Washing Down Comforters

RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By Emily (Guest Post) (09/28/2008) Thank God for you all! I have a puppy who sleeps with me. He is bathed super frequently (I work in a grooming salon), but alas my bedding still smells like doggy. Now I don't have to sleep with the smell forever! Hurray! lol :) Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By (Guest Post) (09/27/2008) I bought two comforters for my son, one is twin and the other is full size. I bought them from JcPenny a year ago and I haven't washed them yet. I read on the tag to dry clean only and do not know what to do. The material on the outside is really soft, so I don't knoe if that is the reason it is dry clean only. Should I go ahead and try to wash them? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By Sarah (Guest Post) (07/06/2008) Thanks for the advice, my comforter was getting kinda iffy now that I am in college. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By gabi arosemena (Guest Post) (02/25/2008) Jacquie you are a FREAKING GENIUS. I followed your instructions and my comforter is just as new. You are AMAZING. Thank you SO MUCH! :D p.s. I am a college student. our washers/dryers are officially awesome. hahaha. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By Amy (Guest Post) (10/22/2007) Great tips, but what temperature do you wash the comforter in? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By Lara (Guest Post) (05/12/2007) Can you line dry it? Will it dry if in the wind and sun? I was hoping that would also help with the smell.... Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By jacquie (Guest Post) (12/04/2006) front loading washing machines are great for washing down - but NOT AGITATORS! so - - take it to the landromat - don't try to do it at home if you have an agitating machine. agitators put stress on the seams, often opening up pockets and causing the down to clump (if you're lucky) or they can cause small tears that spill down into the machine, which, as we all know, can cause the end of life as we know it, and it will take months to get the down out of your machine. use a detergent made for handwashing wools and delicates - or an HE detergent can be used. use less detergent than you think you need and don't use ANY other laundry additives. be aware that it will give off a funky smell when it wet - it's not ruined, and don't add more detergent, it's just the smell of wet goose feathers and it will go away when it's dry. use the extra rinse cycle so it rinses twice as detergent residue is not good for down. drying: definately use tennis balls - six of them (2 each in 3 socks) and dry it on a medium-low setting. you're gonna dry it forever and forever, and then dry it some more. small comforters can be dried at home if you have an extra large capacity dryer - but the queens and kings need the big machines at the laundroamts. drying a large comforter in a home machine will produce uneven drying, (hot spots are bad for down) and the cramped dryer which will roll the thing into a ball will not help the down to fluff or disperse evenly - you'll have lumps, and a bit that didn't get all the way dry can grow mold. down comforters are an investment - (okay maybe there are some cheapo down comforters out there that don't merit your time - in that case - gamble - you can always toss it and buy a new one). but - chances are: you're reading this because you paid a pretty price for a comforter you love? well then! it deserves to be washed properly once every other year or two, so do it right! dry it in a big machine on med-low with the tennis balls. take it out and fluff it every now and then. DON"T let it get too hot. it could take a couple of hours (so take a copy of The New Yorker along and catch up on your reading). you'll be happy with the results if you take the time to do it right. in fact, you'll get better results than if you send it out to be professionally cleaned. by all means - NEVER dry-clean a down comforter. the chemicals are horrible for the down. btw - down pillows are easy to do at home, and should be washed several times a year - so practice on a pillow or two first! (but use fewer tennis balls). Report Spam or Abuse RE: fluffing up pillows Post By Bob (Guest Post) (03/29/2006) can anyone out there tell me how to "re-fluff" my bed pillows? I know I could just replace with new ones but then would have the same problem. any information would greatly be appreciated. Editor's Note: We posted this as a new request: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24304371.tip.html Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By birdbrain (Guest Post) (11/06/2005) I have a very nice Queen size Down comforter that I'v had for about 20 years. I wash it about every two years. I put it in a large comerial machine ( tripple loader with prewash). I put a very small amount of liquid deturgent on p-pres. The big machines rince it well. I put it in a med. dryer with some lite tennie. I put in about $2.50 in quarters. Check it evrey 15 to 20 min. If it is still damp or clumpy put 2 more quarters in. If you can hang it out on a cloths line for a day it will be like new. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By Chelsea (Guest) (Guest Post) (10/31/2005) I read on your internet about how to clean these darn things, so I went to the store bought some tennis balls, and put it in my washer, did an extra spin cycle, and then put the tennis balls into the dryer with the comforter, along with some dryer sheets, and wow, no smell, no uneven feathers. I highly recomend this technique. Its like brand new. Thanks so much, you saved me a bundle in dry cleaning. Report Spam or Abuse Yellowing stains on my down comforter Post By MR. (Guest Post) (09/17/2005) I need help! I washed two of my down comforters and dried them with 2 brand new pair of gym shoes in the drier. They cam out really nice, that is until a few days later when I notice a yellowing begin on the edges, now the yellow is a darker color and my beautiful comforters are an embrassment. How can I get those awful yellow stains out. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By Janice (Guest Post) (08/29/2005) Is there a special care for washing down pillows? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post by ThriftyFun (3738) | (07/23/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact I've washed my down comforter. If you comforter is especially large (queen or king size), you might want to take it to the laundry and wash it in a big machine but otherwise, it will wash fine in a regular washing machine. Just make sure there are no tears (because the feathers with find their way out) and make sure that it spins properly to get as much water out of it as possible. You might want to reset the machine to spin it again. Then put it in the dryer with a clean tennis or canvas shoe or a clean tennis ball. I'd dry it on a medium to low heat. It will take a while to fluff up all of the down. Open the dryer every now and then and fluff it up. If you line dry it, the feathers will all bunch up so take it to the laundry and run it through a dryer for a few minutes to fluff up the feathers. Susan from ThriftyFun Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By Keri (Guest Post) (07/22/2005) Is it really okay to wash the down comforter even though it says "professional or dry clean care only"? Because I really do not have the money to take it to the dry cleaners b/c I just moved into a new house where it got ruined my wonderful animals! Thanks ya'll! Report Spam or Abuse Uneven pockets of feather-down comforter Post By Tracy (Guest Post) (07/08/2005) HELP!! My Queen size down comforter is uneven on the feathers. Most of the feathers are on one side and I have been unsuccessful in getting them to spread out evenly! HELP!! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By (Guest Post) (06/29/2005) the smell is normal and will go away once the item is dried completely Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By jocelynw (Guest Post) (06/28/2005) Hello, I washed my king size down comforter and when it came out of my dryer it smelled sour. I washed it again with baking soda and it still smells sour...help! (and thanks) Report Spam or Abuse Archived Request: Washing Down Comforters Post by ThriftyFun (3738) | (05/08/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact After you machine wash the down comforter. does the dryer get the wrinkles out? Michael Report Spam or Abuse RE: Washing Down Comforters Post By Kristin (Guest Post) (11/08/2004) Most of the wrinkles will come out if you put about 5 or 6 tennis balls in the dryer. You make have to dry it about 2 or 3 times, but it works! Also a great way to fluff up old, flat down pillows. Report Spam or Abuse