WEIGHTED blankets are slightly different to normal blankets and should be washed in a different way as well.

Although they're not just used during the winter, many people dust theirs off this time of year to help keep warm at night.

According to the pros at Sleep Foundation: "Many people find that adding a weighted blanket to their sleep routine helps to reduce stress and promote calm.

"In the same way as a hug or a baby’s swaddle, the gentle pressure of a weighted blanket may help ease symptoms and improve sleep for people with insomnia and anxiety."

If you're using a weighted blanket every night like a duvet it will need to be cleaned more often.

Madeline Miller, product specialist for The Laundress told Express.co.uk: "If you place a weighted blanket on top of your duvet cover so that it does not come in direct contact with your skin, you can get away with washing your weighted blanket every couple of months or so."

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But if your blanket comes into contact with your skin it's best to wash it every other week or once a month.

This is also the case if you have pets that sleep on the blanket.

Sleep Foundation explained: "There are two styles of weighted blankets: knitted and duvet style.

"Duvet-style weighted blankets add weight using plastic or glass beads, ball bearings, or other heavy fill, whereas knitted weighted blankets are woven using dense yarn."

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It's important to always check the labels on your blanket to know how to wash it properly, but usually you will able able to pop it in the washing machine.

Make sure you're not putting any other laundry into the machine with the blanket and run it on a delicate, cold cycle.

Luis Zuñiga, laundry expert at Mr Jeff told Express.co.uk that this will give the best results, as well as air-drying where possible.

If your blanket is filled with glass beads or smooth pebbles it might be hand-wash only, which is why it's important to always check the label.

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You can do this in your bath with lukewarm water and your normal detergent.

After leaving the blanket to soak for an hour empty the dirty water and refill the tub with cool water to rinse and squeeze to get rid of excess water.

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