Do you own a down comforter? Are you planning to wash it soon? If so, then you should be aware of how exactly to wash your comforter without causing it damage. Below, you can find the best step-by-step guide that will allow you to wash any down comforter.
More...
Contents
What You’ll Need
If you want to successfully wash your down comforter, then you’ll need the following things:
Detergent
Make sure it is milk because you don’t want to damage your stain your comforter. You can also make your own detergent if you think it will be better.
Tennis balls
This will help to fluffen your comforter when you put it in the dryer.
Washing Machine
If you wash the comforter yourself, the larger the machine the better. A commercial washing machine is a good option.
Dryer
Place the comforter in the dryer and select the lowest heat setting possible, or even "air dry," if that is an option. Choose the longest amount of time offered on your dryer, as it will take at least several hours to dry it. Avoid using dryer sheets or fabric softeners.
If you want to make your own detergent, then we also have a suggestion for you.
First, you’ll need to get a container that fits a gallon of liquid. Obviously, you won’t need to use all of this, but it’ll be helpful for you to store it later so that you can use it whenever you want.
Combine a bit of 3/4 cup of borax with 3/4 cup soda ash and two cups of water. Bubbles will form upon contact, but it’s nothing dangerous so you don’t have to worry. Now, pour in 3/4 cup of Dawn dish washing soap. Make sure you pour this in slowly so that you don’t end up with suds.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Now that you’ve collected all of the ingredients you’ll need to clean your down comforter, you can follow these steps to do so correctly.
1. The Washing Machine
You should first be sure to load your washing machine with your down comforter; however, you shouldn’t put anything else with it. That means you should avoid cleaning your comforter on any regular laundry day, because having other materials in with your comforter will hinder its cleaning and may cause damage.
If, for example, you decide to clean a pair of jeans with your comforter, then your zipper or metal buttons can get caught on your comforter and damage it. To be on the safe side, don’t clean it with other clothing or materials.
2. The Detergent
Whether you’re planning on making your own detergent or buying a mild one from the store, it’s time to include this with you comforter. You have to be careful in this step, though because you really need to put a small amount in.
If you add too much detergent, you can strip the feathers of their texture. This will wear out your comforter and not only will it become less comfortable, but it will become less effective at insulating heat.
3. Set The Cycle
This step is a lot more important than it sounds. You have to make sure that you get all of the detergent out from the material because if not, you’ll end up with water or detergent stains on your down comforter.
You’ll need to set your washing machine on either the gentle or delicate cycle. This will prevent your comforter from being damaged while it’s being washed. Whichever you choose, make sure you set it to rinse twice, because this will allow all of the detergent to be drained.
4. Drying
Doing this properly is very important because the dryer is the place where you’re most likely to damage your comforter. Make sure you set it to a low setting and in a dryer that can handle a lot of weight or a large capacity of clothing.
You should be aware that drying your comforter will most likely take a few hours because you want to do so slowly and delicately. If you dry it too quickly, then it will be too rough on the down and you’ll damage it. Make sure you comforter is dried completely, though, because it can easily grow mold if there is still moisture being held within it.
5. Tennis Balls
A lot of people aren’t aware that including dryer balls or tennis balls during a drying cycle is a simple solution to make your comforter fluffy again. This is because the comforter will not move around enough if you throw it in on its own, so the feathers can be stripped of their texture and the comforter will not maintain its natural strength.
When you include the tennis balls, though, you should consider putting them in white socks. This way, the impact of the tennis balls on your comforter will not be as severe and your comforter won’t even face the risk of becoming damaged.
6. Take The Comforter Out Every Now And Then.
While it’s drying, you should really remove it from the dryer about five or six times. By moving the down comforter around, you are essentially re-positioning the down so that it is distributing evenly.
Without this step, you comforter will always be on the same side and its weight will cause the down to shift.
7. Hang It
It doesn’t matter if you’ve taken it out of the dryer and your down comforter appears to be completely dry. You should still hang it outside because this will keep the down distributed nicely within your comforter.
Make sure you hang it in an area that circulates air well and that is sunny, so that any extra moisture can be dried.
Conclusion
Of course, we never want to harm our blankets and comforters. Because of this, it can be difficult to know exactly how to clean them without destroying them. This is especially true with down comforters, because they are highly susceptible to damage that is usually caused by dryers and washing machines.
That being said, we have your back. Above, you can find a comprehensive guide which will allow you to wash and dry your down comforter with ease and precision. Now, what are you waiting for? Get to cleaning!
In addition cleaning, wash down comforter, we also evaluate the best down comforter you may need, you can see here.
As usual, feel free to comment below!