How do you clean electric blankets?

It gets a little chilly in the Fall in Boston, especially at night. While down comforters are a great option to keep warm in bed, many of us like to use electric blankets too. How do you keep an electric blanket in top condition?

Before caring for your electric blanket, first read the care instructions that came with the blanket. Usually these can be found on a permanent label, on a temporary hang tag, or on the packaging.

Dry cleaning is not a good option. Electric blankets are made with electrical wires that are covered with plastic casing. These casings may be solvent-soluble, and when the blanket is dry cleaned, they may dissolve and expose the wires. Often you may not be able to see the wires, but when the blanket is later plugged into an electrical outlet, serious problems—a short circuit or even fire—can result.

Unless otherwise stated on the care instructions, electric blankets should be machine washed on a gentle cycle and line dried. If you can set the final spin speed, reduce it to the lowest setting to prevent excessive force on the blanket’s inner wiring. Do not put your blanket in the dryer. Since the blankets are hung to dry, ironing should not be necessary.

If in doubt about how to care for your electric blanket, please bring it to Utopia Cleaners and we will clean it for you. Visit our dry cleaners in Boston, Newton, Arlington and Woburn or take advantage of our free dry cleaning pickup and delivery service. In addition to the locations at our stores, we also serve Cambridge, Brookline, Wellesley, Belmont, Winchester, Lexington and nearby areas.