How to Wash an Electric Blanket Safely, Step by Step

Yes, most electric blankets are washable. Unplug the blanket from the wall first, then detach the control cord. Wash on a gentle cycle in cold water with mild soap for about 2 minutes, with no bleach (Sunbeam). Never dry it fully in a hot dryer, and never at a laundromat, because the heat can damage the wiring (Sunbeam; Iowa State Extension).

Your blanket's care label comes first. If it differs from this guide, follow the label.

Key takeaways

Unplug at the wall first, then detach the control cord. Never wash or submerge the control or any cord.
Wash for 2 minutes in cold water with mild soap on a gentle or delicate cycle. No bleach.
Dry for 10 minutes on low at most, then drape over a line or shower rod. Do not use clothespins.
Do not use a laundromat dryer, an iron or a dry cleaner unless the label says so.
Reconnect the blanket only when it is completely dry, and replace any blanket with damaged cords or over 10 years old.

Can you wash an electric blanket?

Yes. Most newer electric blankets are machine washable, but the care label has the final word (Maytag). Iowa State Extension says washing an electric blanket is as easy as washing a regular one, as long as you follow the maker's instructions (Iowa State Extension).

Do these checks before you start:

Read the label. It sets the cycle and water temperature (Maytag).
Look for damage. Check that the cords are not connected and that no wires have worn through the fabric (Sunbeam).
Wash it before first use. Sunbeam recommends washing a new heated blanket before you use it (Sunbeam).

A weighted blanket follows different rules; see our guide to washing a weighted blanket.

How do you wash an electric blanket in a washing machine?

Remove every cord, keep the cycle short and gentle, and wash the blanket alone. These steps combine the makers' and Iowa State's instructions.

Disconnect. Unplug the power cord from the wall first, then detach the control cord from the blanket (Sunbeam).
Presoak. Soak the blanket for 15 minutes in mild soap and cold water (Sunbeam).
Load it alone. Wash it separately, because other items add friction and can cause matting (Berkshire). Spread it evenly in the drum (Iowa State Extension).
Pick a gentle or delicate cycle. Run it for about 2 minutes with mild soap and cold water, and no bleach (Sunbeam). Iowa State suggests 1 to 5 minutes (Iowa State Extension).
Skip softener and bleach. Maytag says to avoid chlorine bleach and fabric softener (Maytag).
Rinse and spin. Use a fresh cold rinse, then a gentle spin. Never use a wringer (Sunbeam; Iowa State Extension).

Dissolve the detergent in the water before you add the blanket, so concentrated soap never sits on the fabric (Iowa State Extension). Pretreat any visible stains first, using the guidance in our stain removal guide (Maytag).

What temperature should you wash an electric blanket at?

Cold is the safest choice. Sunbeam and Berkshire both specify cold water (Sunbeam; Berkshire). Maytag allows cool to warm water but tells you to follow your care tag first (Maytag).

Wash settings by source
Source	Water	Cycle and time
Sunbeam	Cold	Gentle or delicate, 2 minutes
Berkshire	Cold	Delicate or slow cycle, 2 minutes
Iowa State Extension	The temperature the maker suggests, then a cold rinse	Gentle, 1 to 5 minutes
Maytag	Cool to warm	Gentle, low-speed spin

When sources differ, pick the colder, shorter option. Cold water is gentler on the wiring and the fabric, and every maker lists it as acceptable. The table draws on Sunbeam, Berkshire, Iowa State Extension and Maytag.

How do you dry an electric blanket?

Dry it briefly on low heat, then air dry it. Sunbeam says to preheat the dryer on low for 2 minutes, tumble the blanket for 10 minutes, and remove it while it is still damp (Sunbeam). Iowa State says to tumble for 10 minutes on a preheated dryer (Iowa State Extension).

Shape the damp blanket back to its original size (Sunbeam).
Drape it over a clothesline or shower rod, or over two parallel lines (Sunbeam; Iowa State Extension).
Do not use clothespins, because they can damage the wires (Iowa State Extension).
Do not reconnect it until it is completely dry (Sunbeam).

Berkshire goes further and says to air or line dry only, with no heat (Berkshire). If you want the least risk, skip the dryer entirely and let the spin cycle do the work.

Can you dry an electric blanket at a laundromat?

No. Sunbeam warns against commercial dryers and laundromat dryers, because they get too hot and can damage the wiring (Sunbeam). Iowa State adds that drying fully in a dryer or at a laundromat can shrink the blanket and damage the thermostat (Iowa State Extension).

Can you wash an electric blanket at a laundromat?

You can wash it there, but dry it at home. A queen or king blanket fills a small home washer, and a laundromat with large-capacity washers gives it room to move. Maytag notes that hand washing is convenient when you do not have a large-capacity washer and dryer (Maytag).

