Tips For Washing Down Comforters
Your down comforter is the ultimate in luxurious warmth. Fluffy, light-weight and remarkably warm, a well-made down comforter can last a decade or more with proper care. Diligently covering your comforter with a duvet protects the comforter shell body from dirt, dust and skin oils. You can clean minor stains by spot-cleaning the affected area with mild detergent. Major accidents still happen, and substances like spilled milk or your toddler's vomit warrant a more thorough cleaning. Does this Spark an idea?
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Pre-treat Stains
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Apply a thin layer of mild detergent to pre-treat stains before placing the comforter in the washing machine. Manipulate the down directly beneath the stain before applying the detergent so the soap doesn't affect the down.
Gentle Care
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Wash your down comforter using only cool water in a gentle cycle. Dilute a mild delicate detergent in the cool water by cutting the normal dose in half. Down feathers absorb suds quickly and using more soap than necessary makes drying the down comforter difficult. Rinse your comforter twice with cool water to ensure complete removal of the soap suds.
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No Agitator Machines
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Only wash a down comforter at home if you own a front loading, non-agitator style of washing machine. Down feathers are very delicate and quickly clump together under the power of an agitator during a normal-strength laundry cycle.
Dry Evenly
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Dry your down comforter on the lowest heat and delicate "fluff" setting. Prevent the down feathers from clumping together by removing the comforter from the dryer every 10 minutes and gently shaking the corners. Mild shaking redistributes any stubborn down clusters and helps the fill dry evenly.
Extra Dry
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Continue the cycle of drying and periodically shaking your comforter until all corners and patches of the comforter are completely dry. Lay your dried comforter over a clean sofa or chair for a few days to ensure maximum fluffiness. Never store a down comforter with even slight dampness or the down could develop mold and mildew.
Dry Clean or Hand Wash Large Sizes
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A large down comforter might fit inside a small washing machine, but the confined space causes the down to clump. Wash down comforters queen-sized and larger at a commercial machine or at the dry cleaner's. You can also hand-wash the cover by diluting a teaspoon of delicate detergent in a bathtub of cool water and gently swishing the blanket around for 10 minutes. Drain and refill the bathtub completely with cool water to rinse the suds.
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References
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