The Best Way To Wash A Faux Fur Blanket

Faux fur blankets are an inexpensive way to add a luxurious touch to any room. While looking stylish, they will also keep you warm during the cold winter months. Faux fur blankets are animal-friendly because they don't contain any actual animal fur. Instead, they are made of synthetic fibers like acrylic and polyester, making the blankets washable but sensitive to heat.

There are a couple of steps to take before washing a faux fur blanket. The first is to check the blanket's tag. Some recommend dry cleaning only, so take that into consideration if you choose to wash it at home. If your blanket is incredibly stinky, you can do a pre-soak before washing it. To do this, fill a sink or bucket with cold water and add a ¼ cup of vinegar, via The Laundress. Then submerge the blanket in the solution and leave it to soak for 30 minutes.

Though faux fur blankets can be washed by hand or in a washing machine, The Laundress says the former is the best method. To hand wash a faux fur blanket, fill up a sink or tub with cold water and mild laundry detergent. Then immerse the covering and stir the water to disperse the suds. The blanket can be left for up to 30 minutes to soak before draining. To rinse the material, fill your sink or tub with cold water and work the blanket in the water until you don't see any more soap suds coming out of it. Once the water runs clear, press the excess water out of the blanket instead of wringing. 

To wash a faux fur blanket in a washing machine, you must set your washer to cold water and a gentle or delicate cycle. Use the lowest spin setting if your washer doesn't have a gentle cycle. Opt for a mild detergent, and Spirithoods recommends avoiding fabric softeners or chlorine bleach. Once the washing machine has done its job, press out the excess water in the blanket since the device was set to the lowest spin setting.

Faux fur blankets should never be in a dryer because the heat will melt them. Instead, they should be left out to air dry. Spirithoods recommends hanging a faux fur blanket outside on a clothing line or rack and out of direct sunlight since the intensity can damage it. If you want to air dry indoors, you can place a drying rack in your bathroom or near an open window. You want to provide air circulation over the blanket, perhaps a fan, to accelerate the process. Remember to turn over the item every few hours.

Brushing faux fur blankets is an important final step so they can remain as soft and fluffy as they were the day you bought them. You can use a wide-toothed comb or pet slicker brush. The blanket should be brushed when it is still damp so it won't dry matted. Then when the covering is completely dry, brush it again to fluff the fibers.