Goose down comforter need a unique process to restore their fluffiness as the feathers keep clustering together in groups. You have to clean down bedspreads once in a blue moon to avoid wear and tear as many washes diminish fluff and cause sagging or shriveling.
Arm yourself with an extra-large front-loading machine, all-natural or mild detergent and slightly warm water to give your bed linen a spick and span, Laundromat-quality cleaning. But you have to glean how to clean a goose down comforter.
Scan the manufacturer’s care tag as improper care could spell doom for a costly item forcing you to cough up more to replace it. If you don’t have a sizable washer, Google for a Laundromat near me.
Things To Consider | How To Clean A Goose Down Comforter
1. Machine-Washing A Down Comforter
2. Inspect for cracks where feathers may poke through to sew them up before proceeding.
3. Always allow water to blend thoroughly with the detergent before you insert the quilt.
4. Use tennis balls encased by a pair of fresh white socks to prevent the comforter from wandering around excessively.
5. Immerse the down comforter with an extra-large front loading machine and wash in the gentle cycle.
6. Rinse twice, pulling out the quilt in between rinse cycles to refold and squeeze out tons of water. It ensures you flush out the detergent entirely.
7. Squeeze and press without twisting or wringing out as you’ll ravage the seams, fabric shell and down.
2. Bone-Dry the Down Comforter
An extra-large capacity dryer will do the job though it will keep you on tenterhooks as it takes more than 3 hours. Drying curbs mold and mildew proliferation entirely while your bedding comes out as fresh as a daisy, no poultry-like scents.
1. Put your comforter in the dryer and tweak the temperature settings to the lowest level as possible.
2. Include two tennis balls as they help fluff the filling as it dries out, bunching up and settling in weird grids.
3. Pull out the comforter sporadically, turn and fold it to deter drying of the feathers and damp spots.
4. If you find dampness, spread it out in the open space, sunlight and the summer or spring breeze circulate the air more efficiently.
3. DIY Dry-Cleaning-A Two-Edged Sword?
Some quilts come with the label “Dry-Clean only,” the manufacturer restricts care options. It keeps it in shipshape condition with hygienic cleanliness and freshness.
DIY-dry cleaning may lead to parching or wrinkling of the fabric or down. However, if you don’t have eiderdown, heirloom or other top-of-the-line comforters, you will save plethora dollars.
1. Put the quilt in the dry cleaning case, unfold a moist cloth and include it in the dryer with the bag zipped. Avoid a small bag and put the comforter without it with two dry-cleaning fabrics instead.
2. Tumble dry on medium heat settings for ½ hour
3. Only take out the quilt with slight dampness, return it to the dryer for some time if it’s soaking wet.
4. Hang it over a dry-rack or improvised support
4. Children or Allergy Sufferers Down Comforters
1. If your little ones curl up with a down comforter, shield your piece against all manner of accidents with a waterproof duvet cover.
2. Allergy sleepers can add another protective layer with an allergen-proof fabric barrier that blocks dust mites and allergen impurities.
3. Consider hypoallergenic, hyper-cleaned down and feathers without dust, dander or biological contaminants.
4. Add a trace of the detergent to wipe out dust mites.
Waterproof duvet covers include zippered and fitted models while allergen-repellent comes in a variety of designs. The covers cost less than $70. Washable covers also minimize the number of times you need to wash your bedding throughout the years.
5. Hand-Washing Prevents Machine Damage
You can avoid the Laundromat costs and the risks of a small machine by hand-washing your comforter in a bathtub.
1. Fill the tub halfway with warm water mixed with a capful of all-natural laundry detergent.
2. Submerge the bedding in the water and wash it lightly got a couple of minutes with your hands.
3. Drain the tub before rinsing the quilt using warm water. Rinse several rounds until suds become undetectable for a detergent-free wash. Deposits of the detergent not rinsed will break down the fill material.
4. After the last rinse, pull out the comforter and gently squelch by massaging and never twist or wring.
6. Supplementary & Defensive Care
1. Washable Duvet Covers
Duvet covers help minimize demanding washing down the line. An extra sheet shields your bedding from body oils and perspiration as well as stains. Most duvet covers come out spotlessly clean in the regular cycle and dryable by an electric machine.
2. Fluffing Frequently
The toasty warmth and luxury stem from an optimum loft. You can keep the fluffiness at the maximum by shaking it lightly as you grab the edges of the comforter. It aerates down filling and thus maintains the original shape.
Also knead corners gently if you run into lumps or bunching up towards the corners to press down to the core. Avoid lying or sitting on top of your comforter as this causes flattening at the spot you ensconced yourself over time.
7. Recommended Washing Frequency
You should avoid washing your goose down comforter frequently as you end up eating away essential oils that enable feathers to insulate. Along these lines, every time you take the plunge with a machine, the risk of irreversible damage hangs on the horizon.
When used as a top layer with a duvet cover, one wash in every 3-to-5 years keeps it in tip-top, spick and span status. If you don’t have a cover, laundry every 1-to-2 years will suffice.
To maintain the opulence of new linen, fluff it every day to promote steady airflow and full loft. Toss it an angle of 90 degrees for an optimally even appropriation of filling.
8. Best Housekeeping Practices & Tips
- Avoid line-drying due to mildew and mold
- Dry-cleaning chemicals eat away down
- Avoid fabric softeners and abrasive detergents as they coat the down materials and inhibit its fluff
- Use low heat settings in the dryer to avoid shrinking the down
- Do not wring out or knead down vigorously when hand-washing as it destroys down
- Spot-treating stains or stubborn grime before washing will thoroughly flush them out
- Don’t hastily take the comforter back to your bedroom with dampness as it will disfigure and grow mildew
- Read the manufacturer’s label to know the appropriate cleaning method for your quilt
Final Verdict
Knowing how to clean a goose down comforter will go a long way to boost up the piece’s natural quality as your efficient insulator against chilly weather. Proper care prevents early damage and maintains the aesthetic appeal of the bedding as spots and dirt taint the pristine whitish draping.
Due to their different materials, fabric outer shell and designs, down comforters have unique cleaning methods. You will unlock the mystery by perusing the care label.
Goose down survives with special care to deter clumping, flattening and loss of natural oils that make feathers unequalled in insulation.
