How to Wash a Down Comforter
A down comforter is an essential bedroom decor accessory that provides comfort through its soft, fluffy material. It is stylish and durable without costing you lots of money at the time of your purchase. You bring it home, place it on your bed and relax in the lap of luxury each night as you drift off to sleep.
Most manufacturers recommend washing your down comforter once every five years. It can become a breeding ground for the collection of dust mites, dirt, and bacteria with daily use. For this reason, you may want to clean it more frequently than every five years.
An additional recommendation is only to use a dry cleaning service to wash your down comforter. It is an impractical request that is often difficult to accommodate in many households with busy schedules. Therefore, I am going to show you how to wash a down comforter at home. My guide saves you time and money by learning how to wash your comforter by hand and by using a washing machine.
How to Wash a Down Comforter At Home
Washing your down comforter on a regular basis works towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can accomplish this task by hand in four easy steps.
Step One - Care Instructions
Upon removing the down comforter from your bed, take a look at the care instructions label. You will be washing it by hand so you can ignore any request for using a dry cleaning service. Pay attention to special instructions asking you not to use bleach or color treatment solution.
Step Two - Determine That Cleaning Needs to Occur
Think back to the last time your down comforter went through a cleaning process. A good rule of thumb to follow is cleaning your down comforter once every three to four months. You may wash the down comforter more frequently if you desire.
Step Three - Conduct a Visual Check of the Down Comforter
Before you start cleaning your down comforter, inspect the bedding to see if there are any loose threads or holes in the fabric. You may be able to repair small holes by getting out your sewing kit. For larger holes, consider taking the comforter to a seamstress for repair. You can cut the loose thread with a pair of scissors.
Step Four - Wash Down Comforter by Hand
With the visual inspection complete, it is now time to wash your down comforter. I recommend the following information as the ideal way to clean your down comforter by hand.
- Place your down comforter in a bathtub that contains a mixture of lukewarm water and a mild detergent like Woolite.
- Gently push down on the down comforter until every inch of it is underwater.
- Carefully move the down comforter around in the tub to blend it in with the cleaning mixture.
- After several minutes, drain the water from the tub. Use warm water to rinse the cleaning mixture from the down comforter. A detachable shower head is ideal for this step.
- Upon rinsing the down comforter, let it air dry on a flat surface.
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How to Wash a Down Comforter in a Washing Machine
You may also clean your down comforter in a washing machine if you prefer. Start the process by following steps one through three from the above guide to washing the bedding by hand. Once complete, I suggest you follow these steps to wash your comforter in a washing machine.
- Place your down comforter in the washing machine, making sure to distribute it evenly around the agitator in the center of the washing machine. If it doesn’t distribute evenly due to not having enough space, consider taking it to a laundromat where you can use a commercial grade washing machine.
- Set the washing machine function to the delicate cycle. Set water temperature on the cold setting. Consider using a hot water setting if you want to rid the comforter of dust mites.
- Set an extra rinse cycle to ensure all of the detergents rinses out of the down comforter. You can add the rinse cycle at the beginning of washing or at the end depending on how your washing machine operates.
- Add a mild detergent, such as Woolite in a small dose. Avoid adding any bleach or color treatment solutions.
- Before starting the washer, add a clean pair of white sneakers or two to three tennis balls to the machine. It works to balance out the load inside the washer.
- When the washing machine stops, remove the down comforter and place it on a flat surface to dry.
I recommend washing your down comforter every few months if possible. It helps to rid the comforter of dust mites and dirt, making it easier for you to endure cold and allergy season. Washing your down comforter also works to preserve the material and the fill contents inside the comforter. My guide makes this task easy to accomplish and gets you back to a cozy, warm bed in no time.
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