Benefits of Weighted Blanket for Adults
Pressure therapy has been proven to creating a deep sense of relaxation and calm. Arriving at this state of mind is essential to getting a quality good night sleep. The reality is over 200 million Americans have difficulty sleeping at least one night a week.
In today’s fast paced world, sleep quality has never been more important to regenerating our bodies and our minds so that you can operate at your peak. The lack of consistent good night sleep has been linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression.
Weighted blankets are engineered to reduce stress, anxiety and improve sleep quality through deep pressure stimulation. A weighted blanket representing 1/10th of your body weight has been scientifically proven to reduce blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol, while increasing serotonin and melatonin for a deep relaxing calm.
How Heavy Should a Weighted Blanket Be ?
Many of us will ask our self "What weight should I get for a weighted blanket?" well the good news is that the calculations are easy. Weighted blankets are designed to be 8-12% of your body weight. You will be able to choose from the range of weight to fit your body type. Usually 10, 15, 20 and 25 pound blankets are available.
What Size Should The Weighted Blanket Be?
Weighted blankets are mostly used as a personal item. According to the body ergonomics in US the best fitting size is 48 x 78" ( inches ).
This size is usually seen as a twin size weighted blanket or a queen size weighted blanket.
The Science and Research Behind Weighted Blankets for Adults
The 2016 Consumer Reports survey on adults said 68 percent—or an estimated 164 million Americans—struggled with sleep at least once a week. According to Sleep Health in America 70% of adults report that they obtain insufficient sleep at least one night a month.
How to Make a Weighted Blanket for Adults
Most weighted blankets use plastic pellets distributed in a grid-like pattern. It’s noisy, clumpy, and does not take into consideration the curves of the human body. The newest and the best weighted blankets use the finest beads allowing for a 70% thinner with a softer smoother feel. Alpha Weighted Blanket is a great example for a high quality weighted blanket which contours to your body for a more effective pressure delivery. Its patented design has been proven to optimize the level of relaxation.
The enhanced beads provide a cooling sensation in the summer and a breathable warmth in the winter due to its engineered specific heat properties. Utilizing premium ultra soft cotton, the weighted blanket feels amazing.
How Should I Wash My Weighted Blanket?
Washing and Drying The Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets are machine washable. You can wash the blanket in a cool wash/low cycle with gentle detergent (do not use fabric softener or chlorine bleach) and tumble dry on low/cool (do not use dryer sheets). You can also dry your blanket outside in the sun or inside, air dry.
Should You Take Your Weighted Blanket to Laundromat
If your weighted blanket is heavier but your home washer is small and you do not prefer to use it, you can take the weighted blanket to the laundromat and use their largest, commercial size machines for washing and drying, following the same instructions above.
Stains on Your Weighted Blanket
If there are stains on your weighted blanket you can use a wet towel and soap to make it clean and use tumble dry on low. One tip regarding stains is that you should treat the stains and be sure they’re gone before you put your blanket in the dryer, because the dryer acts like an oven and bakes them in.
Detergent, Fabric Softener, Dryer Sheets, Bleach on Weighted Blanket
As mentioned above, please use gentle detergent only. Do not use chlorine bleach, fabric softener or dryer sheets. The chlorine bleach can loosen up or even break down the fibers in the weighted blanket. Fabric softeners as well as the dryer sheets can build up in the weighted blanket making it less soft. In many cases they can make the blanket even rough and scratchy. Cotton is natural soft.
Hang Dry The Weighted Blanket
If you decide to hang dry your Weighted Blanket hang it evenly over your laundry line. It will be helpful for the blanket to maintain it’s shape. Do not hang the weighted blanket for only one edge, the gravity will pull the weigh on only one side stretching the materials and loosing up the shape (can damage the weighted blanket).
Iron or Steam The Weighted Blanket
If the weighted blanket is made of 100% cotton cover and glass beads, can be ironed or steamed if needed. Steaming is a better options if you want to remove any wrinkles. The iron will create pressure between the glass beads and the cotton and the texture of the glass beads might get outlined on the cotton.
