How to Care for Down Pillows and Comforters

Down pillows and comforters are luxurious on cold winter nights, but they also require special care. The rule of thumb is: While this may be a nightmare for OCD sufferers or hypochondriacs, the rule of thumb is: The less often you clean your comforter or pillow, the longer it will last. All you need to do is follow the steps to ensure continually comfy nights with a reliable down pillow.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Caring for a Down Pillow

1. Cover your pillow with a pillow case at all times. This will keep your pillow free from dust, dirt and body oils.

2. Buy a pillow cover with a zipper for an extra layer of protection under your pillow case. This will also help those who have allergies.

3. Clean the pillow cover and case regularly to keep your pillow fresh.

4. Launder or dry-clean your pillow yearly.

5. Spot-treat any stains before you wash your pillow if you're going to machine wash it.

6. Wash the pillow in cold water using a detergent that has a degreaser so that oils are removed. Follow the pillow manufacturer's instructions for specific detergents to use.

7. Very gently squeeze out any excess water from the pillow after washing.

8. Dry the pillow with the dryer set on its lowest setting; put a tennis ball in with the pillow so that the fill moves as it dries.

9. Store your pillow in a dry and well-ventilated closet or room when you are not using it, in order to avoid mildew.

Caring for a Down Comforter

10. Place a cover over your down comforter to protect it from dust, dirt and body oils.

11. Shake out your comforter weekly to prevent the down from bunching up.

12. Air out your comforter occasionally to keep it fresh. Hang it on a clothesline or shake it out a window.

13. Take your comforter to a dry cleaner every three to five years if you decide not to launder it at home.

14. Use a Laundromat with oversized washing machines if you have an oversized comforter, should you decide to machine-wash it.

15. Spot-treat any stains before you wash.

16. Wash your comforter in cold water using a detergent that has a degreaser so that oils are removed.

17. Very gently squeeze out any excess water from the comforter.

18. Dry the comforter in the dryer on low heat setting with a tennis ball so that the fill moves as it dries.

19. Store the comforter in a dry and well-ventilated closet or room when you are not using it, in order to avoid mildew.

[sweeneye]

on 10/29/2008 I stored my comforter in space bag, then washed it in commercial washer, it now stinks! I tried trying and still smells!
Is there a way to save it?
E

[GreenMomma]

on 8/31/2008 the comments are just as helpful as the articles! I hate dry cleaning anything because I don't like to bring toxins into my home unnecessarily. I'll wash mine in the machine!

[knittingnut]

on 5/1/2008 You should never ever dryclean anything that is made with/of feathers!!!
Do NOT use any harsh laundry soap or degreaser on any feather/down items. This will take the natural oils out of the feathers and make them brittle.
To wash them use woollite or baby shampoo.
Do not use a HOT dryer, but dry them on a gentle cycle.

Never store these kinds of items in a plastic bag or place 'protective' pillow cases or covers which cannot breathe on them. Feathers need to breathe.
If you are allergic, you should not use feather things.

To keep the pillows or comforters free of dust mites or other mites, hang them on the clothes line in bright sunlight. The heat and the light will kill the mites. If you have ever been to Europe you will recall bedding hanging out of the windows. This is exactly the reason why.
When I was 10 years old, my mom and I used to pluck the ducks, 'slice' the d

[Sleeper]

on 3/29/2008 I agree with eHOW - you do want to wash your bedding - down or not :-) The couple tricks I ahve learned is to not use normal laundry detergents as the chemicals affect the down clusters - instead use dwn dish soap - small teaspoon. When it comes to dry the pillows definitely dryer twice as long as you thought it would take - so maybe a few cycles (karate chop the pillow in between to get the filling moving). I saw a site called beddingcare.com that went thought all the steps needed - try thought out as well.

[1eyedJack]

on 11/1/2007 As a single male of age who must sleep in a semi-upright position I use a doubled over down comforter under a mattress pad and another as my top blanket. I can not stand any weight on my feet and legs and this works quite well for me. I have found that I need to wash mine at least twice a year and I use the special down wash from the camping stores. I am going on five years with quality bedding I got from LandsEnd. If you figure out the cost over that period of time it is quite low. I also sleep cold nose and down is just the thing for that.
PS, My cat agrees as she sleep under the top comforter.