Can I wash a down comfortor?

Question

My cat just vomited on my duvet cover, and some liquid soaked onto the feather down comfortor before I could remove it. Is there some way I can clean the comfortor without taking it to the dry cleaner?

The cat feel fine now- she's in a great mood. Me not so much. As for what got onto the comfortor, it was just a little bit of brownish liquid, on the edge, maybe 3 square inches. I don't think that much actually got into the comfortor, on the feathers. It just stained the outside fabric.

Answer 1

go to a laundrymat and wash it in a high capacity front loading washer. if your laundrymat has that special thingy that's like a turbo spin cycle to get the extra water out- use it. now the rough part- the thing needs to be dried for a few hours. even when it feels dry-like after 45 minutes- it is not dry enough. you really want it to be TOTALLY dry because down smells like poopy diapers when it's damp!

Answer 2

You've got some good tips here. Make sure you use a heavy duty washing machine. A wet down comforter gets pretty heavy. You don't want to save your comforter at the expense of the machine. I like he tennis ball idea. I usually use an old pair of tennis shoes, and wash them with the comforter or down jacket. Plan on drying for 3 or 4 full cycles to get it all the way dry. Wet feathers will stink.
Good Luck

Answer 3

If it only one very small section that is affected I wouldn't wash the whole thing. They can be washed but every time you do it breaks down the filler in the duvet. Take a bucket or basin and fill 1/2 way with luke warm water and a gentle detergent (I like Zero for jobs like this). Submerge the soiled area only in the water and let it soak for 15 or 20 minutes. Rinse and hang to drip dry.

Answer 4

You can wash down comforters in a large washer like at the Laundromat. Just make SURE that when you dry it, that is goes in a large capacity dryer with tennis balls. This beats the feathers apart so they don't clump. I didn't have tennis balls, but I did have some athletic shoes that needed some attention, so I threw them in the washer and then in the dryer. Worked like a charm. I had a fluffy comforter AND clean shoes.

Answer 5

If you have a large capacity washer you can put it through on a more gentle cycle. You can also go to the laundry mat and use a large washer. You can grab up the area that was soiled and run it under warm water to give the barf the chance to flush out, then add dish soap and give it a good wash and rinse. You should be able to put it in a dryer. I have washed a lot of down sleeping bags like this. Best of luck to you!!

Answer 6

Comfortor

Answer 7

If it is not a heavy filled down comforter, you can wash it. I would shake it out well before placing tn the dryer, and you could add 3 clean (or new is better) tennis balls as this fluffs up the feathers and down as it dries.

and No... the tennis balls do NOT leave behind any color or other residue!!

Answer 8

How expensive was it? You'll be risking it coming out a bit lumpy, but I have washes one and had it come out just fine.

Dry cleaner is of course your best bet. But it probably will not hurt to wash it. Just try not to have to do it again? =)

Answer 9

Yes Take 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water and clean the area, and use paper towel to absorb the liquid. If you can't get the odor out, us white vinegar and water. 1/4 Vinegar to 3/4Th's water.

Answer 10

You really have no choice if you want to rid it of cat vomit....If you truly love your duvet ...take it to the cleaners and invest your love in it. Other wise you may be sleeping with congealed cat vomit on the inside of the duvet after the immediate outside is cleaned ....icky