How To Wash Minky Blankets (The Right Way)

Cuddling up with a luxurious minky blanket is a great way to stay warm when it’s cold out. These cozy blankets are even softer than fleece, but, unfortunately, the material does tend to shed. This shedding might make you wonder how to wash minky blankets without ruining them.

how to wash minky blankets

In this article, we’ll tell you the best way to wash and dry your minky blanket to keep it as soft as when you first bought it. We’ll also tell you how often you should clean your blanket, how to remove stains from it, and how to restore the softness to your blanket if you’ve washed it the wrong way before reading this article,

Should You Hand or Machine Wash Your Minky Blanket?

You can wash your minky blanket by hand or use a cold, gentle cycle on your washing machine. To avoid the fabric losing its softness, you should never use hot water to wash your blanket, and you should either hang it to dry or use a tumble dry setting without heat to dry it.

How To Wash A Minky Blanket (The Right Way)

Now that you know that you can hand wash or machine wash your minky blankets, check out these tips to keep your blanket feeling soft no matter the method you use.

1. Keep It Separate 

Since minky blankets tend to shed, you should wash them separately from any other laundry. 

2. Wash With Cold Water

Be sure to wash your minky blanket with cold water. Hot water can increase shedding and reduce the lifespan of your favorite blanket.

3. Use A Gentle Detergent

When choosing a detergent to clean your minky blanket, it’s best to avoid pod detergents. Since you’ll be using cold water, the vinyl coating on the pod might not break down all the way and could congeal in your blanket and ruin it. You can use a mild detergent that’s formulated for washing baby clothes. 

Alternatively, many people have great success using a homemade detergent made by mixing 1 cup each of soap flakes, baking soda, and washing soda in a bowl, followed by  ½ cup of borax.

Mix the ingredients thoroughly, then put the final product in a resealable container. I like to store my homemade laundry detergent in the same kind of Ziploc or Rubbermaid container that I use to store leftovers.

If you have a traditional top-load washing machine, you’ll need to use ½ cup of this detergent for each load, but HE and front-load machines only need 2 tablespoons per load.

4. Avoid Fabric Softeners

Although some people recommend using fabric softener to keep your minky blanket soft, the fibers on these blankets are fine, so fabric softener could cause matting. It can also shorten the life of your blanket.

5. Do Not Bleach, Iron, or Dry Clean

You should only use cold water and mild detergent to clean your minky blankets. Dry cleaning chemicals can make the fabric stiff over time, and bleach can leave stains because the material isn’t colorfast.

You should also avoid ironing your blanket because the heat can cause the polyester material to melt.

How To Dry A Minky Blanket

Not only is it important to know the best way to wash your minky blanket, but you should also know the best methods for drying your blanket to help it maintain its softness. 

  • Use the Dryer: If your dryer has an air-dry setting, you can use it to dry your minky blanket. You should avoid using dryer sheets because they have a small amount of fabric softener in them that can damage the fabric of your blanket. Instead, you can use wool dryer balls to reduce static and help your blanket dry faster.
  • Hang to Dry: If your dryer doesn’t have an air-dry setting or you don’t have dryer balls, you should hang your minky blanket to dry

How Often Should You Wash Your Minky Blanket?

To keep it feeling soft and cuddly as long as possible, you should wash your minky blanket once a week to remove germs and dust particles. Just make sure you follow the best washing practices to avoid damaging the delicate fibers. 

How To Make A Minky Blanket Soft Again?

If you’ve accidentally washed your minky blanket incorrectly and it’s lost some of its softness, you can try washing it in cold water and vinegar to revive it. This isn’t foolproof, but the vinegar may remove any fabric softener residue from the fibers and help them feel fluffy again.

Tips To Stop Your Minky Blanket From Shedding

It’s common for new minky blankets to shed. To slow the shedding, wash it according to the best washing practices outlined above. It may take a couple of washes to stop the shedding.

If your blanket continues to shed a lot, make sure your detergent is gentle, or switch to a homemade detergent instead. Always avoid heat, as heat will damage the material and lead to more shedding.

How To Remove Stains From Your Blanket

If you spill something on your minky blanket, blot it with cold water right away to keep the stain from setting. Take care to blot rather than scrub, as scrubbing can damage the delicate fibers of your blanket.

If you need a stain fighter, try using a little bit of white distilled vinegar and baking soda, then rinse it with cold water.

Minky Blanket Care Tips

Minky blanket care tips

Now that you know the best ways to wash and dry your minky blankets, we’ll give you a few more tips to keep your favorite blanket feeling as soft as the day you bought it.

  • If your minky blanket isn’t as soft as it once was, you can wash it with only cold water and vinegar to refresh the fabric.
  • Place your blanket in a pillowcase or garment bag to wash and dry it to reduce pilling. 
  • Always avoid using heat on your minky blanket. Obviously, that means you’ll need to wash it in cold water and dry it without heat, but you should also keep it far away from heat vents and hair dryers.
  • If you put your blanket in the dryer on the air-dry setting, it might get staticky. To remove this static, spritz it lightly with cold water in a spray bottle and lay it flat to finish drying. 
  • Don’t reach for the stain fighters if you spill something on your blanket. Stain fighters can remove the color from the material and matt the delicate fibers together. Instead, blot the stain with cold water and use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar if you need a cleaning agent.

FAQ

What Is Minky Material? 

Minky is a plush fabric that’s 100% polyester. This type of fleece feels as soft as faux fur and is often used to make baby blankets. 

Are Minky Blankets Safe For Babies?

Yes, minky is safe for babies. It is incredibly soft and cozy yet lightweight enough to allow babies to move around comfortably when covered with their blanket. Its synthetic material is hypoallergenic compared to most natural fibers and is easy to clean when an inevitable mess occurs.

Are There Different Types of Minky Material?

Yes, there are 5 different types of minky, including: 

  • Smooth Minky: This style has the same pile thickness across the entire piece of fabric.
  • Printed Minky: This style looks and feels the same as smooth minky, but it has multiple colors or a pattern on the material. All other types of minky are one solid color.
  • Dimple Dot Minky: This style has raised bumps across the material in a polka dot pattern. These bumps give the material an interesting texture and make it an excellent choice for baby blankets.
  • Ribbon Minky: This style has ribbons of alternating high and low pile across the piece of fabric. It looks a bit like a plushy version of corduroy.
  • Super Plush Minky: This style is the thickest and softest version of minky and often resembles faux fur. 

Conclusion

Minky blankets are soft, cozy blankets that are beloved by babies, kids, and adults alike. The polyester material is durable and will last for many years if you take proper care of it. 

Above all else, avoid heat with minky blankets. That means you’ll need to wash your blanket in cold water and dry it on an air-dry setting or hang it to dry. You should never use fabric softener or heavy detergents like bleach on these blankets, either.

If your minky blanket loses some of its softness, you can refresh the fabric by washing it in cold vinegar with ½ cup of vinegar. To avoid pilling, place your blanket in a pillowcase or garment bag when you wash and dry it.

Shauna Stone