Can You Put an Electric Blanket in the Dryer?

An electric blanket takes comfort and warmth to a whole new dimension during the chilly days of winter!

As easy as it gets, plug the cords to the sheet and control to the outlet and you’re not far from roasting into a nice barbecue when you wake up in the morning. Just kidding!

Despite the tremendous ease of use of a heated blanket, many things still puzzle us concerning it’s maintenance.

One of the prominent aspects is of course the care and cleaning of such kind of blanket slapped with a scary “nickname”, and more puzzling is how to safely dry one after washing.

In this article, you’ll learn whether or not your electric blanket safely goes inside the drying machine or not!

Electric blankets can be stuffed inside the dryer to tumble dry for 10 minutes or more but the setting has to be on low otherwise the wiring of the heated blanket may be damaged.

Read below on how to properly dry an electric blanket in the dryer, and as a bonus, you’ll learn how to properly wash an electric blanket when you feel the need for it.

Why low in the dryer? Why not hot?

Under a very hot sun, we heat up and ruffle like our skins are about to ruthlessly detach from us, same thing for the wires inside a heated blanket under a very hot dryer setting.

They bloat in discomfort, damage and may expose us to possible risk of fire hazard, if they don’t end up sending bursts of shocks momentarily during sleep.

At home, it’s very easy to ensure all boxes are ticked with regards to the safety measure for drying out your blankets, but at the laundromat or elsewhere, it may not always be the case.

The dryers situated at commercial cleaning centers typically have a hotter setting than those at home even for the same low heat temperature, so as far as washing and drying your blankets is concerned, you’re better off doing it yourself or using a Laundromat you’re sure pays very careful attention to instructions.

How to dry an electric blanket in the dryer

The safest way to do this is of course to consult the washing instructions stuffed inside the blanket packaging or slapped onto a fabric care label sewn somewhere on the sheet.

If you’re still in need of a DIY guide because you’ve somehow lost it, then don’t worry because we’ve got you covered.

To machine dry electric blankets, preheat the dryer on low for 2 minutes then place a properly rinsed and spun electric blanket in there to tumble dry for 10 minutes so that it still contains some elements of moisture in it. The proper word for it is damp!

Take out the damp blanket and stretch it back to its original size and shape. Drape over a clothesline to COMPLETELY dry before connecting the plugs for an unforgettable night with hubby.

What’s the alternative way to dry?

Of course the alternative way to dry an electric blanket without the dryer is the sun. Spread the fully rinsed and spun blanket to its original glory and drape over an elevated surface to dry COMPLETELY.

How do you even wash an electric blanket?

This should have been the foremost topic covered but since you really wanted to know how to dry a heated blanket first, there you have the outlines!

Washing an electric blanket is only as easy as the manufacture indicates. Check the care label for the specific instructions and try to follow the them diligently.

Only resort to the DIY instructions in this article (and below) when you can’t find the instructions for your blanket and have gone through the nook and crannies of google but to no avail.

Washing an electric blanket

Electric blankets contain heating elements which you don’t want to mishandle otherwise you risk damaging the elements and rendering the heating effect useless, and at worse, putting your body on the line for a nasty char night.

With electric blankets, you want to make sure you treat the wires with the reasonable care they deserve.

Here is how to properly wash an electric blanket

Presoak the blanket in the washing machine for 15 minutes or more using COLD WATER and MILD SOAP. Then wash in the most delicate cycle of your machine for no more than 3 minutes and rinse in fresh cold water.

Afterwards, spin dry and stretch the blanket back to its original glory to prevent shrinkage.

Prefect, now how do i wash an electric blanket by hand?

You simply cannot. Your hand is never as delicate as the gentle cycle of a washer, so you most likely will end up maltreating the heating elements inside which can be detrimental with continued practice.

Things you must avoid in the general care of your electric blanket (from washing to drying)

Washing

  • Do not use bleach or other cleaning fluids besides a mild soap to wash an electric blanket. The damage they cause is more towards the integrity and aesthetics of the fiber than the heating elements. Dont get me wrong, they also cause damage to the heating wires by reacting with their insulation and the inner elements themselves.
  • Do not wash an electric blanket by hand.
  • Do not submerge cords or control of an electric blanket in water. That’s a sure way to start a fire before you sleep.
  • Do not dry clean electric blanket. Chemicals like perc can cause the heating wires to eat up and lead to malfunctioning. That can end up being hazardous.

Drying and Using

  • Do not use heated blankets until they are completely dried in order to prevent fire and shock.
  • Do not iron heated blankets. The heat from the iron can destroy the heating elements in the blanket.
  • Do not use clothespin on your blanket as they dry to avoid causing damage to the heating wires inside.
  • Make sure to properly spread the blanket on the rack or clothesline to prevent shrinkage which can affect the quality of heating.
  • Do not squeeze or twist electric blankets to remove moisture from it. Let the dryer and air handle that for you.
  • Do not use fabric spray or moth balls on an electric blanket.

Conclusion

Electric blankets are made by integrating electrical heating wires into fabrics of all sort and these wires must be carefully considered when washing and drying out the sheets.

Electric blankets should be washed using the delicate cycle of the washer using cold water and mild soap, and they should be dried using the lowest settings on the dryer to prevent damage from happening to the wires.