Can Down Feather Pillows Be Washed & Dried?
Dry-cleaning feather pillows and other down bedding is preferred over laundering them at home. However, feather pillows can be washed and dried at home when proper precautions are taken to avoid damage to these delicate items. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Right Washing Machine
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When washing feather pillows, use a front-loading washing machine, urges Good Housekeeping's Kathleen Huddy. Washers with a central agitator can damage down items.
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Washing Down Pillows
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Wash no more than two feather pillows at a time. Use a gentle detergent and set the washer on the delicate cycle with an extra rinse, advises Good Housekeeping's "Hints from Heloise."
Drying Down Pillows
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Tumble-dry feather pillows in a dryer on low heat. It's a good idea to put a clean tennis ball or clean canvas sneaker in with the pillows to fluff them during the drying process.
Other Helpful Tips
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Make sure that feather pillows are completely dry before use. A pillow that's damp can result in mildewy down. If pillows have a musty smell after drying, place them in a sunny area for a couple of hours.
Precautions
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Make sure that there are no tears in the pillows' ticking (or along the seams) prior to washing and drying them. Most feather pillows are made of cotton ticking, so they may shrink during the home-laundering process.
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Audrey
