Minky Blankets: What Minky Fabric Is and How to Wash It

A minky blanket is a throw made from minky, a knitted 100 percent polyester fabric with a short, dense, silky pile on one side. It feels smoother and slicker than fleece and is lighter than deep sherpa. Keep it soft by washing cold on a gentle cycle, drying on low and skipping fabric softener.

What is minky fabric?

Minky is a plush knit fabric made from polyester. Shannon Fabrics, a fabric maker whose Cuddle line is one of the best-known minky ranges, describes minky as a synthetic fabric made from 100 percent polyester fibers. It says minky is mostly one-sided: the soft plush is on top and the back is a flatter knit. The company is open about being “a little biased” about the fabric, so treat its praise as a maker’s view.

Minky comes in a range of weights and pile heights. Shannon’s Solid Cuddle 3, for example, is listed as 100 percent polyester with a 3 mm pile, 58 to 60 inches wide, at 370 grams per linear yard. That short pile is what gives minky its smooth, almost velvety hand rather than the curly loft of sherpa.

Minky textures: smooth, dimple and luxe

Not every minky blanket has the same surface. Shannon Fabrics lists three broad looks:

Shannon says dimple, a pattern of small raised dots, is its most popular texture. Minky can also be digitally printed, which is why you see it in photo blankets and nursery prints as well as plain colors.

A minky blanket is often sewn with minky on one side and cotton or another fabric on the back. That is partly because the fabric is one-sided, and it gives the blanket a flatter, cooler back.

Minky vs fleece vs sherpa

All three are usually polyester, so the differences come from how the surface is made.

• Minky is a knit with a short, dense, silky pile. It drapes well and feels slick against the skin.
• Fleece is brushed to a matte, slightly fuzzy surface, often on both sides, and feels drier.
• Sherpa has a deeper, curly pile that imitates sheepskin and traps more air, so it usually feels warmest.

If you want the softest touch for a lap blanket or a baby gift, minky is the usual pick. If you want the most warmth for its weight on a cold sofa, sherpa leads. Our sherpa vs fleece vs faux fur comparison covers the plush fabrics side by side.

How to wash a minky blanket

Minky is easy to wash, but heat is its enemy. Shannon Fabrics says minky is machine washable on a gentle cycle and should be dried on low or no heat. The care line on its Solid Cuddle fabric is more specific: machine wash cold with like colors, no fabric softener, tumble dry low and no dryer sheet.

Other makers word it a little differently. Spoonflower, which prints custom minky throws, says to machine wash its minky blankets warm on a gentle cycle and tumble dry low. For its minky sold by the yard it says to wash cool, tumble dry low and use a cool iron with a pressing cloth. The differences are a reminder to follow the label on your own blanket.

A few habits help across makers:

1. Wash with like colors and textures. Lint from towels can cling to the pile.
2. Shake it out before drying. Loosening the pile helps it dry evenly.
3. Take it out while it is still slightly warm. Long, hot drying is what flattens a plush pile.

Who a minky blanket suits

Minky’s smooth, light feel makes it a common choice for nursery and kids’ blankets, photo blankets and soft lap throws. As with any loose blanket, keep it out of a baby’s sleep space; our blankets guide has the safe-sleep notes from the CPSC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For a warmer, heavier throw, look at oversized throw blankets in sherpa or faux fur. For a fabric with a deeper sheen, see our guide to velvet throw blankets. Our throw blanket buying guide compares every common throw fabric on warmth and care.