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Caring
For and Cleaning Your Down Comforters and Pillows
- Keep
your down
comforters and pillow dry (except when washing of course, which we'll
talk about further on). Down is a natural product and will mildew
if left wet, which can smell really bad. If left wet long enough down,
like any natural product, will rot.
- Protect
your down
comforter with a duvet cover, your down pillows with a pillow protector.
These coverings will protect your bedding from fabric yellowing caused
by perspiration and body oils, wear and tear, dirt and stains. It's
a good idea to wash your pillow protectors at least weekly in hot
water. It's only necessary to wash your duvet cover as needed.
-
If you use a duvet cover, you may
rarely, if ever, have to wash or dry clean your down comforter.
It's good to wash your comforter just once every 3 or 4 years or so
if needed. Pillows once a year. Washing more frequently will remove
the natural oils from the down, causing it to loose it's natural insulating
ability.
- When
it's time to launder your down bedding you should
always follow your manufacturers recommendations, or you can send
it to a professional cleaner who will launder your down comforter
in water with gentle cleaning solutions. This is a preferred method,
as dry cleaning leaves a chemical odor. If you do have an experienced
cleaner locally we can recommend Blanc
Plume.
If
you do wash your down comforters and pillows yourself:
- Before
washing make sure that the fabric is not too old or deteriorated from
body oils, or weakened from age.
- Use
a front loading washer, like those found in commercial laundromats.
Using a top loading agitator style washer can cause damage to your
bedding. Regular laundry detergent is fine, or you can use soaps specifically
designed for down bedding. Do not use dish soaps or detergents designed
to remove grease or oils.
- After
washing, while the down comforters or pillows are wet, you may notice
a pungent odor. This is natural with all down products, and
will disappear when the bedding is completely dry.
- When
putting your bedding in the dryer, make certain that there is enough
room for the items to move freely in the dryer. This will help prevent
"hot spots" on the fabric, and possible burning. Your should
also check your items frequently, every 20 minutes or so, during the
drying process to avoid overheating. Be certain to dry your items
completely so they don't mildew. It will take about
3 hours to dry 2 pillows, longer for a down comforter, using a large
commercial dryer on medium heat.
- When
storing your down comforter, make sure it is kept dry. Keep it in
it's cover, or wrap it in a cotton sheet. It should be able
to breath, so don't wrap it in plastic.
These
guidelines are intended for general use only, and may not apply to your
comforter or pillows. Always refer to the care instructions that came
with your comforter.
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