How to Wash a Sherpa Hoodie Blanket (and Shed Fewer Microfibres)

Quick answer: Close the zip, turn it inside out and machine wash cold (30°C max) on a gentle cycle with a mild liquid detergent, then tumble dry low or line dry in the shade. Skip fabric softener: it flattens sherpa, and University of Plymouth research found conditioners tended to release more synthetic fibres in the wash.

Key takeaways

  • Wash cold (30°C max), gentle, inside out with the zip closed.
  • No fabric softener — it flattens sherpa and conditioners tended to release more fibres in testing.
  • A 6 kg load of polyester released an estimated 496,030 fibres in one study (Napper & Thompson, 2016).
  • Wash less often and spot-clean between washes to save the fabric and the oceans.

How do I wash a sherpa hoodie blanket?

  1. Close the zip and turn it inside out.
  2. Machine wash cold (30°C max) on a gentle cycle; wash it on its own the first time.
  3. Use a mild liquid detergent — no bleach and no fabric softener.
  4. Tumble dry on low, or line dry in the shade. Don't iron the sherpa or dry clean.

Why skip fabric softener?

Softener coats sherpa fibres and makes them flat. There's an environmental reason too: in a University of Plymouth study, adding bio-detergents or conditioners tended to release more fibres from synthetic fabrics.

Do synthetic blankets shed microplastics?

Yes — like most synthetic textiles. Imogen Napper and Professor Richard Thompson tested polyester, polyester-cotton and acrylic fabrics in domestic washing machines and estimated that an average 6 kg load could release about 496,030 fibres from polyester, 728,789 from acrylic and 137,951 from polyester-cotton. Their study was published in Marine Pollution Bulletin in 2016.

How can I reduce shedding?

  • Wash only when needed — air it out and spot-clean marks in between.
  • Skip fabric softener and use a gentle cycle.
  • Consider a microfibre-catching wash bag or filter.

How do I keep the sherpa fluffy?

If it starts to feel flat, brush it gently with a soft pet brush, or tumble on low with a couple of clean tennis balls. Full care details are on our Fabric & Care page.

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