I bet your your down comforter has been working double-duty during this long, cold winter so it’s time to give it some TLC.  There are many theories of how to care for down and some so confusing that some people opt to do nothing at all.  While it doesn’t have to be super complicated, there are some basics that will make your down comforter stay, puffy, pretty and clean.  Here’s how…

A Down Primer

Even though we group most feather comforters into the category of “down”, that is not the fill that is many of them. Down is the undercoating of duckling and geese and are the softest and fluffiest.  Just as it protects the duckling, it’s a natural insulator as the down clusters trap the air; it keeps the warm in and the cold out.  True down comforters are the most expensive, followed by those made of duck and goose feathers or any combination thereof.

Many companies sell their down comforters in lovely colors so it's tempting not to use a duvet. Bad idea. Go with white and purchase a duvet cover or two. It's much easier to clean and update your color palette.

How to Care for Down

There are 3 parts to caring for down:  Maintenance, Cleaning and Storage.  Each contributes to keeping down clean, beautiful and low in allergens.  Some people may think they are allergic to down when in reality they are allergic to the mites and dust that build up as a result of poor maintenance. 

Ongoing Maintenance

A bit part of keeping your down fresh is ongoing maintenance which is pretty simple:

• Shake the comforter out when making your bed to fluff and revitalize it.
• Air it out periodically outdoors to keep it fresh and clean.
• If air drying is not an option, then fluffing it on low heat in the dryer works too.
• Small stains can be spot cleaned and dried with a hand-held hair dryer.
• Always use a duvet cover which can easily be cleaned and will protect the comforter. 

This product from The Company Store features all natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable ingredients. This down comforter cleaner is specially formulated to gently clean and freshen down products in your washing machine.

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Cleaning

You have a few options when it comes to caring for your down.  To keep your warranty in place, make sure to follow the instructions on the tag.  But if there’s no tag, it just depends on what fits your budget and makes sense for you:

• Dry Clean - An easy option but may be costly.  I do not recommend it because I do not want the dry-cleaning chemicals on my bed.
• Home Clean – Some companies sell special washing liquids that are gentle and leave no residue behind.  Many companies warn against any cycle that agitates the comforter too much so the down does not take a beating.  Do not use fabric softener and running 2-3 rinse cycles will help make sure nothing is left behind.  Dry on the lowest heat setting.  A couple of clean tennis balls or dryer balls will help fluff it up.  After it feels dry, it’s still a good idea to hang it on a line for 24 hours.  Trapped moisture can cause mildew.  Be aware that it may shrink a bit.
• Mail it Off – Blanc Plume is a fine French Laundry service.  You mail them your linens and they come back, clean folded and lovely.  They use gentle European style machinery and phosphate-free, biodegradable wash formulas.  I use them for my clients matelasse coverlets.  A full, queen or king down comforter is $51.50 plus shipping.   They can also add feathers or stainguard for an additional charge.
• No Clean- Personally, I follow the maintenance steps above and choose not to clean my comforter with chemicals or soaps.  As long as you keep the kids and pets in check, you should be okay.

Cuddledown makes a nice storage bag for $9.

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Storage

• Make sure the comforter is clean.
• Remove the duvet cover.
• Put the comforter in a breathable, cotton bag or sheet.  Do not use plastic, the odor may be transferred to the comforter or mildew could form.
• Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area and try not to crush the feathers.  Forget those plastic bags where you vacuum all the air out.
• Take it out at least once every 6  months to air it out, even if you don’t use it.

With a little bit of TLC, your comforter will keep you warm and comfy for years to come!

 ~Lorrie

Tags: bedding

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 1:56 pm and is filed under bedding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.