How Often Should You Wash Blankets and Throws in Winter?

We turn the heating up, settle in for film evenings and Sunday snoozes, and keep this snug essential within reach for months. But while the washing machine works its way through jumpers, pyjamas and bed linen, this dependable item quietly collects a remarkable build-up of sweat, crumbs and microscopic inhabitants.

The winter comfort that rarely sees the washing machine

When household washing is discussed, clothes, towels and bed linen are generally what come to mind. These items have a routine, almost unquestioned place in the laundry schedule. Yet one important type of fabric is regularly overlooked, particularly between October and March: throws, blankets and sofa plaids.

These cosy layers go wherever we do. They may be draped over a sofa arm, laid across the bed for added warmth, or placed over a chair for “decorative” purposes. They come into close contact with our skin, clothing, pets and whatever we happen to eat while watching television.

Specialists in hygiene say unwashed blankets can harbour the same level of microbes as neglected bedsheets.

During colder months, we use them repeatedly. We sleep beneath them, sneeze into them, wrap children up in them and occasionally even tread on them. Despite this, many homes do not wash them until winter is over, if they are washed at all.

What really builds up in your blankets and throws

Every household fabric can absorb biological and environmental matter like a sponge. Throws are no different. The warmth and softness that make them feel so inviting can also provide a welcoming microclimate for unwelcome organisms.

A mix of sweat, skin and microscopic life

We constantly shed minuscule particles from our bodies, both day and night. Dermatologists estimate that an average person sheds millions of skin cells each day and produces around 26 litres of sweat annually. A substantial amount of this ends up in fabrics that we frequently sit or lie on.

• Dead skin cells, which are a key food source for dust mites
• Sweat, adding moisture within the fibres
• Natural body oils and cosmetic traces, including creams and make-up
• Bacteria and fungi that naturally live on skin
• Saliva and respiratory droplets produced by coughing and sneezing

Combine this with household dust, pet fur, pollution brought indoors on clothes and the odd tea spill, and the result is an ideal setting for mites, mould spores and bacteria to flourish.

Warm, slightly damp fabric left unwashed for weeks creates near-perfect growing conditions for mites, mould and odour-causing bacteria.

Why winter makes the problem worse

Winter routines can intensify this accumulation. Windows tend to remain shut, ventilation decreases and indoor humidity can increase because of cooking, showering and drying laundry indoors. Meanwhile, blankets may be used every day, sometimes for several hours at a time.

Central heating makes homes warmer but can dry out the air, causing skin to flake more readily. Those additional dry skin particles are shed directly into blankets. Pets also spend longer inside and may sleep on the same throw you use for a Netflix marathon.

Health risks of rarely washed throws

For many, an unwashed blanket results only in a stale smell and a mildly unpleasant sensation. For others, however, it may contribute to genuine health concerns.

Allergies and respiratory issues

Dust mites, mite droppings and mould spores are some of the most widespread allergens found indoors. When throws and blankets are shaken out, folded or drawn close to the face, these particles can enter the air and become easy to breathe in.

Those with asthma, allergic rhinitis or eczema can be especially susceptible. Typical reactions include:

• A blocked or runny nose after waking
• Itchy, streaming eyes while on the sofa or in bed
• Frequent bouts of sneezing during television time
• A worse cough or wheeze at night
• Skin irritation or red patches where the material touches the body

These signs are often attributed to “winter viruses” or dry central heating, while the contaminated throw on the sofa is never considered a possible cause.

Skin flare-ups and infections

Dermatologists note that blankets held against bare arms, legs or faces may worsen problems such as acne, eczema and urticaria. Bacteria and yeasts passed on from the skin can remain in the fibres, then be transferred back to the body day after day.

Using the same unwashed throw night after night can reintroduce bacteria and irritants to the skin, slowing healing and fuelling flare-ups.

For anyone with a weakened immune system, prolonged contact with mould spores and certain bacteria in damp materials may also raise the risk of infection, particularly where a room is poorly ventilated.

How often should you wash blankets and throws?

Hygiene specialists commonly advise a straightforward minimum for winter: wash sofa throws and bed blankets roughly once every two weeks. This places them closer to clothing in the washing routine than infrequently cleaned household textiles such as curtains.

Textile	Suggested winter washing frequency
Bedsheets and pillowcases	Once a week
Throws and blankets in regular use	Every 2 weeks
Throws used by pets or for eating on the sofa	Every 1 week
Decorative throws rarely used	Every 4–6 weeks

If you often eat on the sofa, have small children or allow pets to sleep on blankets, washing them weekly is much more appropriate. A dog returning from a muddy walk and immediately jumping onto a throw brings soil microbes, parasites and outdoor allergens with it.

How to wash and dry your throws properly

Check the label before anything else

Care labels contain essential details about the highest safe temperature, the suitable programme and whether tumble drying is permitted. Wool, cashmere and certain synthetic mixes require more delicate care than cotton or polyester fleece.

General guidance:

• Cotton and polyester: A 40°C wash is normally sufficient when paired with a quality detergent. Higher temperatures may be used when the care label permits them and allergies are a concern.
• Wool and delicate fibres: Choose a wool programme or a cold wash, using detergent made for delicate items.
• Chunky knits: Put them inside a large laundry bag or pillowcase to limit stretching.

Drying to stop microbes coming back

Drying is just as important as the wash itself. A blanket that remains wet for hours can become a new breeding site for mould and bacteria responsible for unpleasant smells.

When conditions permit, dry throws outdoors in direct sunshine. Ultraviolet light can help lower the microbial load, while fresh air helps disperse odours. During winter, use a well-ventilated room, ideally with a dehumidifier, or tumble dry on a low setting where the label allows it.

Never fold and store a blanket that still feels even slightly damp - that’s when that unmistakable musty smell appears a few days later.

Small habits that keep your winter textiles fresher

Alongside regular washing, several easy everyday measures can reduce the accumulation of allergens and bacteria.

• Shake out and air your throw beside an open window for a few minutes each morning.
• Try not to sit on it in outdoor clothing that has picked up pollen and pollution.
• Keep a separate washable blanket for pets, and clean it more often.
• Vacuum sofas and beds where throws are used to reduce overall dust and mite levels.

If blankets provide extra warmth at night, pairing them with a breathable mattress and regularly laundered bedding lowers the overall microbial load in the sleeping space. This may mean fewer mornings with a stuffy nose and less itching during the night.

Why “textiles hygiene” matters more than you think

Public hygiene discussions usually centre on washing hands, food safety and cleaning bathrooms. Soft furnishings occupy a grey area: they appear clean, retain a faint scent of fabric conditioner from months earlier and therefore seem harmless.

However, for people with asthma, allergies, sensitive skin or respiratory weakness related to long Covid, textile cleanliness can genuinely affect everyday comfort and health. Bedrooms and living rooms are the areas where we spend most of our time at home, breathing in close proximity to fabrics.

Consider textile hygiene as a scale: freshly laundered sheets sit at one end, while a travel blanket seldom cleaned and stored in a car boot sits at the other. Most household throws fall somewhere between the two. Moving them towards the “clean” end by simply laundering them more regularly in winter can lessen background inflammation and fatigue without requiring a major lifestyle change.

As energy costs lead many households to reduce their heating, blankets and throws are likely to be used even more in future winters. Treating them as clothing rather than decoration - through routine washing, thorough drying and seasonal airing - makes a cosy practice one that can also help support long-term respiratory and skin health.