How to Wash a Throw Blanket: Cotton, Linen, Knits and Blends

By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026

Throws get more wear than most textiles in the house. They sit on sofas, travel to the bedroom, and end up under the dog. Most can be washed at home, but the right method depends on what the throw is made of and how it is made.

This guide covers cotton, linen cotton, knits and blended throws. If yours is pure wool, our dedicated wool throw washing guide goes into more depth.

How do you know which way to wash your throw?

Read the fibre content on the label and wash for the most delicate fibre in the mix: any wool means wool care, even if wool is only 10% of the cloth.

A throw that looks like wool may be mostly polyester, and a cotton-look knit may contain acrylic. Construction matters too: knits stretch when wet, and fringes can tangle in a machine. Use this table as a starting point, and follow the care label if it differs.

Throw type	Wash	Water	Dry
Cotton, muslin, waffle	Machine, gentle	30°C	Line dry
Cotton knit	Machine, gentle	30°C	Line or flat, reshaped
Linen cotton	Machine, gentle	30°C	Line dry
Pure wool	Spot clean, hand wash or dry clean	Cool water	Flat
Wool blend	Spot clean, hand wash or dry clean	Cool water	Flat
Polyester-led knit or woven	Spot clean or gentle hand wash	Cool water	Flat

How do you wash a throw blanket in the washing machine?

Wash it on its own on a gentle 30°C cycle with mild liquid detergent and a low spin, then shake it out and dry it straight away.

1. Shake the throw outdoors to remove fluff, crumbs and pet hair.
2. Put fringed or tasselled throws in a large mesh laundry bag, or a zipped duvet cover, so the fringe does not tangle.
3. Wash it alone for the first one or two washes, then with similar colours.
4. Choose a gentle or delicates cycle at 30°C, with mild liquid detergent and no bleach.
5. Leave room in the drum: the throw should move freely, so a 200×230 cm throw may need a large machine.
6. Use a low spin, then remove the throw as soon as the cycle ends.

The same approach applies to cotton and linen bedding; see our guide to washing cotton and linen bedding.

How do you hand wash a wool or blended throw?

Soak it in cool water with wool detergent, press the suds through without rubbing, rinse in water of the same temperature, then press the water out and dry it flat.

Use a clean bath for anything larger than a lap throw. Leave it to soak for about ten minutes, then press rather than scrub. Rubbing, wringing and sudden changes of water temperature are what felt wool. Drain, rinse once or twice, and press out as much water as you can against the side of the bath. Rolling the throw in a couple of large towels removes more. Often, though, a wool throw only needs airing outdoors and a little spot cleaning with a damp cloth.

How do you dry a throw without shrinking or stretching it?

Line dry woven cotton and linen throws, dry knits and anything containing wool flat, and keep every throw out of the tumble dryer unless the label clearly allows it.

For woven cotton, peg the throw over two parallel lines so the weight is spread. For knits and wool, lay the throw flat on a drying rack or a clean towel on the floor, reshape it to its original size, and turn it once. Keep it away from radiators and strong sun. Do not iron crinkled, crumpled or enzyme-washed finishes, as the texture is part of the cloth. Once dry, shake out and comb fringes with your fingers.

How often should you wash a throw?

As a rough guide, wash a cotton or linen throw in daily use every four to six weeks, and wash wool only a few times a year, airing it in between.

Throws used by pets or children, or on a bed, may need washing more often. Spot clean spills straight away so you can wash less. Too much washing speeds up pilling; our guide to shedding and pilling explains why. Wash a throw before storing it for the summer, then fold it away dry; see storing throws between seasons. Cushions on the same sofa need different handling, covered in washing cushion covers.

How do you care for the throws in our range?

Every throw we sell follows one of two care routines: machine wash for cotton and linen cotton, and gentle wool care for wool, wool blends and polyester-led pieces.

Machine washable at 30°C: the four-layer muslin in six colours, from £51.90; the deep waffle cotton throw, from £57.90; the enzyme-washed linen cotton throw at £54.90; and the crinkled cotton linen throw at £64.90.

Gentle care, flat drying: the reversible two-tone throw (50% polyester, 30% wool, 20% viscose) at £46.90, and the beige grey check throw in a polyester and wool blend at £42.90. Full instructions are in our Snoozyn care guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can you put a throw in the tumble dryer?

Only if the care label allows it. Throws containing any wool should never go in the tumble dryer, as heat and tumbling can shrink and felt them. Cotton and linen throws keep their size and texture better when line dried.

Should you use fabric conditioner on a throw?

It is best avoided. Conditioner leaves a coating that can flatten muslin, waffle and brushed surfaces and dull the texture over time. A good rinse and line drying keep cotton soft, and wool needs only wool detergent.

How do you wash a throw with a fringe or tassels?

Put it in a large mesh laundry bag or a zipped duvet cover, choose a gentle cycle with a low spin, and comb the fringe straight with your fingers while it is damp. Hand washing is gentler still.

What do you do if a throw is too big for your washing machine?

Hand wash it in the bath, or use a launderette’s large-drum machine on a gentle setting. A throw that cannot move freely in the drum will not rinse properly and may crease badly.

Can you dry clean a throw?

Yes, dry cleaning is a safe choice for pure wool and wool blend throws, especially large ones that are hard to dry flat at home. Cotton and linen throws do not need it and are easier to wash.

How do you get a stain out of a wool throw?

Blot the spill straight away with a clean cloth, then dab, never rub, with cool water and a little wool detergent. Rinse by dabbing with clean water and let the area dry flat before using the throw again.