Memory foam and weighted blankets might be all the rage, but there’s something so luxurious about down comforters and pillows. While they might do a number on your allergies, they won’t stab you in the face like other feathered pillows do. For all their benefits, the only way to extend down products’ lifetime is by caring for and cleaning them properly. If this is your first time around the pond, don’t worry. It’s not that hard to clean a down comforter or down pillow.
How to Clean Your Down Bedding
About twice a year, pop your pillows in the wash (or a little more often for your comforters). With down pillows and comforters, you can follow the same steps. Whether you’ve got access to a laundry machine will change how you clean them just a bit, but neither process should take much longer than treating your regular loads does.
How to Machine Wash Down Pillows and Comforters
The main consideration when cleaning down pillows and comforters is doing what you can to maintain the fluff. The fluff is where all the magic is and compacting it down because of an improper, vigorous cleaning approach might ruin the spell.
If you’re chronically running late like we are, then you need a gadget that you can set and leave to do its thing. With down pillows or comforters, toss them in the washing machine by themselves with a gentle detergent (using as little as possible) on a cold or cool cycle. If you want to make sure all the suds are stripped from the down, set it to rinse twice.
Now, before you send your stuff right into the dryer, take a few towels and press out some of the excess moisture. Then you can put them on a delicate cycle on low heat in the dryer. Every twenty minutes or so, pull the pillows and blankets out to fluff them until they’re fully dry. Also, you can toss in a few dryer balls or tennis balls wrapped in socks to help unclump the down and prevent mold from growing in the still-wet feathers.
Always check the manufacturer's tags on your down pillows and comforters to see what care instructions they recommend.
How to Hand Wash Down Pillows and Comforters
Hand washing is a laborious task, but it’ll work in a pinch. With down bedding, you just need to treat yourself like the washing machine and dryer and follow a similar procedure to get them squeaky clean.
Fill a tub with cool water (enough to submerge your bedding) with a teensy bit of delicate laundry detergent. Fully submerge the blankets and pillows and slowly agitate them in the water, never scrunching them forcefully together.
Rinse with cool water, and then lay your items on towels and press the water out. Refrain from stomping on them like you’re squishing grapes to make wine, as this will only flatten your precious down. Instead, hold a towel in each hand and press the moisture by pushing your palms together. If you can, hang them on a clothesline or lay them outside in the sun to fully dry.
How to Spot Treat Down Comforters
We imagine that you’re not slinging dipping sauce onto your pillowcase covered down pillow, but the same can’t be said for your favorite down blanket. Those buttery movie-night popcorn fingers will soil your down blankets before you know it. However, there's no need to sit through another wash cycle just to clean up a few spots. Instead, try spot cleaning using this DIY method.
Materials You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Scrub brush
- Cool water
Instructions
- Pour vinegar on the spot.
- Add a little baking soda on top and rub in to make a paste.
- Top it off with a tiny bit of dish soap.
- Scrub the mixture into the stain using the scrub brush.
- Rinse out with cool water.
Most down comforters come in white. To preserve that pure color, swap the vinegar out for hydrogen peroxide.
Use Cases and Duvet Covers to Keep Everything Cleaner
Your natural oils and sweat can seep through the fabrics surrounding the down and be absorbed by the down inside. To avoid mold and mildew from accidentally setting in, consider covering your down products. Pillowcases are a must, but also you can turn to duvet covers to keep your down comforters clean. Avoid pulling out your back by learning the right way to put on that flowery duvet cover. The best part is this practice cuts down on how often you need to clean your down bedding.
Sleep Soundly With Clean Products
There’s nothing like falling asleep with fluffy, fresh-smelling blankets and pillows. Now that you know how to clean down pillows and comforters, you’ll be able to sleep more soundly than ever before. And if you’re in the market for some new down products, make sure you check for companies that’ve been certified by the Responsible Down Standard, the leading certifier in humane down collection processes.
