I Follow This Foolproof Method to Keep My Blankets Soft and Clean (It Always Works!)

Shifrah Combiths
·2-min read
<span> Credit: Carina Romano</span> <span class="copyright">Credit: Carina Romano</span>
Credit: Carina Romano Credit: Carina Romano

Cozy season is almost here, and I can’t wait! I’m already looking forward to the extra time shut in against the cold at home with my loved ones, and I’m starting to get my house ready for it. One thing I’m starting to do is take care of our blankets, which, not surprisingly, see more use as the weather cools.

My family loves using blankets when we watch TV or read on our large sectional in the family room. (Add a roaring fire and it’s snuggle time perfection.) But between movie snacks and the dogs who like to cuddle with us, the blankets get dirty — and stinky — fast.

Lucky for me, as much as I struggle to keep on top of it, laundry is also one way I show love to my family. Keeping our blankets fresh and clean is a big part of how I care for our home and family. There’s a specific way that’s been working to keep our blankets deodorized and soft for years.

Blankets in laundry basket.
Credit: Shifrah Combiths Credit: Shifrah Combiths

How to Deodorize and Soften Blankets

Each time I wash a load of blankets, I want them to come out of the dryer not only clean, but also feeling soft and smelling fresh. I use the same process I use to whiten our sheets. It’s budget-friendly, natural, and super effective.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Laundry detergent

  • Baking soda

  • Distilled white vinegar

Here’s what to do:

Someone pouring baking soda into load of laundry.
Credit: Shifrah Combiths Credit: Shifrah Combiths

First, after I add my regular detergent, I add about a cup of baking soda to the load, directly into the washer with the blankets. Baking soda helps deodorize, lift dirt, and soften fabric. Most of our blankets are fleece, and the fleece can get stiff when too much dirt and dust accumulate. Baking soda makes them supple again.

Someone pouring vinegar into laundry.
Credit: Shifrah Combiths Credit: Shifrah Combiths

Before starting the load, I also add distilled white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser. Adding the vinegar here ensures that the vinegar doesn’t mix with the baking soda, rendering both of them essentially useless. Instead, the vinegar is added later in the cycle, providing a second burst of deodorizing and softening power. The white vinegar also reduces static, which is especially important when washing and drying blankets.

How Often to Wash Your Blankets

When we’re using our blankets a lot, I try to wash them about once a week. I usually have to do a few loads to wash them all, but, honestly, they’re the easiest loads of wash I do all week (especially since we stash our blankets, unfolded, in a big basket in the family room). Making this pleasant chore a weekly habit means our blankets are always ready to curl up in and enjoy.

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