Inside: Skip the dry cleaner and save some money with these easy tips on how to wash a down comforter. It's simple to wash a down comforter at home.
It's just about winter here in Indiana and I have my down comforter on the bed to keep us warm at night.
For years I avoided using down because I thought it would be too much trouble to take care of. But, once I started using one I realized it's pretty easy to clean a down comforter at home with just a few steps.
The duvet cover helps keep the down comforter clean of any stains and you just need to wash it occasionally.
If you want to save some money, skip the dry cleaner and check out how to wash a down comforter at home.
How To Wash A Down Comforter At Home
You will need a few things to wash a down comforter at home.
- Washer (large capacity for a king size)
- Laundry Detergent for Delicates (I like this brand)
Getting Started
To start you will want to carefully load your comforter into the washing machine. You will want to do this before you even start the wash because it takes up so much room in the machine.
Try to make sure that the comforter is evenly distributed throughout the machine so it doesn't get the machine agitators off balance while it is washing the comforter.
Select Your Settings To Wash The Comforter
Next start the machine making sure you use the coldest water possible. The cold water will make sure that your down comforter doesn't shrink. If you use warm water in the load then you might have problems with your comforter shrinking.
You don't, however, need to use the delicate cycle. You can use the regular cycle and rinse. This will help ensure that as much water as possible drains from it during the rinse cycle before you put it in the dryer.
If the comforter takes too long to dry you could get mildew build up in it.
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Add Detergent
Once the machine has filled up with water then you can add your detergent. You will want to use a detergent that is made for delicates.
I use Woolite for delicates on some clothes, but recently I have been using The Laundress Delicates Wash. I love the scent of the detergent and it does a great job of getting out the oils without damaging the fabric. Add the amount of detergent for the load and let it run.
Drying Your Down Comforter
After the machine has finished running you will want to dry the comforter. I don't recommend letting a down comforter air dry because the drying time takes too long.
It's usually best to dry it in the dryer on low or medium heat. If you have wool dryer balls (or clean tennis balls) toss those in with the load to help it dry faster.
Set a timer for about 30 minutes and check on your down comforter. They tend to roll up in a ball while in the dryer so you most likely will need to take it out of the dryer and fluff it and then start the dryer again.
During the drying process, the feathers may tend to clump up so keep checking on it about every 30 minutes until it is dry.
Once your down comforter is dry then you can either put it back on your bed or put it away for summer.
A few more tips when cleaning your down comforter at home:
- Skip using bleach, this could damage the comforter
- If you don't have a large washer you can always clean the comforter at a local laundromat
- use a gentle stain remover to remove stains if necessary
- these tips also work for down alternative comforters
With these easy steps, you can get your comforter washed and smelling like new. Skip the dry cleaner and save some money with these easy tips on how to wash a down comforter at home.
Want some other easy tips? Check out how to wash dry clean clothing at home to save some extra money. It's easy and saves you some time.
Of course! You can easily wash a down comforter at home and save money on dry cleaning. This works on feathers, goose, or down alternatives.
Yes, the important thing to remember is to make sure the heat settings aren't so high they shrink the comforter or damage the feathers.
Just wash it like you normally do your loads, but remember to use a cool water setting and detergent made for delicates.
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