Weighted blankets help you sleep better by alleviating anxiety and insomnia. Also, they have been proven to benefit children with Autism, ADHD, ADD, and other disorders.
Weighted blankets work on the principle of deep pressure therapy, which puts mild pressure on the body and releases serotonin. This promotes relaxation and better sleep.
Weighted blankets can weigh up to 50 pounds, and they owe their weight to the fillings inside them: Plastic Pellets and Glass Beads Fillings being two of the most popular.
In this post, I will address all the questions you may have on glass beads weighted blankets, and draw comparisons between different types of fillers.
Finally, I will suggest to you a glass bead-weighted blanket that I have used extensively and highly recommend.
Check My Favorite Glass Beads Weighted Blanket >>> Baloo Weighted Blanket
What Are Glass Beads?
Glass beads are really fine glass particles and have a texture like white sand or salt crystals.
They are typically .75 mm to 1 mm in size, but they can be bigger; however, their utility lies in their being smaller and denser, giving your weighted blanket a smoother texture and making it less bulky.
Why Do Weighted Blankets Have Glass Beads?
Compared with other fillings such as plastic pellets or ball bearings, glass beads give a special-characteristics to a weighted blanket. Weighted blankets have glass beads due to the following reasons:
- Typically, glass beads are used in cooling weighted blankets since they heat up very slowly compared to other fillers.
- Glass beads are highly dense. This means that lesser glass beads are required to fill up a blanket when compared to plastic beads. This makes a weighted blanket with glass beads thinner and flatter.
- Glass beads are packed very tightly in a weighted blanket and feel smooth. For people who find the sensory stimulation of plastic pellets too much, glass beaded weighted blankets are a great choice.
- Some brands (environmentally conscious) like Baloo Living try and minimize plastic as much as they can hence they prefer glass beads for their weighted blankets.
Can The Glass Beads In A Weighted Blanket Break?
Glass beads in a weighted blanket are safe due to their small size and being densely packed. Glass beads will not break unless the blanket is handled carelessly.
Additionally, the glass beads are combined with cotton batting, which gives extra protection. Baloo living weighted blanket is a glass bead weighted blanket that has 80% glass beads and 20% cotton battings for the same reason.
Check My Favorite Glass Beads Weighted Blanket >>> Baloo Weighted Blanket
Do All Weighted Blankets Have Glass Beads?
Not all weighted blankets have glass beads, though it is one of the two most common fillings along with plastic pellets.
Other weighted blankets’ fillings include nano-ceramic beads, grain or dried beans, gravel /river pebbles, ball bearings or steel shot fillings, sand, and crystal fillings.
Weighted blankets with plastic pellets tend to be much loftier and bulky, which may be what some people are looking for.
On the other hand, weighted blankets with glass beads tend to be cooler, thinner, and smoother.
Are Glass Beads In A Weighted Blanket Dangerous? Are They Safe?
Glass beads are non-toxic. They have not been recycled or used before. So, you do not have to worry about the kind of things they were exposed to earlier.
Cheap glass beads may contain toxic elements such as lead; however, buying a quality weighted blanket (which I have suggested below) will ensure that glass beads are non-toxic and hypoallergenic.
Also, glass beads weighted blanket is environmentally friendly compared to plastic pellets and does not catch fire. So it’s safe to say that glass beads in a weighted blanket are not dangerous.
How To Wash A Weighted Blanket With Glass Beads?
- Before you wash any weighted blanket, it is advised that you pre-treat it to remove stubborn stains.
- For large stains, you should pre-soak the blanket in warm water and mild detergent for 30 to 45 minutes and scrub off the stain under cold water.
- Use a soft brush/cloth and a mild detergent to scrub off minor stains under cold water.
- Since glass beads are tiny and feel like sand, it is safe to handwash them or uses a washing machine.
- However, keep in mind that the blanket’s fabric also dictates the washing method. So, before I share how to wash your weighted blanket with glass beads, you must know how to wash different fabrics.
Fabric-Wise Wash Directions for Weighted Blankets
| Fabric | Wash Directions |
| Cotton | Hand wash or machine wash gentle cycle with cold water. Use non-chlorine detergent. |
| Flannel | Use a gentle cycle. Can use warm water and mild detergent. |
| Minky | Coldwater machine washes with a gentle detergent. No softeners. |
| Wool | Handwash recommended. Use detergent for delicates. |
| Fleece | Soak for at least 30 minutes and wash in warm water, delicate cycle, with gentle detergent. |
Washing Machine
First of all, if your blanket weighs over 20 pounds, do not use a domestic washing machine as it will be damaged.
Using a commercial washing machine is safer in such cases. Or you can wash the blanket in your bathtub (which I’ll get to later).
Wash the weighted blanket in a delicate cycle for not more than 15 minutes. Use mild detergent only and avoid chlorine and bleach as they can break down the blanket fibers.
Using fabric softeners can make your blanket stiff and make the fillers clump together. Do not wash other clothes with your weighted blanket, as constant rubbing can damage the blanket fibers.
I have a Baloo Living weighted blanket that comes with glass beads and I was able to easily wash it in my washing machine following the similar steps shared above.
