You’ve been cleaning your electric blanket all wrong – here’s how to wash one safely

WHILE it's hard to beat the comfort an electric blanket provides during a cold night, many users may be puzzled as to how exactly they should be washed.

A blanket that includes wires may not seem like the easiest thing to wash, but fortunately most can be machine washed.

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Electric blankets should be washed several times a season, especially if it gets a lot of use, Executive Director of the Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab Carolyn Forte told .

To wash your electric blanket in a washing machine, all you will need is laundry detergent, a washer, and a drying rack.

The first thing you want to do before washing your electric blanket is check the care label instructions to see if you can use the washing machine and dryer.

Next, it's important to remove and unplug all chords or control panels from the blanket before washing it.

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Good Housekeeping recommends using a front-loading washing machine or top-loader, and one preferably without an agitator so the blanket doesn't get caught or stuck on anything.

If your blanket doesn't include washing instructions, you should use gentle or delicate cycles and warm or cool water, to be safe.

If you can't find specific drying instructions, you should lay the blanket flat or use a drying rack. You can also tumble dry it on the lowest heat setting.

In order to not damage the blanket, you must make sure it's completely dry before using it or the wires could get damaged.

For blankets that cannot be machine-washed, there is always hand-washing.

To do this, just make sure all the wires are removed and fill your bathtub with cold water and a bit of mild detergent.

Let the blanket soak for a few minutes and then agitate the water using your hands.

To rinse the blanket, drain the tub and fill it with clean water, then squeeze the blanket until all the soap is removed.

It's important to remember to avoid high heat when drying the blanket as to not damage the wiring.