A No Nonsense Guide to Caring for Down Bedding

A quality down comforter is an investment; by properly caring for your down bedding, you can keep your down comforter , down blanket and down items in top shape for years to come. Keep reading for important information that will help you maintain your down comforter and other down bedding.

Caring for Down Bedding:

1. Arrival: All natural products have a unique smell, and down is no different. Much of this is caused by the tight plastic packaging of down during shipping, which can cause the scent to concentrate. Simply unwrap the down and fluff it; then allow it to air out for a few hours before use. The smells caused by confinement in tight plastic should dissipate.

2. Covers: A duvet cover will protect your down comforter from soiling and will extend its life. Purchase quality discount duvet covers to complement your room decor. Also, a comforter cover will help contain the down filaments that inevitably leak out of your down comforter.

3. Allergy protection: If you are allergic to down or dust mites, either buy down-alternative bedding (usually filled with special synthetics or natural down-like filaments like milkweed fluff) or buy a hypoallergenic cover for your down bedding. Allergy encasings will help protect your bedding, like a regular duvet cover, and will also help protect you from down allergies.

4. Storage: Down products should be stored loosely in a breathable bag. Extended compression can harm down comforters and featherbeds, so make sure the bedding fits loosely in the bag. Many down-bedding retailers, as well as high-end sleeping bag manufacturers, sell cotton stuff-sacks designed to store down bedding. If you don't feel like searching out one of those, a large laundry bag will do the trick (and save you money).

5. Cleaning: It is best to have all down products cleaned professionally occasionally, but no more than every three to five years. If it is cleaned too often, the quality of the down will deteriorate. Do not send it to a dry cleaner. The chemicals used in the dry cleaning process will strip the down of oils that help the down maintains its loft.

6. Washing: If you decide to wash down, use only a large front-loading washer and low-suds detergent; home washers are usually too small to wash large down items. Rinse thoroughly (more than once) and spin off the excess water. Tumble dry at a low temperature with several tennis balls added to the dryer to help fluff the down. If it is not dried thoroughly, natural down will mildew and rot.