Can i wash goose down comforter

When it's time to clean down items, follow these steps to get the best results when washing and drying down comforters, feather pillows, sleeping bags, and jackets. Comforters for full-, queen-, and king-size beds are probably too big for standard-size home washers. For best results, use a large-capacity front-loading washing machine, such as the ones at a local laundromat. Down pillows, on the other hand, might be small enough to launder in your washing machine at home, which is the more convenient choice, especially if you have a front-loading machine.

If you have a top loader, however, you might want to use the laundromat's front-loading machines. An agitator can be rough on delicate down items.

Always read and follow any specific instructions on the tag of the item you'll be washing. Before laundering, check for worn stitching or holes, and repair with small fine stitches to avoid losing any down stuffing during the laundering process.

Before washing a down comforter or pillow, check for tough stains such as blood or urine. These stains are best treated with an enzymatic cleaner. Color-safe bleach can be used on stains caused by water or food.

Pull the cover of the comforter or pillow away from the down while spot-treating stains to keep the cleaning product from damaging the down.

Once the stain is removed, your down item is ready to be laundered. Use a gentle- or delicate-cycle setting and a minimal amount of mild laundry detergent with your load. Choose lukewarm water, as hot or cold water can be hard on the down. An extra rinse cycle can help ensure all soap is removed from the down.

Cleaning a down comforter is not like doing regular laundry; goose down comforters requires special care to prevent clumping, flattening and removal of essential oils from feathers.

Down comforters that are lumpy and heavy were probably not cleaned and dried properly. It is worth the extra time and expenses to have down comforters cleaned properly rather than risk having lumpy bedding. With proper cleaning, drying and protection, down comforters will last for many years. Load the comforter into a large capacity front-loading washer. Down comforters become heavy with water and can damage top-loading washers, and the agitator of top-loading washers is rougher than the spinning action of front-loading washers.

If it is sticking to the inside of the machine, turn it off and take out the comforter. Fluff it with your hands, put it back inside and turn it back on. The comforter should be bone dry and should feel fluffy and soft. You may need to keep the dryer on for a few hours for this to happen, but not doing so could lead to mold or mildew growth. You should keep your goose-down comforter enclosed in a washable duvet cover at all times. Three or four times a year, remove the comforter and hang it outside with clothespins.

Let it stay out all day to freshen up and then place it back inside the cover. With this method, the comforter only has to be cleaned on rare occasions. Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. By Danielle Smyth Updated January 30, This is done by bringing the damp center to the outside and vice versa. Next, reinsert into the dryer. Remove the comforter every five minutes or so and continue to re-orientate it.

Keep an eye out for down bunching up in the compartments. Fix it by simply fluffing those clumps out by hand. After your comforter is completely dry, take it back home and place it in your duvet cover.