Plan the visit around the limits above:

Disconnect everything before you leave home, and carry the cords separately (Sunbeam).
Choose the gentlest cycle and the coldest water, and stay with the machine (Sunbeam).
Skip the dryer. Carry the damp blanket home and hang it up (Sunbeam; Iowa State Extension).

Check a posted rule or ask the attendant about a short cycle, since the makers suggest only 1 to 5 minutes of washing (Iowa State Extension). Not every laundromat will let you stop a cycle early.

How do you wash an electric blanket without a washing machine?

Hand washing works for most blankets, if the label allows it (Maytag). Iowa State's method:

Soak the blanket for 15 minutes in detergent and lukewarm water (Iowa State Extension).
Squeeze the suds through it, and do not vigorously twist or wring it (Iowa State Extension).
Rinse in cold water at least twice (Iowa State Extension).
Press out the water gently, then hang it to dry as described above (Maytag).

Use a bathtub or large sink, and remove the controller and cord first (Maytag).

Can you dry clean an electric blanket?

Usually not. Dry cleaning solvents can damage the wire insulation, and Sunbeam says never to dry clean its heated bedding (Sunbeam; Iowa State Extension). Maytag says not to dry clean unless the care label recommends it (Maytag).

If your label does call for dry cleaning, which is rare, take it to a professional dry cleaner and show them the label before you hand it over.

Also avoid ironing, wringers, mothballs and sprays of any kind (Sunbeam).

How often should you wash an electric blanket?

In the cold months, once or twice a month if you use it often (Maytag). Alternate dryer and air drying when you wash it that often, to protect the inner wiring (Maytag).

After winter, wash it once, dry it completely and store it folded. Keep heavy objects and other blankets off it, and skip moth products, because the chemicals can damage the wire insulation (Iowa State Extension).

Is it safe to use an electric blanket, and when should you replace it?

Washing is only half the safety story. Check the blanket after every wash and retire it when it ages or wears.

What are the chances of a heated blanket catching fire?

The Electrical Safety Foundation says heating pads and electric blankets cause around 500 fires each year, and almost all of those fires involve electric blankets more than 10 years old (Electrical Safety Foundation International). None of the sources we read give a per-use fire rate, so we do not quote one.

How long do electric blankets last?

The sources we read give no fixed lifespan. They do point to 10 years as the age behind almost all blanket fires (Electrical Safety Foundation International), so treat that as the point to retire a blanket. Replace one sooner if it is worn or damaged.

What should you check after every wash?

Look for dark, charred or frayed spots, and for cracked or frayed cords (Electrical Safety Foundation International).
Plug it straight into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip (Electrical Safety Foundation International).
Never fold it or tuck it in while it is on, and never put anything on top of it (Electrical Safety Foundation International).
Do not leave it unattended or use it while sleeping, per the same guidance (Electrical Safety Foundation International).

Can a diabetic use a heated blanket?

Be cautious. Franciscan Health says neuropathy, or nerve damage, can reduce feeling in the feet, which makes burns from electric blankets a serious risk (Franciscan Health). Its podiatry guidance is to avoid electric blankets on the feet. Ask your doctor before you use one.

Washing a comforter is a different job; see how to wash a comforter at a laundromat.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should I wash my blanket at?

For an electric blanket, use cold water. Sunbeam and Berkshire both specify it, and Maytag allows cool to warm only if your care tag agrees. For any other blanket, follow its own care label.

Can you put an electric blanket in the dryer?

Only briefly, and not at a laundromat. Makers suggest about 10 minutes on low heat while the blanket is still damp, then air drying. Laundromat dryers get too hot and can damage the wiring or the thermostat.

Can you wash an electric blanket with other laundry?

It is better to wash it alone. Other items add friction, which can cause matting and pilling, and a heated blanket needs a short gentle cycle.

Can you use fabric softener or bleach on an electric blanket?

No. Maytag says to avoid chlorine bleach and fabric softener, and Sunbeam says not to use bleach or cleaning fluids.

Can you iron or wring out an electric blanket?

No. Makers say not to iron it and not to use a wringer, and Iowa State says not to vigorously twist or wring it by hand.

Can you wash the control or the power cord?

No. Never submerge the control, and do not wash the power cord or any other cord. Detach them before washing.

How we researched this

We read six sources for this guide on 14 October 2026: care instructions from two heated-blanket makers (Sunbeam and Berkshire), a washer maker's guide (Maytag), an Iowa State University Extension care note an Electrical Safety Foundation International fire-prevention page and a Franciscan Health note on diabetes and heat. We put extension and safety guidance ahead of maker instructions where they overlap. We did not lab-test any method or any blanket, and your own care label overrides this guide. We did not cover medical advice beyond that note; talk to your doctor about your own situation.

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