Care guide · Fleece
How to Wash a Fleece Blanket and Keep It Soft
A plush fleece blanket feels wonderful the day it arrives. Wash it the wrong way a few times and it can turn flat, matted and rough.
In this guide
Short answer
Wash a fleece blanket cold on a gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent, and no fabric softener. Dry it on low heat or hang it up. Heat is what ruins fleece. If yours has already matted, a gentle brush can improve it.
This guide covers fleece and sherpa. It is written for our ArdoToasty™ plush fleece blanket, whose care steps are: machine wash cold, tumble dry low, no iron, no fabric softener. Check the label on your own blanket first.
Why do fleece blankets get matted and rough?
Most fleece, sherpa and plush blankets are made from polyester fibers that have been brushed up into a soft pile. Polyester is a kind of plastic, and plastic softens with heat. When a fleece blanket tumbles in a hot dryer, the tips of those fine fibers can soften and stick together. Once they fuse, they stay clumped. In an April 2026 r/laundry thread about fleece lining that had hardened, the top reply put it this way:
“Most of the hardening of synthetic fibers happens in the dryer, so if that's the concern then line dry it and air fluff.”
— r/laundry, April 2026
Fabric softener is the second culprit. It leaves a waxy coating on the fibers that can make the pile lie flat and feel greasy over time.
What do you need to wash a fleece blanket?
- A washing machine with room for the blanket to move, set to cold and gentle.
- A small amount of mild liquid detergent.
- A washing line, a rail or a drying rack.
- White vinegar or citric acid, if you want a softening rinse.
How do you wash a fleece blanket, step by step?
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Shake it out
Take the blanket outside and give it a good shake to remove crumbs, hair and loose lint.
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Wash it on its own, or with other fleece
Towels and jeans shed lint and rub against the pile. Keep them apart.
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Use cold water and a gentle cycle
Cold water protects the fibers. A gentle cycle means less rubbing.
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Use a small amount of mild detergent
Too much detergent leaves residue that stiffens the pile.
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Skip the fabric softener
If you want a softening rinse, a little white vinegar or a citric acid rinse in the softener drawer is the usual swap.
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Dry on low, or air dry
Tumble dry on the lowest heat setting, or hang the blanket over a line or rail. Never use high heat.
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Take it out promptly
Do not leave it hot and bunched in the dryer. Shake it out and lay it flat.
The fleece we wash this way
ArdoToasty™ Oversized Plush Fleece Blanket
- Plush fleece, cut larger than a standard blanket, wrinkle resistant and good at hiding pet hair
- Eight sizes, from a 47 × 78 in throw to a 106 × 94 in Cal King
- Sized to fit a standard home washing machine
Good to know: Care: machine wash cold, tumble dry low, no iron, no fabric softener.
From $69.9
See the blanketHow do you wash a sherpa blanket?
Sherpa is a polyester fleece made to look like sheep's wool, with a curly, nubby face. It needs the same care, with a little extra gentleness:
- Turn it so the sherpa side faces in, if the blanket has two sides.
- Wash cold, on gentle, with mild detergent.
- Air dry if you can. If you use the dryer, use the lowest heat or an air-only setting.
- Once dry, fluff the curls with your hands.
How do I make a matted fleece blanket soft again?
If the pile has only flattened, you can often bring it back. If the fibers have melted together from high heat, the damage is permanent. You can usually improve the look, but not undo it. Users in those r/laundry threads report these steps:
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Strip the residue
Wash cold with a small amount of detergent and use a little white vinegar or a citric acid rinse. This clears built-up softener and detergent that can weigh the pile down.
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Brush it
A clean pet brush with bristles, not pins, is the tool people name. Brush gently, in one direction, right out of the washer. Brushing too hard can pull fibers out, so start gentle.
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Air dry and fluff
Let it dry flat or on a line, then rub the pile lightly with your hands.
How often should you wash and store a fleece blanket?
Less often than you might think, because every wash causes a little wear. For a sofa throw, every few weeks is usually enough. For a blanket on the bed, every one to two weeks. If a pet sleeps on it, shake it out daily and wash it more often.
Between seasons, wash it and make sure it is completely dry before you put it away. Fold it loosely rather than rolling it tight, so the pile is not crushed. Store it in a breathable cotton bag or on a shelf, not in a sealed plastic box.
How do you wash each fleece product?
Values come from each product's care tab. The same rules apply to everything with a fleece or plush pile: cold water, no softener, low or no heat. The hooded wrap is the one exception.
| Product | Wash | Dry | Iron | Softener |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArdoToasty™ plush fleece blanket | Machine, cold | Tumble dry low | No iron | No softener |
| Everyday fleece shoulder wrap | Machine, cold | Tumble dry low | No iron | No softener |
| Extra-wide fleece drape wrap | Machine, cold | Tumble dry low | No iron | No softener |
| Hooded fleece wrap with faux-fur trim | Do not wash. Spot clean with a damp cloth | Air dry | — | — |
| Long ribbed plush knit robe | Machine, cold, gentle | Tumble dry low | No iron | No softener |
| Cowl-neck knit fleece poncho | Machine, cold | Tumble dry low | No iron | No softener |
| Soft fleece house socks | Machine, cold | Tumble dry low | No iron | No softener |
Everyday fleece shoulder wrap
Hooded fleece wrap
Long ribbed plush robeFleece vs. muslin: which is easier to care for?
Both are easy, but they have different rules. Fleece tolerates a low tumble dry. Muslin cotton does not like the dryer at all. For our muslin blankets, you wash cold and hang them to dry, because a hot dryer can shrink cotton. If you own both, wash them separately. You can read more in our guide to muslin blankets.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a fleece blanket in the dryer?
Yes, on the lowest heat setting. High heat is what makes fleece mat and feel rough. Air drying is the gentlest option.
Why is my fleece blanket shedding?
New fleece can shed loose fibers for the first wash or two. Washing it alone in cold water and drying on low reduces shedding. Heavy shedding after many washes usually means the fibers are wearing from heat or friction.
Does fabric softener help fleece?
No. It coats the fibers and can make the pile flat and less soft over time. Use a vinegar or citric acid rinse if you want a softening step.
How do I get pet hair off a fleece blanket?
Shake it outside, then run a damp rubber glove or a lint roller over it before washing. A short tumble on an air-only setting also lifts hair.
Should I iron fleece?
No. An iron will melt the pile.