Cotton Blankets: The Layer Every Australian Bed Needs

Looking after a cotton blanket

A cotton blanket earns its keep partly because it is so easy to look after. Wash it on a cool or warm cycle with a mild detergent, and skip the fabric softener — softener coats the fibres and gradually reduces cotton's absorbency and breathability. Avoid bleach, which weakens the fibres over time. Line drying is ideal: peg the blanket out in the shade and it will dry fresh and soft, and a good airing between washes keeps it smelling clean. If you use a dryer, choose a low heat and take the blanket out while it is still slightly damp, then smooth it flat to finish. Folded loosely and stored in a breathable cotton bag rather than a sealed plastic container, a cotton blanket stays fresh through the off-season and comes out ready for the first cool night of autumn.

Beyond the bedroom

The same qualities that make cotton blankets good on the bed make them useful all over the house. A folded blanket over the arm of the couch is there for movie nights and early-morning cups of tea. A heavier weave doubles as a picnic rug in the park or a warm layer on the balcony on a cool evening. They are handy in the car for road trips and in the caravan, and a spare across the end of a guest bed makes visitors feel welcome without a lot of fuss. Because cotton washes well, a blanket that gets used everywhere can be thrown in the machine on Monday and back on the bed by nightfall.

A well-chosen blanket is one of the smallest investments in the bedroom and one of the most used: night after night, season after season, it is the layer that adjusts when the weather will not sit still. Pick a breathable cotton weave in the right size, look after it with a cool wash and a good airing, and it will be the layer you reach for every night.