How do you clean feathers?

Question

Have a beautiful NA headress with "sooty" feathers (air conditioner caught fire and spewed soot into room).

Answer 1

You clean them very, very carefully, using a damp q-tip and water, one at a time. Best speak to a Lakota elder for advice - lest you ruin the workmanship or the feathers. DO NOT USE CHEMICALS - NOT EVEN SIMPLE GREEN - you may damage the sinew used to hold the feathers in place, make the dyes run on the head band, or do something disrespectful to the piece.

Answer 2

I agree with Puppyfred...NEVER use chemicals on feathers! Water is the only way...but I would start by taking it to the bathroom and with a blowdryer on cool setting try to blow the worst of the soot off. Don't get aggressive with it and try to follow the direction of the quills so you don' break any of the barbels (that 's the "feathery" bits coming off the quill) as you blow. Once you get the loose stuff off, go back in GENTLY with a damp rag or Q-tip for the tight spots and try to get the remaining soot. Once you are satisfied, gently rearrange any barbels with your fingers so they line up properly and hang it to dry completely. Hubby is a hunter and I have mounted birds and turkey fans that I clean in this way. Good luck!

Answer 3

I used a can of AIR DUSTER that I use on my sewing machine and my computer.

My husband brought the pheasant feathers back home after a hunting trip. I have had them for about 20 years and they look as good today as they did when I first made the arrangement.

Try putting you headdrress in a large zip lock bag with clean kitty litter.

Answer 4

put them in a pillow case and wash them on gentle cycle in the washer. be sure to tie the pillow case with a string before turning on the washer.

Answer 5

hang it upside down, and spray it with Simple Green. Then rinse with water.

Answer 6

easy you take some achole and u just get a rags and wipe them easy