# Cleaning/Laundering an Electric Blanket?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-laundering-an-electric-blanket/303426>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 11, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-laundering-an-electric-blanket/303426 "2005-05-11T17:58:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-laundering-an-electric-blanket/303426/1 "2005-05-11T17:58:24Z")

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I’ve been wanting to stow the electric blanket away for the warm months, but it’s gotten pretty dirty - mostly cat hair and dingy from use. I feel certain that it’s NOT a good idea to just toss it into the washer and dryer, and it didn’t come with any cleaning instructions, or if it did I’ve lost them. Anyone have any suggestions or tips to clean an electric blanket?

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**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-laundering-an-electric-blanket/303426/2 "2005-05-11T18:05:01Z")

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The ones I have had always (including the current one) said it was ok to wash them in the machine on gentle with warm or cold water, but not put them in the dryer.

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-laundering-an-electric-blanket/303426/3 "2005-05-11T18:05:55Z")

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I thought the electric part was removable?

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-laundering-an-electric-blanket/303426/4 "2005-05-11T18:33:44Z")

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Just remember to unplug it, first.

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**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-laundering-an-electric-blanket/303426/5 "2005-05-11T18:51:21Z")

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That might make an interesting science experiment though. 😉

I will give it a shot then, I know the wires inside the blanket are insultaed, I just wasn’t certain they were waterproof.