GUIDE
How to Fluff a Faux-Fur Blanket & Fix a Matted Pile
How to fluff a faux-fur blanket and revive a matted, flattened pile: brushing technique, a no-heat steam trick, and the washing mistakes that cause matting.
PUBLISHED JUL 5, 2026
A flattened faux-fur blanket usually isn’t ruined — it’s matted, and matting can be brushed and steamed back to life. The most common cause is heat (a hot dryer or hot wash), so fixing the pile and preventing it again go hand in hand. Here’s how to fluff a faux-fur blanket, or the face of a faux-fur comforter set, back to plush.
Why faux fur flattens
Synthetic pile mats for three reasons: heat (melts and crushes the fibers), fabric softener (coats them so they clump), and compression (being folded or sat on for long stretches). The first two are washing mistakes — see how to wash a faux-fur blanket to avoid repeating them. The third just needs regular fluffing.
The revival routine
- Dry it fully — never brush wet faux fur.
- Comb gently with a wide-tooth comb, in the pile’s direction, section by section.
- Steam from a distance to relax the fibers (never touch the fabric with a hot plate).
- Brush again right after steaming.
- Shake and air it out.
A light brush every week or two keeps a well-used blanket lofted and stops matting before it sets in.
Keeping faux fur soft long-term
Wash it as little as it genuinely needs, always cold and heat-free, skip softener entirely, and give it an occasional brush. Store it loosely rolled rather than tightly folded — our blanket storage guide covers keeping pile from creasing in the off-season.
Frequently asked questions
Usually yes, unless it was melted by high heat. Dry it fully, brush the pile up with a wide-tooth comb, and pass a steamer over it from a few inches away to relax the fibers, then brush again.
Let it dry completely off any heat, then comb gently in the direction of the pile. A light steam from a distance followed by more brushing restores loft to any flattened patches.
A wide-tooth comb or a soft pet slicker brush. Avoid fine, stiff bristles and hard strokes, which pull fibers out instead of lifting them.
Not if you keep the steamer several inches away and never press a hot plate onto the fabric. The goal is warm moisture to relax the fibers, not direct heat, which melts them.