What's the best way to clean a Waterfowl/Down filled pillow?

Question

I don't want to ruin it, but it needs to be cleaned. Please help if you can. :)

The tag came off. It's not all nasty, I've just had it for about 5 years, and decided to clean it while I'm doing spring cleaning.

Answer 1

The only way to clean it and not take a chance of ruining it is to have a professional dry cleaner clean it.

If you want to take a chance the safest way that you can clean it is to use a spray bottle and put fourth of a cup of detergent in the bottle and fill the rest of the way with water. Spritz the pillow, making sure that you do not saturate it. Then take a scrubbing brush and gently brush the dirt away. Once all the spots are cleaned take a clean dry towel and wipe the suds off. Then take a clean damp rag and wipe clean. Finally, put the pillow in the drier on low heat by its self until fully dried. Buy a protector to help prevent future dirt from setting in.

Answer 2

The fastest way is to take it to your dry cleaners. But years ago we didn't throw them away or send them out, we washed them ourselves. It is quite time consuming, but produces a sweet pillow.
First check the ticking (the case) and be sure there are no tears or holes, especially where the tag was!. If necessary stitch it up. Now fill your washer with warm water and 1/4 of the amount of laundry detergent you would normally use. During the rinse cycle add a bottle of witch hazel (this will help remove soap residue as well as any facial and hair oils still on the pillow). When the spin stops, take the piloow out and shake, shake , shake to loosen all the clumps of feathers. Put the pillow back in the washer and reset the washer back to spin and spin a second time, removing as much water as possible.

To dry, do not use the hottest temp if possible, first shake the pillow vigorously to loosen feathers, dry for 15 minutes and remove, shake, shake, shake, put back in dryer, repeat. I alternate between a regular temp and an air fluff temp, shaking everytime the dryer stops. It will take about an hour to dry, but you have an awesome fluffy pillow when your done.

This works to just fluff the pillow too. You can toss your pillow into the dryer with a bounce sheet and it'll smell so wonderful.

Never leave the pillow setting wet....it'll stink, also never just turn the dryer on for a whole hour of straight drying because you will scortch the feathers.

Answer 3

Caring for Down-Filled Garments and Pillows


Down garments can either be washed or dry-cleaned. Whenever possible, down garments should be washed by hand or on the delicate cycle of a washing machine. Use warm water and a mild soap. Special down soaps are available but are not necessary. Just use half as much soap as you would use for a small load. Select detergents without enzymes. Submerge the garment and squeeze it for several minutes to make sure all the air has been pushed out. Handle it gently, and never wring or twist the garment.

It should be rinsed several times to make sure all the soap or detergent is removed. A residue from the soap or detergent will cause the down to clump together, and will reduce its insulating ability. Because some water in New York State is very hard, a water softener should be used to prevent a soap or detergent curd from forming and being deposited throughout the garment. Add the softener to the water, then the soap, and finally the garment. It is especially important to lift and support the wet down garment carefully as the weight of the wet filling can strain or tear seams, and even force the down through the fabric.

The easiest way to dry a down garment is in a dryer. Use a medium heat setting of 150 degrees F. Add two or three clean bath towels to absorb some of the moisture, and a clean pair of tennis shoes to break up the clumps of down as the dryer drum rotates. It will probably take several cycles to dry the garment completely. Take the garment out and gently knead and loosen the down clumps by hand as the garment drys. Be sure there is no moisture left, because down may mildew.

Answer 4

Firstly you should launder or dry-clean your pillow yearly and you said you haven't done it in five years! It's totally okay but you should defenitely start washing it more often. If you want to launder it at home here's how to do it:

Spot-treat any stains before you wash your pillow if you're going to machine wash it.

Wash the pillow in cold water using a detergent that has a degreaser so that oils are removed. Follow the pillow manufacturer's instructions for specific detergents to use.

Very gently squeeze out any excess water from the pillow after washing.

Dry the pillow with the dryer set on its lowest setting; put a tennis ball in with the pillow so that the fill moves as it dries

Answer 5

Hand wash in warm water with woolite.

Squeeze the water out of the pillow

Then air dry in the dryer or if you have no dogs and the sun is out you can place it on a clothes line to dry.

Make sure it drys fully before you place it on the bed again. You wouldn't want it to become moldy because you left it moist and bacteria set in.

It is not much different from other pillows, only some down is not 100% down and may have a goody amount of quill in it. If it does you really need to dry clean the pillow as the quills will begin to annoy you afterwards.

Answer 6

You can wash down filled things in the washing machine, Karen it right, you should use a front load washer if you can, but you should use the gentle cycle and not too heavy on the detergent. I recommend running it through a second full wash and rinse cycle without detergent to make sure that all of it is out.

DO NOT EVER TAKE DOWN TO THE DRY CLEANERS. They most likely will not get all the chemical out and the FUMES WILL KILL YOU IN YOUR SLEEP.

You should AIR DRY your pillow. I know someone who put their down sleeping bag in the dryer and it expanded so much that it exploded the chambers in the bag. If you are in a hurry put a strong fan blowing on it and turn it regularly until dry. Made a big mess and ruined an expensive bag.

Answer 7

I toss mine in the washer,you'll need two to balance the load.Then I dry in the dryer on low heat! Just make sure that the seams are all sewn or you'll be picking up feathers for awhile!I've washed my down filled pillows like this at least every 6 months.Most people don't realize that pillows have over a thousand different types of fungus.And they can cause serious illnesses. Feather pillows have less fungus than the fiber filled kind! in between washings I spray them with lysol and put them in the dryer once a week on high for about 20 minutes

Researchers at The University of Manchester funded by the Fungal Research Trust have discovered millions of fungal spores right under our noses -- in our pillows. likely to cause disease; and the resulting condition Aspergillosis has become the leading infectious cause of death in leukemia and bone marrow transplant patients. Fungi also exacerbate asthma in adults

Answer 8

I've had a down pillow for years. The care instructions for it are pretty simple. Machine wash with mild detergent in cold water. I just tumble try mine on low heat for about 20 minutes or so. It helps fluff the feathers. If you just let it air dry some of the feathers seem to mat together.

Answer 9

down filled items are dry clean only. i also have down filled pillows and a queen size comforter. the comforter i was forced to take to the dry cleaner's b/c it won't fit in the item i'm going to explain to you next-but fortunately i have an awesome dry cleaning place that is always extra careful with it (it cost me around 250.00).

but the pillows i'm able to do at home with dryel in my own dryer-it works great and only takes about 30 mins.
here is the link-it should answer any questions you have

http://dryel.com/

Answer 10

If it isn't in too rough a shape with rips and tears. Most down filled pillows should be washed separately in cold water. Then dry on low heat with a tennis ball to fluff it up.