Set the dryer to the lowest heat setting, and turn it on. Every 30 minutes, stop the machine, and take the bedding out. Give it a gentle fluff to keep the down evenly distributed. Expect it to take three or more hours for your down-filled bedding to completely dry. To finish the drying process, you can opt to hang the bedding on a clothesline in a warm, dry area inside or outside. A bonus for white comforters and duvets is that the sun's rays can brighten the fabric and lighten stains.
If you have a duvet, slip it back inside its cover once completely dry, and make your bed with your freshly cleaned bedding. Some people enjoy down bedding year-round, while others prefer to store it away during warmer months. If you do decide to pack your down items away, they must be clean and thoroughly dry before they're stored. For protection, wrap the down bedding in cotton—a laundry bag works wonderfully—and place it in a well-ventilated closet.
Fixing a hole in your comforter or duvet is worth the effort as they can be expensive to replace. For smaller holes, an iron-on patch is a quick and effective solution. If you have a larger tear, try hand-stitching the fabric together or adding a patch made of similar material. If you have any stains on your bedding, it's a good idea to spot-treat them before machine-washing. To address the fabric directly, adjust or shake the down filling away from the spot.
Next, wet the area using a spray bottle of water, and then apply a stain remover of your choice. Pat the fabric with a clean white rag, and let it sit for 20 minutes. Some are brown, some white with black edges.
When the comforter is wet, you may see a very dark color showing through. As it dries, it will return to its normal appearance. A duvet cover is like a big pillowcase for the comforter. It keeps it clean and can be slipped off and laundered. If you are careful always to keep your comforter in a duvet cover while it is being used on a bed, you should not have to clean wash, dry clean, whatever you opt to do more often than 3 to 5 years.
Ensuring you always keep your down comforter inside a washable duvet cover will cut down on the number of times it needs to be laundered in its lifetime. Just make sure you wash the duvet cover monthly. All-natural down is a durable and easy-to-clean material for bedding. With a wash now and then, your down comforter will stay beautiful and warm for a long time. Lucky for you, care is easy. As the old saying goes, prevention is much better than cure.
Keeping your comforter in a washable duvet cover, which you should launder monthly, will protect your down comforter against dust, spills, and stains. With a duvet cover: You should wash the down comforter every 3 to 5 years. Without a duvet cover: Wash a down comforter every 1 to 2 years. Make sure the dryer is large enough to allow the comforter to tumble. Set heat to hot, warm, or low—your choice. Dry time will vary according to the size of the comforter and the particular machine.
However, this could take several cycles. You want it to be completely dry to prevent mold. No, however, your results will be better if you include at least 6 wool dryer balls in the dryer with the down comforter. Optionally, if you don't have wool dryer balls, you can use clean tennis balls, which will give similar results. The way these balls work is that as the comforter tumbles, the balls bounce around, keeping the folds of the comforter open, allowing the warm air to circulate more freely.
That allows the feathers and down to open up within the comforter, releasing water and allowing the whole thing to become dry and super fluffy. If you do not use wool dryer balls or tennis balls, it will take a bit longer to dry. The comforter, while still perfectly useful and clean, may take a while to re-fluff. Thoroughly drying your comforter is the next key step to ensuring the down inside stays lofty and odor-free.
Sukalac recommends drying your comforter on low or medium heat and then removing it from the dryer throughout the cycle to help redistribute and fluff the down fill. Removing your comforter frequently and unclumping the down is the best way to help it dry back into its original shape. Then, to protect the down, lower the heat to medium or low for the rest of the drying cycle.
A good cleaning every few years will help your comforter last a long time. Sukalac suggests running a comforter through the dryer for about an hour every three to four weeks to kill dust mites and dry out any moisture that has accumulated from the air or from sweat during sleep. Low heat is ideal, but to address dust mites, Sukalac again recommends using high heat for 20 minutes and then lowering the heat for the rest of the cycle. If, after several years of washing your comforter at home, it remains flat and lackluster despite your best efforts, you have another option aside from replacing it.
You can take it to an expert for a deep cleaning to properly remove years of build-up, which can flatten a comforter over its lifetime.
Jackie Reeve is a senior staff writer covering bedding, organization, and home goods at Wirecutter since Home Random Terms of Use. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings.
How to Clean a Down Comforter at Home. Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Keep an eye on your comforter. The fabric may become worn with heavy or prolonged use. Stains, rips, mold, and other undesirable conditions may arise without you noticing. Look for loose feathers: down comforters are traditionally stuffed with the fluffy undercoating of geese, ducks, and other soft birds, [1] X Research source and a flurry of flying feathers is a telltale sign that the fabric has torn.
Repair tears with a needle and a thread that matches the comforter. Spot-clean any stains as soon as they appear. Professionally clean your comforter only every few years.
It is usually unnecessary to clean a down comforter more often than this — and under normal circumstances, you should not take it to a dry-cleaner much more than once a year. The exception: if the fabric becomes extremely soiled, it might be worth your while to have it professionally cleaned for the sake of your peace of mind. Improper washing can strip the down of its natural oils and make it less effective.
Furthermore, the comforter may shrink in the wash. Remove your down comforter from the bed. Whether you are washing the comforter or just rolling for lint, it is best not to clean the comforter while it's still on top of your sheets and mattress. Bring it to a clean, dry place with water-resistant floors: a laundry room, a bathroom, or a patio.
Think about using a duvet cover. This over-blanket or "comforter shell" covers up your comforter and keeps it clean. You can buy duvets to fit various comforter sizes. Duvets usually zip shut around the comforter for the sake of protection. When you notice dirt or stains, you can easily remove the duvet cover and clean it without having to worrying about the comforter. Part 2. Use a large, front-loading washing machine. Down comforters tend to be bulky, and a small machine will not likely do the job.
If you have a top-loading machine at home, it probably has an "agitator" in the center of the washing chamber, which can rip or otherwise stress the fabric of the comforter. If you don't have a large, front-loading machine at home, consider taking the comforter to a local laundromat.
Laundromats tend to have heavy-duty front-loading machines available. Try to find a washing machine that is large enough to fit your comforter with a bit of extra air space. This will help the water and detergent reach every part of the fabric, not just the sections that wind up on the outside of a bundle.
If you aren't sure, check the owner's manual for your washing machine. It should list the maximum comforter size that you can safely wash. Wash gently. When you load your comforter into the machine, add a mild laundry detergent. Use warm water and a delicate cycle; hot or cold water can damage the down.
If your comforter is white, feel free to add bleach. It's usually safe to add bleach even if the label discourages it. This allows the detergent to blend with the water, ensuring a more even wash. This is especially important with such a bulky item — otherwise, the soap might not reach every corner!
Use the rinse cycle twice. Make sure that all of the detergent has washed out before you pull the comforter from the wash.
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