With spring taking hold across most of the country, it’s just about time to store your CozyWinters heated apparel and electric blankets until next year. Before you do so, however, it would be a good idea to wash the items to rid them of a season’s worth of sweat, dirt, and funk. That way everything will be clean and ready to use at the first sign of winter’s return.
Of course, the obvious question here is, “Can I safely wash heated apparel?” For a majority of products sold at the CozyWinters online store, the answer is yes—but we recommend that you check the manufacturer’s care instructions first. These can typically be found on the inside label of the garment or at the manufacturer’s website, and should always supersede any other advice for washing that particular item. If the garment or blanket doesn’t have care instructions, you can follow these general guidelines:
- Disconnect battery pack and store connectors in battery compartment
- Ensure garment pockets are empty prior to washing
- Apply stain remover or spot treatment products to heavily soiled areas to improve chances of getting the garment clean on the first try
- Set washing machine to the gentlest cycle and use only cold or warm water
- Whenever possible use a mesh washing bag to wash your heated apparel in, especially if it’s provided with the garment
- When the wash cycle is done, immediately remove items from machine
- Hang dry on hangers or a clothesline only
- Do not twist or wring out the garments, as this can damage the heating elements and connection points
- Battery-heated gloves and 12V heated insoles should be spot-cleaned only
- Always store heated apparel with batteries removed and cables disconnected
The heated apparel and electric warming products you’ve purchased from CozyWinters are designed to withstand occasional, gentle wash cycles and line drying. As long as you avoid dry cleaning, twisting, and wringing the items, they should emerge from your washing machine in good working order.