How to Wash a Feather Bed

Although the instructions on many feather beds say to dry clean only, a feather bed can, and should be washed in a regular washing machine. Dry cleaning chemicals can break down the feathers, and shorten the lifespan of your feather bed. Hand washing is difficult and yields a heavy, sopping mess that is a challenging to ring out and dry. Washing your feather bed in the washing machine is worth the extra effort if you want to preserve its quality and extend its life.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dish detergent
• Extra large capacity washer and dryer
• A tennis ball or dryer fluff balls
• Half of a dryer sheet or an herb sachet

1. Shake out your feather bed. You want to distribute the feathers evenly and shake out any clumps that might stick together in the wash.

2. Choose a detergent. Don't use anything to wash feathers that you wouldn't actually pour on the animal who used to wear them. Heavy-duty commercial laundry detergents contain strong cleansers to break down dirt and oil, but all this will do is strip the feathers of their natural oils and make them brittle, flat and spiny. The best way to clean a feather bed is with a little bit of dish detergent--about a teaspoon full per load of warm water. This will break up light body oils without completely stripping oils from the feathers. You can use a half-strength concentration of Woolite or try a specialty down cleaner if you like.

3. Remove the cover. If your feather bed says "dry clean only" it may be due to the fabric it is covered in. If your feather bed has a zip-off cover, remove it and follow its care instructions separately.

4. Wash your feather bed in a super capacity or extra large washing machine. You will likely have to take it to a laundromat to find a big enough washer. Let the washer fill with warm water, add your detergent, swirl it around a little to mix it into the water, then add your feather bed. This may not be an option if the washer is front loading. In that case, you will need to stir your detergent into a cup of water and add it to the detergent compartment. Do not add fabric softener. This will coat the feathers and make your bed flat and clumpy.

5. Put your feather bed in the dryer. Add dryer balls or a tennis ball to the dryer to continually fluff the feathers as they dry. If you are using a dryer sheet, cut it in half. Less really is more when dealing with feathers. Let it dry for 30 minutes on a low or delicate setting.

6. Unfold the feather bed, shake out any clumps and put it back in the dryer on the same setting. Repeat this every 30 minutes until the feather bed is completely dry. It will take several cycles to dry completely. Feathers left wet will stick together, mold and rot inside your cover.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your bed about every other year if you use it heavily. Wash it every three to five years with light use. If your bed needs refreshing in-between washes, hang it outside in the fresh air and sun. Shake your feather bed regularly to keep the feathers evenly distributed. Try using a sachet filled with lavender or other flowers/herbs in the dryer as a natural "dryer sheet."
• Do not take the feather bed out of the dryer until it is completely dry or the feathers will decay and mold. Try to avoid hand-washing a feather bed. It will get very heavy when it's wet, and will be very difficult to ring out. Hypoallergenic covers and other plastic or vinyl based covers inhibit the feathers' ability to breathe and can create odors. Avoid them.

Resources

• Real Simple's guide to caring for down