How To Safely Wash an Embroidered Baby Blanket

Embroidered baby blankets, beyond being blankets, are keepsakes. They carry names, dates, or other tender details. Whether your child’s blanket is a gift you received at your baby shower or something you lovingly picked out yourself, you want it to last for as long as possible. To do that, you should know how to safely wash an embroidered baby blanket. Follow along as we teach you the basics that will keep your little one’s blanket in great shape for the years to come.

Read the Care Label First

Before you do anything else, check the tag. It sounds obvious, but a lot of parents skip this step and end up learning the hard way. The care label tells you exactly what the fabric needs, whether that’s cold water only, hand-washing only, or lying flat to dry.

The fabric type is typically what determines what you see on the label. Cotton and polyester blankets, for example, are usually more forgiving than fleece or velvet.

Know What Makes Embroidery Different

To be clear, well-stitched embroidery can typically handle regular machine-washing and drying if the fabric it’s on supports that type of care. However, hand-washing is always the gentlest, safest approach, especially for embroidered details.

That’s because washing machines and dryers agitate their contents. This in and of itself is hard on the items inside, and it’s particularly troublesome if you wash an embroidered piece with other laundry. The machine’s roughness might cause something to grab onto the threads or snag the fabric portion of the blanket. When you take your precious blanket out of an unfortunate cycle, you might see frayed stitches, puckered fabric, or—in the worst-case scenario—missing details.

If the blanket has a name or a custom design, that’s irreplaceable. Treat the blanket as kindly as possible to ensure it lasts.

Use Cold Water Every Time

Heat is one of the fastest ways to damage embroidered fabric—and all fabric, honestly. It can cause fabric to shrink and pucker, fade color, and loosen the tension in stitches. Fortunately, the only time you would ever need to wash the blanket in hot water is if you’re trying to sanitize it. Otherwise, warm and even cold water are perfectly capable of cleaning.

Cold water is the safest option. Whether you’re hand-washing or using a machine (more on this later), keep the temperature setting as low as it goes. This applies even if the blanket looks really dirty. A longer soak in cold water with a gentle detergent will do far more good than a hot cycle.

Choose a Gentle Detergent

Harsh detergents use surfactants and enzymes to break down stains. These formulas are great at what they do, but they can take a toll on delicate laundry items after enough washes. Moreover, your baby’s skin is incredibly sensitive, and surfactants and enzymes are known to be irritating.

Look for a baby-safe, fragrance-free detergent that’s labeled as gentle or delicate. But don’t just trust the label—read the ingredients.

Hand-Washing vs. Machine-Washing

You can either machine-wash or hand-wash embroidered blankets. Hand-washing is ultimately the gentlest method, but machine-washing is perfectly acceptable for well-made blankets that aren’t too thin.

How To Hand-Wash

Hand-washing is the gold standard for embroidered baby blankets, especially if the blanket is delicate or has a lot of detailed stitching. Here’s the process:

1. Fill a clean basin or sink with cool water.
2. Add a small (seriously, small) amount of gentle detergent.
3. Submerge the blanket.
4. Gently squeeze the water through the fabric and agitate the blanket to release grime. Don’t rub or scrub.
5. Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
6. Gently scrunch or press the blanket to remove excess water. Don’t wring it.
7. Roll the blanket into a towel to mop up additional water.
8. Lay flat or hang to air-dry.

How To Machine-Wash

If machine-washing is allowed on the care label, you can do so, but we suggest taking these precautions first:

• If possible, turn the blanket inside out so the embroidery faces inward and gets less direct friction.
• Place the blanket in a mesh laundry bag for additional protection.
• Select the gentlest cycle your machine offers, usually labeled as delicate.
• Use cold water and the least amount of spin you can get away with.

Once the cycle is done, consider air-drying the freshly washed blanket. Using a dryer can be damaging, especially if the fabric is a natural fiber like cotton. But if the label allows for machine-drying, then it’s okay to do so, just use the lowest heat setting and remove the blanket while it’s still slightly damp. Lay it flat to finish drying.

Protect the Embroidery from Snagging

As we mentioned, embroidery threads can catch on zippers, Velcro, or rough edges inside the machines. Always wash the blanket separately or alongside other soft, snag-free items.

And use a mesh laundry bag. This is by far the simplest way to ensure no damage occurs in the washer or dryer.

Store the Blanket Properly Between Uses

We know that your baby is probably making the most of their blanket. But on the off chance that you ever need to put the blanket in storage, do so carefully.

First, remember to fold it loosely to avoid creasing. Secondly, store it in a breathable cotton bag or a clean pillowcase rather than a plastic bin, which traps moisture. Thirdly, keep it away from direct light and areas with big temperature swings.

Make Your Keepsake Last for Years to Come

Knowing how to safely wash an embroidered baby blanket will help you keep it in amazing, lovable condition, from the first wash to the hundredth. It should last long enough to accompany your baby throughout their earliest years, and it might even make it their whole lives. The steps we reviewed above don’t take much extra time, and they make a real difference in how the blanket holds up through years of washing.

If you’re looking for a blanket that already comes with that kind of lasting quality built in, shop at Bunnies by the Bay. Our personalized gifts for baby boys and girls come with embroidery of your choice on a blanket or stuffed animal. We make our blankets with 100% baby-safe polyester, which is one of the most forgiving fabrics in the laundry room. We allow for cold machine-washing and air-drying or tumble-drying on low, depending on the item. Browse our blankets and other customizable baby items today to find something that will bring glad dreams night after night, year after year.