can I wash a feather down comforter in my washer in the gentlest cycle??

Question

My son is potty training and he just made a mess in my bed. I almost freak out when I saw the terrible stain and smell in my feather down comforter, I know it has to be dry clean, but will I ruin it if I just put it in my washer on the gentlest cycle???
Pleaee help me I´m so desperate!!

Answer 1

I just purchased a down comforter that is machine washable and states so on the tag sewed on it. Check for a tag on yours again, unless you know you cut it off already. They are usually sewed on pretty good. It should have instructions on it. If not call the store you purchased it from and ask if they will check those in stock yet,to see what it says for care. I know down comforters are not inexpensive and do not want you to make a mistake with yours. It maybe that the surface fabric is what makes yours dry clean only. If you think that is what it is. I know it is not the down that is dry clean only.

Answer 2

It's generally safe to wash down comforters in washing machines. I wouldn't try it with a super-expensive comforter, but if you're considering washing it at home then I'm guessing you don't have a super-expensive comforter.

Our dog vomited on ours a while back, so we were looking at cleaning options. I believe this comforter cost me $200 back in the day and had lasted about six-years. I liked the comforter, but if I was going to have to pay $50-60, I'd rather just go buy a new one.

Anyway... I can't find the source anymore, but we read somewhere that there was no problem washing comforters yourself, but that you should use a large, front-loading washer or risk damaging both the comforter and the washing machine. We don't have a front-loading washer so we went to the laundromat. You should also use a large dryer and some tennis balls during drying to help fluff the down as it dries on a low heat setting. It's important to use a larger dryer or you can end up with damp spots that could grow mold inside the down. We've used this method three or four times now and have always been happy with the results. The best part is that it only costs a few bucks.

To review:
* Wash in a large, front-loading washer on a gentle setting. Cold water and very little detergent are recommended, but use your best judgement if you've got a particularly nasty mess to clean off (and it sounds like you do).
* Dry in a large dryer using tennis balls. Dry on a low heat setting and don't remove until the comforter is completely dry to prevent molding.

By the way, another good idea is to ask the laundromat attendant. The lady at our laundromat was quite helpful, with recommendations on which machines to use, how much detergent, and which settings. She even loaned us a half-dozen tennis balls for drying that they apparently keep behind the counter for just such an occasion!

Answer 3

Water and heat are actually good for the down and feathers inside your comforter. Mild detergent and low – medium heat is ok, but strong detergents and high heat may take the oils out of the down, leaving them dry and susceptible to breaking and crumbling. Water and heat revitalize your down and feathers, making them more fluffy.

The main problem with washing some down comforters is that the cotton cover can lose some of its down proof ability. Down comforter fabric is carefully woven to give it downproofness. The best of these fabrics retain downproofness after washing but some do not. The threads loosen after being washed, allowing down and feathers to more easily escape.

Read the care label sewn into your comforter to see if it is dry clean only or machine washable. Dry clean only comforters may experience some loss of downproofness after wash, but it may only be a little and should not be too much.

If you decide to wash your comforter, only use a large capacity front end loader. Home machines with an agitator (vertical pole in top load washing machines) will almost certainly do damage to both the fabric cover and down and feathers inside. Be sure to dry thoroughly. This will take several hours / cycles through your dryer.

If you do not have a front load machine at home, you can either take it to a Laundromat or professional cleaner. Most are experience in washing down comforters.

I have washed a lot of down comforters, both those marked dry clean only and those marked machine washable. In truth a loss of downproofness was noticeable in those marked dry clean only, but only because I was looking. I believe most people would not even notice a few extra white bits floating about.

So my recommendation would be to have it cleaned by a professional if it’s an expensive item, if not, then just wash it yourself and see.

Good Luck,

Bedding Guy

Answer 4

My down filled lap robe had tag on it saying it could be washed or drycleaned.

Mostly companies put dry clean only on things to prevent some problems like the feathers coming out or some dummy tossing the thing in very hot water with bleach.

My lap robe washed beautifully. Gentle cycle with warm/warm water, then dried in dryer with a couple of tennis balls to fluff it.

Answer 5

yes, u can wash it on the gentle cycle and the shake it out and air dry, but shake it out occas. until dry. In fact i washed mine a couple hrs ago and they do dry fash shake it is the answer. good luck.

Answer 6

I would not chance it if you like the comforter