How to Clean Blankets | Reviews by Wirecutter
Cotton and linen tend to shrink a little in the wash, but the fibers can still withstand more aggressive cleaning over time than wool or synthetics like polyester fleece.
Fran Kozen, director of Undergraduate Studies in Fiber Science & Apparel at Cornell University, told us in 2018 that this makes cotton and linen ideal materials for people who have allergies. “You can easily wash them in hot water and get rid of dust mites.”
A hot wash and a high-heat dryer cycle will disinfect bedding after someone has been sick, too. Most shrinkage occurs during the first few washes, before the fibers settle. So washing a new cotton or linen blanket in cold water before using it and then drying it on low heat should reduce the amount of shrinkage later on, if you need to use hot water. I do this at least once (and sometimes two or three times) before I use any new blanket, in case I need to disinfect it after testing.
For regular cleanings, I wash blankets in cold water (or, if a blanket seems grimy, in warm water) a few times a year.
Dry on low or medium heat, removing the blanket occasionally to redistribute folded areas that might be holding moisture.