Although you can wash a weighted blanket with glass beads in a machine, I prefer you use a weighted blanket duvet cover if you want your blanket to last long.
Handwashing
Clean your bathtub thoroughly before washing your blanket. Next, fill up the tub with water, and mild detergent, and mix them well.
Immerse the weighted blanket into the solution fully and squeeze it so that water and detergent get to every part of the blanket. Let it soak for 15 minutes.
Remove the blanket from the water and replace the dirty solution in the bathtub with clean water. Rinse the blanket well and keep replacing the dirty water until your rinsing yields clean water.
Finally, remove the blanket and squeeze out excess water to prepare it for drying.
How To Dry Weighted Blanket With Glass Beads?
You can either tumble-dry or air-dry your weighted blanket with glass beads; however, the blanket’s fabric will play a role. Nevertheless, it is better to air dry if you want to make your blanket last long.
When machine drying, use only low heat and gentle tumble dry configuration. Glass beads will remain intact this way; however, some fabrics can be damaged by a dryer (see table below)
Glass beads will air dry quite easily. Air drying is simply keeping the weighted blanket out in the sun or away from it (depending on the fabric). Since the dryer on my washing was not big enough to accommodate my Baloo Living weighted blanket, I had to air dry it outside. It took some time to dry but the end result was amazing, and that’s what matters, isn’t it?
| Fabric | Drying Instructions |
| Cotton | Do not tumble dry. Air dry away from sun exposure. |
| Flannel | Tumble dry or under the sun. |
| Minky | Tumble dry with no heat. Air dry with no sun. |
| Wool | No tumble drying. Pat dry with a towel and air dry. |
| Fleece | Air dry or tumble dry. |
Ceramic Beads vs Plastic Beads vs Glass Beads in Weighted Blankets
Ceramic Beads
Ceramic beads are made from small ceramic particles, a solution, and a gel, to create a nanoparticle. The material, therefore, is tiny, light, and practically flawless.
Plastic Beads
Plastic beads are made from 100 percent polypropylene. They are the most common filling for weighted blankets, along with glass beads.
Glass Beads
Glass beads are a natural filler made from glass (sand and limestone), the most popular choice for weighted blanket fillers.
PROS: Ceramic Beads vs Plastic Beads vs Glass Beads
| Ceramic | Plastic Beads | Glass Beads |
| Durable, flexible, and strong | Lasts long and is washable | Durable and Washable |
| Excellent weight distribution | Hypoallergenic and easy to clean | Hypoallergenic and easy to clean |
| Smooth texture | Cost-effective option | Eco Friendly |
| Blankets are thin and less voluminous. The smooth texture is great for people with high auditory and sensory sensitivity | ||
| It does not make a rustling sound | ||
| Odorless |
CONS: Ceramic Beads vs Plastic Beads vs Glass Beads
| Ceramic Beads | Plastic Beads | Glass Beads |
| Expensive than other fillers | Plastic is not eco-friendly | Since the material is so fine, tiny holes in the blankets can cause leakage |
| Not available easily | Possibility of initial odor | Shifting beads can lead to uneven weight distribution. (Look for blankets with more pockets, preferably double stitched) |
| Not fit for people with high auditory or sensory sensitivity. | ||
| The clumping of beads can cause uneven distribution. |
Conclusion: Ceramic, Plastic, or Glass Beads?
Glass beads stand out as the best filler material for a weighted blanket. Glass beads are excellent for thinner and smoother weighted blankets and great for hot sleepers.
Plastic beads are bad for the environment and make your blanket bulky, while ceramics are still not fully commercially viable and quite expensive.
What Is The Best Glass Beads Weighted Blanket?
So, by now, you know that a weighted blanket with glass beads’ filling will be cooler, less bulky, and feel smooth, and if this is what you seek, then I have the perfect product for you.
After using it for over 6 months, I found the Baloo living weighted blanket an excellent choice.
The blanket is made from 100% cotton and filled with eighty percent glass beads and twenty percent cotton batting. Moreover, the breathable cotton and low heat absorption of glass beads make this blanket perfect for hot sleepers.
This blanket justifies its price well with a durable design, double-stitched pockets, and great looks. However, I wanted to know whether this could stop my tossing and turning at night. Even though I do not have problems falling asleep, tossing and turning sometimes wakes me up at night, and I wake up tired in the morning.
After a few weeks of using the blanket, I was pleasantly surprised to notice my tossing and turning had stopped, as evident by my not waking up at night anymore.
You can check my review of the Baloo Living weighted blanket for more information.
I have covered all the aspects like how my sleep improved, washing and drying guide, size guide, shipping, and refund policy, and the good and the bad, in great detail over there.
Finally, I will suggest to you a glass bead-weighted blanket that I have used extensively and highly recommend.
Check Out Baloo Weighted Blanket
Glass Beads Weighted Blanket Review: Final Verdict
Weighted blankets with glass beads are safe, washable, and comfortable and I don’t have any reason why you shouldn’t opt for one. Although a glass bead weighted blanket is a little on the expensive side, they are durable and eco-friendly which makes the price justified. If you want to get yourself a good weighted blanket with glass beads do give the Baloo Living weighted blanket a try, trust me you won’t regret your decision.