How to Wash and Store Heated Clothing

Heated clothing is ordinary fabric with a little electronics sewn in: thin heating panels, a cable and a connector. That small difference changes how you wash it and how you put it away at the end of the season. A few careful habits keep your gear ready for the next cold morning.

This guide covers the general steps for vests, gloves, insoles and plush home items such as blankets and foot warmers. One rule sits above all of them.

Rule one: the care label comes first

Heated gear varies a lot. Some pieces can go in a washing machine on a gentle cycle, some are hand wash only, and some should only be wiped or spot cleaned. The care label and the manual that came with your item are written for that exact product, so follow them over anything you read here, this guide included.

If there is no label, or you cannot read it, take the gentlest route: spot clean by hand and keep water away from the connector and any control unit.

Before you wash anything

1. Disconnect the power. Unplug the cable and take the power bank out of its pocket. A power bank never goes in water.
2. Detach what comes off. If a controller or cable is designed to unplug from the item, take it off.
3. Tuck the connector away. If the garment has a pocket or a tab for the cable end, tuck it in so it does not knock around.
4. Close everything. Zip the zippers and fasten any closures so nothing snags.
5. Check for damage. Look along the cable and around the connector. If you see fraying, exposed wire or a cracked plug, stop using the item.

Washing: gentle is the theme

If your label allows washing, these are the kinds of steps heated clothing labels often call for. Use only the ones your own label agrees with.

By hand

• Fill a basin with cool or lukewarm water and a small amount of mild detergent.
• Press and squeeze the fabric gently. Do not scrub hard over the heating panels.
• Rinse well, so no detergent is left in the fabric.
• Press the water out rather than wringing or twisting.

In a machine (only if the label allows it)

• Put the item in a mesh laundry bag.
• Choose a gentle or delicate cycle with cold water.
• Use a mild detergent.
• Wash it with a few soft items rather than heavy jeans or towels.

Things to avoid unless the label says otherwise

• Bleach
• Dry cleaning
• Ironing over the heating panels
• Wringing and twisting
• A hot wash

Drying: flat, slow and complete

Drying is where heated clothing needs the most patience.

• Press out water with a towel. Lay the item on a dry towel, roll it up and press. Do not twist.
• Dry it flat or hang it, as the label says. Drying flat helps a garment keep its shape and puts less strain on the panels and seams.
• Skip the tumble dryer unless the label clearly allows it.
• Keep it away from direct heat. Do not dry heated gear on a radiator, in front of a space heater or with a hair dryer.
• Wait until it is completely dry, inside and out, before you connect any power. Padded and quilted items hold water longer than they seem to, so give them extra time and check the area around the connector.

Notes for different kinds of heated gear

Vests and jackets

Heated vests and jackets are the items you are most likely to wash, simply because they are worn the most. Our Women's USB Heated Vest runs from a separate power bank, so take that out first, tuck the cable away and then follow the label. When the vest is dry, put the power bank back only once you are sure the connector is dry too.

Gloves

Heated gloves connect to a power bank by a cable, so disconnect them first. If the label allows washing, doing it by hand is often the gentlest choice for gloves. After washing, press out the water, straighten the fingers and let the gloves dry flat. Our USB Heated Gloves come in two styles; check the care directions for the pair you have.

Insoles

Heated insoles live in your shoes, so most of the time they need airing out more than washing. Unplug the cable, take them out of the shoes, wipe the surface with a damp cloth and let them air dry at room temperature. Do not soak them unless the manual says you can. Our USB Heated Insoles are thin carbon fiber insoles, about 4 mm thick, so let them dry flat rather than bending them over a rail.

Blankets, cushions and foot warmers

Plush home items such as our Wearable USB Heated Blanket, Quilted USB Heated Seat Cushion and USB Heated Foot Warmer are used indoors and tend to need less cleaning than outdoor gear. Unplug them first. For everyday marks, spot cleaning with a damp cloth and a little mild detergent is often all they need. For anything more than that, follow the manual.

Storing heated gear for the off-season

When spring comes, a little care before you put things away saves you a surprise in the fall.

• Clean and dry first. Put items away clean and completely dry.
• Fold loosely or hang. Avoid sharp creases across the heating panels, and do not pile heavy things on top.
• Coil cables loosely. Tight wraps and kinks strain the wire where it meets the plug.
• Pick a cool, dry place. A closet shelf is better than a damp basement or a hot attic.
• Keep the parts together. Store each item with its cable and manual. Our foot warmer comes with a zipper pouch, which is handy for exactly this.

The power bank needs its own care

• Store it apart from the garment.
• Leave it partly charged rather than completely full or completely empty, unless its manual says otherwise.
• Keep it somewhere cool and dry, and never in a hot car.
• Check the charge every few months and top it up if it has run low.
• If a power bank swells, gets unusually hot or smells odd, stop using it and take it to a battery recycling drop-off rather than the trash.

Before the first cold day

When the weather turns again, give your gear a quick check before you rely on it:

1. Look over the fabric, cable and connector for wear.
2. Charge the power bank fully.
3. Connect it and try each heat setting indoors for a few minutes.
4. If anything does not work as it should, stop and contact the seller rather than heading out with it.

The short version

• Follow the care label and the manual before anything else.
• Always disconnect and remove the power bank first.
• Wash gently, never wring, skip the bleach.
• Dry flat or hang, away from direct heat, until completely dry.
• Store clean, dry and loosely folded, with the power bank kept apart and partly charged.

Adding something to your winter kit? Everything we carry is in the Heated Gear collection.