Waterproof Sex Blankets: Save Yourself Another Sheet Change

You've just changed the sheets. Then you remember what you were hoping to do on them tonight. Fuck's sake. Excellent timing.

A waterproof sex blanket gives you a protective layer to put down before things get messy. The appeal is fairly simple: enjoy yourself, then deal with a washable throw instead of stripping the bed after sex.

But does it do enough to justify a place in the cupboard? That depends on how much protection you want, what feels comfortable against your skin and whether you'll actually use it. Let's start with the towel you've probably been relying on.

Waterproof sex blanket or towel?

You spread a towel across the bed and feel wonderfully prepared. Later, you lift it and find that the sheet underneath is wet too. The towel absorbed what it could; it didn't promise to keep everything beneath it dry.

A waterproof blanket adds a barrier intended to stop liquid passing through. That's the useful difference. Absorbent means the fabric takes up moisture. Waterproof means there's protection against it soaking through. Water-resistant is a weaker claim and shouldn't be treated as the same thing.

A towel may still be enough for a small, predictable mess. If you're repeatedly washing the bedding underneath it, though, you're already discovering why people buy the blanket.

Choose the right blanket size

A tiny patch of protected bedding is less helpful once two people start changing position. You don't want half your attention on enjoying yourself and the other half on whether your arse has crossed the edge.

Measure the area you want covered rather than judging by a folded product photo. Allow room around where you'll actually lie or sit. A blanket protects the area beneath it, not the sheet just beyond its edge.

The Whipsmart Waterproof Love Throw measures 137 by 183 cm. Lay out those measurements on your bed or sofa to picture the coverage. That's more useful than the word “generous”, which has caused enough misunderstandings in bedroom shopping already.

Choose fabric you want to lie naked on

The protective layer matters, but so does the bit you're lying on. A blanket can do its job and still be something you never fancy getting naked on.

The Whipsmart throw has a microvelvet surface and is made from polyester. That gives you a concrete fabric choice to compare with your ordinary towel. It doesn't mean you have to love plush fabric; some people prefer a simpler, less fluffy feel.

Think about warmth as well. If you're already kicking the quilt off, another thick layer may not be what you want. Buy for the bed you actually share, including the person who announces they're boiling thirty seconds after climbing in.

Put the blanket down before sex

The throw is much more useful within reach than buried behind the spare doona. Keep it somewhere you can grab it without emptying a cupboard while your partner waits on the bed wondering where you've gone.

Spread it flat before you start, and reposition it if it bunches or slips. Waterproof doesn't mean non-slip. It also doesn't mean stain-proof, so spills still need cleaning.

You don't need to ration lube to protect the sheets. Use what feels comfortable and let the blanket handle its own job. Our guide to how much lube to use helps with that question.

If massage is part of the evening, keep your bottles straight. Massage oil and personal lube do different jobs, even when the packaging looks equally inviting.

Wash and dry your sex blanket

The Whipsmart throw is machine washable, which is a useful detail in something you're buying to make cleanup less annoying.

Let it dry fully before folding or rolling it away. It still needs laundry time, just hopefully less stripping-the-entire-bed time. A damp blanket stuffed into the cupboard won't make next weekend sexier.

If a towel already does everything you need, keep using it. If you've had enough of changing sheets after sex, a waterproof throw could earn its place quickly.

Put it down, enjoy the evening, wash it afterwards. Fresh sheets can stay a nice thing you did today instead of becoming a job you have to do twice.