GUIDE
How to Stop a Blanket From Shedding (Faux Fur & Fleece)
How to stop a new blanket from shedding: why faux-fur and fleece blankets shed at first, the freezer and wash tricks that cut it, and when shedding stops.
PUBLISHED JUL 5, 2026
Almost every new plush blanket sheds a little at first, and it’s rarely a defect — it’s loose surface fibers left from manufacturing working themselves free. The shedding tapers off after the first wash or two. Here’s how to speed that up and stop a blanket from shedding all over your clothes and couch.
Why new blankets shed
Faux-fur and fleece blankets are made by cutting and brushing synthetic pile, which leaves loose fibers sitting on the surface. Until those clear, they transfer onto everything. This is temporary: a genuine quality blanket stops shedding once the loose layer is gone. (True long-term shedding — clumps pulling out months later — is different and points to a low-quality pile.) A textured fleece throw and a faux-fur comforter both go through this settling-in phase.
The routine that clears it fastest
- Shake it out hard when it arrives.
- Cold gentle first wash, alone, mild detergent.
- Freezer trick for smaller throws — freeze a few hours, then shake.
- Dry low/no heat, then shake again.
- Lint-roll the surface.
Wash faux fur and fleece the gentle way every time (cold, no high heat, no fabric softener) — the same routine in how to wash a faux-fur blanket and how to wash a fleece blanket — and shedding stays minimal for the life of the blanket.
What not to do
Don’t brush a shedding blanket aggressively (it pulls more fibers loose), and don’t wash it with towels or lint-heavy items (they trade fibers back and forth). Keep it separate until it settles.
Frequently asked questions
Loose surface fibers from manufacturing. It is almost always temporary — shake it out, give it a cold gentle wash, and it settles within a wash or two.
Most shed a little when new. A quality pile stops after the loose fibers clear; ongoing shedding of clumps months later signals a lower-quality blanket, not normal break-in.
It helps for smaller throws — cold makes loose fibers brittle so more release when you shake it. It is a supplement to washing, not a replacement.
Usually after the first one or two gentle washes and a few shake-outs. If it is still shedding heavily after several washes, the pile quality is the issue.