Minky blankets are made from the best synthetically produced polyester fibers. They are known for their warm cuddly fluffy fabric designed to mimic a mink fur. At first It may appear a daunting task to Wash a minky while keeping it fresh but following our step by step washing guide will make it really easy and simple.
Following guide aims to help you understand the perfect process to wash a minky blanket that will help the blanket retain its precious signature softness for years to come. It will further address the problems that may occur if washed incorrectly and will answer the common questions related to washing of minky blankets. All these steps are tried and tested!
Step by Step Process: How to Wash a Minky Blanket
Step1: Wipe off Extra Dirt and stains from Minky Blanket
Use a cloth to wipe off extra dirt that may be on surface of minky blanket. If there is some heavy stain on surface, you may want to gently massage the stained area with your fingers and then rinse and soak the affected area with cold water. Avoid heavy scrubbing on surface.
Step2: Separate Minky blankets from rest of the laundry
To wash a minky blanket, they should be separated from rest of the laundry items. Separate wash helps to avoid additional friction with other clothes. Also, each blanket ideally should be washed separately, however 2-3 kids’ blankets can be washed together due to their small size.
Step 3: Select the Correct Detergent
To wash a minky blanket use a gentle, non-scented detergent with no chemical additives.
The purpose of detergents is to lose dirt and other greasy materials from the surface of fabric. The detergent molecules attract dirt and greasy substances, and they are washed away with water. So, no additional chemicals are required in a detergent. The additional chemicals can harm the polyester fabric in a minky blanket.
You can try our recommended Seventh Generation laundry detergent. It surely does the job!
Avoid fabric softeners and bleach. They can also ruin the fabric.
Instead of fabric softener use vinegar and baking powder. Add 1/8 cup of baking powder to washer before you your blanket in. Don’t put vinegar at same time leave it for a little later for the best results. Add 1/3 cups of vinegar when in the rinse cycle.
why to Use Baking powder while washing?
Baking powder helps washing in following ways:
- It dissolves stains of dirt and greasy substances.
- It is a natural brightener.
- It deodorizes the fabric.
- Helps to clean without being harsh on fabric.
Why to Use Vinegar While Washing
Vinegar is very mild acid it helps to break down impurities gathered on fabric as well as on machine surface due to hard water that may have come from tap water. It also helps to eliminate bad odor from the fabric.
These two cheap kitchen ingredients can do wonders to your cleaning effort, but they should not be put in equal amount as the chemistry of these material will cancel each other’s effect (baking powder is a base while vinegar is an acid).
Also they should not be used together. Put baking powder in at the start and use vinegar during rinse cycle. For best results don’t use more than our recommended amount of vinegar and baking powder.
Step 4: Select the Correct Wash cycle
To wash a minky blanket chose delicate cycle washing. This setting will have low agitation and low rinse speed washing.
Step 5: Select the Correct Water temperature
Cold water temperature should be selected. Minky fabric does not go well with hot water as it is made from polyester fibers which are plastic kind of synthetic material which may lose its shape and form if heated excessively.
Some people like using hot water to get rid of bacteria and germs but avoiding excessive heating and hot water is most important precaution that needs to be remembered when washing a minky blanket.
Step6: Run the Wash Cycle
Once your washing machine settings are correct, proceed to run the wash cycle, don’t overrun it!
Step 7: Drying the Minky Blanket
Next we need to dry our minky blanket. We can put the minky blanket in dryer if done correctly. The dryer settings need to be selected to avoid heat. So, the dryer settings should be selected as “delicate” or tumble dry in “no heat” option. Dry it for 20-25 minutes. Surprisingly this will fluff and soften the blanket even more. Dry minky blanket 90% in dryer and let it dry naturally hanged over line for some time.
Woolen balls should be used instead of dryer sheets. Dryer sheets usually have liquid softeners which are likely to destroy the fabric. So, better to use drying balls. You also add a few drops of essential oils (tea, lavender, citrus etc.) to the woolen balls if you want some scent on blankets. These balls last for 1000 cycles, so they are worth your money.
Why to use Woolen Balls in Dryer?
- They make drying time short.
- The make fabric softer.
- They reduce static cling from the fabric.
- The conserve energy as they make drying time short.
- They can last a thousand cycles so are very cheap.
Woolen Drying Balls Vs Plastic Drying Balls
We have found woolen dryer balls to be more efficient than plastic drying balls, so we recommend woolen drying balls
You can try our recommended woolen drying balls.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Washing of Minky Blankets
How often should I wash my minky blanket?
It really depends on the use. If a blanket is used daily than it is recommended to wash weekly. Even if you don’t spill anything on your blanket, a lot of unseen material can accumulate on your blanket. This can be dirt, leftover food, dead body cells, body fluids, even fecal matter (if you sleep naked). If a blanket is used rarely, you can wash it fortnightly or on monthly basis depending on its usage frequency.
However, you should increase washing frequency if:
- You have any allergies or infection.
- Your pet sleeps with you in bed.
- You do breakfast on dinner in bed.
- You sleep naked.
How to make Minky blankets soft again?
If correct washing process as given in our guide is followed minky blanket should remain soft and fresh. However, if you have blanket that has already lost its softness and snug feel you should wash it in cold water with vinegar and baking powder in gentle cycle. You should regain the lost glory of minky blankets. Follow our step-by-step guide for best results.
Why is my minky blanket shedding?
There can be 02 reasons for shedding in minky blankets:
- Those are washed improperly.
- Those were not sewn and cut properly during manufacturing and the lose ends of fibers start to shed.
To stop a blanket from shedding, wash it in cold water in gentle machine cycle with a very mild detergent. Use baking powder and vinegar, tumble dry it on no heat with woolen drying balls. Sheds should be collected in lint collector of the dryer.
Please follow our step-by-step procedure given in this article to wash a minky blanket correctly.
Can you put a minky blanker in a dryer?
Yes, you can put your minky blanket in a dryer. The dryer settings should be selected as “delicate” or tumble dry in “no heat” option. Dry it for 20-25 minutes or till it becomes 90% dry.
Follow our step-by-step guide for complete washing procedure of minky blankets.
How to hand wash a minky blanket?
The process of handwashing a minky blanket is similar to washing in a machine. You have to hand wash the minky blanket in cold water with a mild detergent. You can add baking powder or vinegar too for better results, but they should not be used together. After washing dry it in air naturally over a line.
To know more about minky blankets and their qualities ,you can check our article.
By following this guide, you will be able to keep your super soft cuddly and warm minky blankets for years to come with their fresh feel. You will be able to retain softness of minky blankets and avoid its shedding. So, how to wash a minky blanket is no more a mystery, if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask in comments and we shall get back to you.
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