by Staff Writer
Do you love the look and feel of down comforters but worry about how to clean them? Most down comforters come with a "dry clean only" label, but dry cleaning is expensive and the chemicals can be harmful to the down filling. If you have a large enough washing machine, you can clean your down comforter on your own by following these simple steps.
Check your comforter for rips or tears. The cleaning process can weaken the fabric, and you could lose some of the down filling.
Make sure your washing machine is large enough to agitate the comforter properly. Large front-loading machines or commercial machines will work best, but your top-loading machine can also work if you are careful.
Wash the comforter. Make sure your machine is set at the highest load capacity, use warm water and choose the gentle cycle. Allow the water and detergent to mix before adding the comforter. Use about half the normal amount of a mild detergent.
Rinse the comforter again. It is a good idea to use an extra rinse cycle, especially in a smaller machine where detergent can gather if it's not agitated enough.
Wring out the comforter. Once the wash cycle is finished, make sure to squeeze any extra water out of your comforter. It will look very flat and might have a pungent odor; this is natural and will go away after the bedding is completely dry.
Put the comforter in the dryer on the lowest setting. Add dryer balls or new tennis balls tied into white socks to fluff the comforter and help it dry. The drying process will take several hours. You will need to check on it often to make sure it is drying evenly and to work out any lumps of down. If you're using a commercial dryer, you must check the comforter frequently to make sure it is not overheating, as these dryers get very hot.
Dry your down comforter thoroughly. Make sure there is no moisture left in the comforter before using or storing it. Down can mildew very easily.
These steps can be used on any down bedding and down alternatives. You also might want to try a home dry cleaning kit. These can produce similar results to a dry cleaner without the price. Another simple way to help keep your down comforter clean is to buy a duvet cover for it because you can wash the cover more frequently than the whole comforter. It is recommended that down comforters be cleaned once every five years or as needed. Frequent washing can cause damage to the down filling, so make sure your comforter really needs to be washed. It is also a good idea to avoid lying or sitting on your down comforter as much as possible to ensure it stays fluffy and warm for years to come.
