Should You Wash Throw Blankets More Often In The Fall? Here's What Pros Say

Who doesn't love a good throw blanket in the fall? Whether it's a decorative throw adding a touch of seasonal flair to your living room or a family favorite used for Friday night movies, there are cozy throw blankets that look good in every room of your home. As we're pulling them out of storage in preparation for the cooler fall weather, it's important to keep in mind that they'll need to be added to your regular laundry routine and washed more often. To find out just how much more often they need to be washed in the fall than other seasons, we've curated expert advice to cover all your throw blanket laundering questions.

"Fall is cozy season after all, with endless movie nights, mugs of cocoa, and plenty of couch time," Elizabeth Shields, operations manager of Super Cleaning Service, Louisville, told The Spruce. She suggests washing your throws weekly and explains that laundering frequency also helps with seasonal allergies, which can be affected by an increase in heater use in the fall.

As you wrap yourself up in your favorite throw blanket, consider what Scott Schrader, a cleaning expert and the CMO at CottageCare, told The Spruce about spending more time indoors in the fall and what that means for our beloved throw blankets: "The throws absorb oils from our bodies, skin cells, dust, and pet hair, so the time we spend indoors during the cooler months makes it easy for things to build up." If adding one more thing to your household chore list feels overwhelming, try this laundry routine of your dreams to keep the family organized.

Lifestyle and frequency of use are big factors in determining just how often your specific throw blanket needs to get tossed in the wash throughout the year. "The average person will need to clean their throws at least once a month, but your level of cleanliness also makes a difference," laundry expert John Mahdessian told The Maids. "For example, if you're a person who likes to eat on your sofa wrapped in a throw, or you let your dog sleep in bed with it, then you will probably want to wash your throws every two weeks or so."

Sarah McAllister, founder and CEO at GoCleanCo, echoed that advice in her Real Simple interview: "If only adults use it in a pet-free home, you can probably get away with washing them every three months," McAllister said. "If kids, pets, or food are involved, the frequency should increase to monthly or as needed."

If anyone in your family is using the blanket to stay cozy and warm during an illness, you'll want to wash the blanket as soon as they are healthy, so as to not pass along any germs that have accumulated. And if you're just learning how to decorate your home with blankets, you'll want to know that decorative throw blankets are an exception to the frequent laundering rule. Since they don't get much, if any, use, they don't need to be washed as frequently.