep Foundation says most heated mattress pads are machine-washable, but some are spot clean only.
Choosing? Blanket vs mattress pad · Heated mattress pads
How often to wash a heated blanket
- Before first useSunbeam recommends it.
- Occasional useMonthly to every few months (Sleep Foundation).
- Daily use or petsAbout once a week (Sleep Foundation).
The maker pages we read give no fixed interval after the first wash. Spot-clean small marks in between.
After washing: a quick safety check
- Inspect it againCharred spots, worn fabric or damaged plugs mean discard it (CPSC, UL).
- Completely dry firstOnly then reconnect the control and plug it in (Sunbeam).
- Lay it flat when it is onDon't tuck it in (Sunbeam) or fold it (CPSC); nothing on top (UL).
- Store it rolledRoll, don't fold (UL); loop the cord loosely (Sunbeam).
The maker's warnings still apply. Sunbeam's manual: not for an infant, a child, an immobile person, a person with diabetes or anyone insensitive to heat.
No extension cord, no pins and no other electronic heating device with it (Sunbeam); never with a heating pad (UL).
Not on a waterbed, sofa, bunk bed or mechanically adjustable bed (Sunbeam), nor on a sofa bed or pull-out bed (UL).
When to replace a heated blanket
Washing can't fix wiring. Replace it in the first three cases, and buy the next one with care.
- It shows damageCPSC says discard it.
- It is recalled or warnedStop using it; follow CPSC's instructions.
- No safety listingUL: use only blankets approved by a recognized lab, such as UL.
- Don't buy usedUL: never from a secondhand shop or garage sale.
Shopping for a new one?
Top lists and guides, including blankets with auto shut-off.
Heated blanket washing questions
Can you put a heated blanket in the dryer?
Usually, on low and briefly. Sunbeam's manual says to preheat the dryer on low for 2 minutes, tumble the blanket for about 10 minutes on low, then take it out while still damp and finish drying it over a line or rod. Never use a commercial or laundromat dryer, and follow your own label's times.
Can you wash an electric heated blanket if the cord doesn't detach?
Sleep Foundation generally advises against machine-washing electric blankets and says only one with a detachable cord may be machine washable, if its label allows it. Spot-clean it with a barely damp cloth: Sleep Foundation warns that excess moisture can damage the wiring. Sunbeam says never to put a cord or the control in water.
How do you wash a heated blanket in a washing machine?
Unplug it at the wall, detach every cord, presoak it for 15 minutes in cold water with mild soap, wash it on the gentle or delicate cycle for about 2 minutes, rinse in cold water, spin, and gently stretch it back to size. Those are Sunbeam's steps; your own label comes first.
Can you wash an electric heating blanket in hot water?
No. Sunbeam and Sleep Foundation say to use cold water on a gentle or delicate cycle, and Sleep Foundation warns that hot temperatures could damage the internal wiring.
Can you dry clean a heated blanket?
No. Sunbeam says never to dry-clean a heated blanket, because dry-cleaning solvents may damage the wires.
How often should you wash a heated blanket?
Sunbeam recommends washing it before first use. The maker pages we read give no fixed interval after that. Sleep Foundation's general blanket advice is monthly to every few months with occasional use, and weekly with daily use or pets.
Can you wash a heated mattress pad the same way?
For Sunbeam, yes: its combined manual gives the same steps for heated blankets, mattress pads and throws. Sleep Foundation says most heated mattress pads are designed to be machine-washable, but some are spot clean only, so check your own pad's label first.
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Written by WarmGearReport
Re-checked every winter, with new recalls added first.