Is it possible to wash a down pillow in a washing machine?

The choice of bedding is amazingly diverse. But despite the fact that synthetic materials have confidently taken a place in our lives, many remain faithful to down filling. These pillows are light, soft, breathable and absorb moisture. But over time, the feather accumulates dust, sweat, and dandruff. This provokes the appearance of harmful microbes and insects. To prevent this, you should regularly wash your down pillow in the washing machine.

Preparation

Cleaning a down product is a long, multi-step task. Sometimes housewives doubt whether they can do laundry themselves or whether dry cleaning is the only option. Washing at home is acceptable and gives a very good result.. To obtain it, you need to take several preparatory steps.

1. For washing, purchase or sew small covers yourself. You can use disused pillowcases. In order to properly wash down and feathers from dirt, it is better to wash the down filling in parts (it is optimal to divide a feather from a medium-sized pillow into 4-5 parts). For a small pillow this is an optional option. It can be washed entirely by wearing an additional bedsheet. But this method will not give an ideal result. Due to an unevenly distributed load, the filler will clump into clumps, stretch less well, and dry more slowly.
2. Open one of the seams of the bedstead. Carefully transfer the contents little by little into a dry container, such as a basin. It is most convenient to do this in the bathroom, and place the basin in the bathtub or, if size allows, in the sink. Close the windows and door; even a small movement of air can cause great harm when working with such light material as fluff. Don't shake out the entire pillow at once. Everything must be done smoothly, otherwise the filler will immediately fly apart and it will not be easy to collect it. Curious small children and pets should also not be allowed close to the torn pillow. It is better to move household appliances further away.
3. Fill each bag halfway with a feather; there is no need to fill it too tightly. Proceed carefully, avoiding sudden movements, so that the fluff does not scatter around the room.
4. Carefully sew up the filled covers. It is important to carefully check that the fabric has no holes. Otherwise, fluff will get into the drum or filter of the machine during washing, causing a breakdown.

Wash

You can wash your feather pillow in any washing machine. If planning to wash the pillow entirely, you need to objectively evaluate its size and weight in a wet state, and then compare the data with the limits for the existing model.

Choosing a detergent

The right choice would be an industrial product designed specifically for feathers and down. Will do gel or liquid laundry detergent. Preferably one that is designed for delicate fabrics or baby clothes. But dry powder washing is not recommended. It is washed out of the fibers much worse. If you still had to use dry powder, then the amount should be halved.

Do not use gels with strong fragrances. Chemical smells from your pillow can make it difficult to sleep and even cause headaches. Also, washing down and feathers does not require the use of conditioner.

Fans of scented linen may be advised to add a couple of drops of essential oil to the water during the rinsing stage. Orange, ylang-ylang, and lavender oils help you relax and promote healthy, sound sleep. This method will not only give the pillow a subtle aroma that will help you fall asleep faster, but will also prevent the appearance of dust mites for a long time.

Washing stages

1. Load bags of fluff into the machine. Wash no more than three at a time so as not to degrade the quality of the wash.
2. Place two or three plastic spiked balls into the drum. Another option is tennis balls. By constantly moving during washing, they are responsible for ensuring that the fluff does not clump together.
3. Pour detergent into the compartment.
4. Some washing machine models provide a special mode for down products. It should be installed. If not, then the most gentle mode of the proposed ones is selected. This is usually delicate or hand wash. The water temperature is not lower than 30 ⁰С and not higher than 40 ⁰С. Higher temperatures are harmful to organic filler.
5. Be sure to include an additional rinse.
6. Set the spin cycle to the most gentle setting (no more than 400 rpm). If all modes provide for more intense spinning, it is better to abandon them. After the usual draining of the water, the products will need to be squeezed out by hand.
7. Start the wash.

Drying

Properly washing a down pillow in a washing machine is only half the battle. An equally important step is to thoroughly dry the product. A feather that is not dry will very soon begin to rot, mold, stains, and an unpleasant odor will appear.You can protect yourself from this by following a number of recommendations.

It is better to wash down pillows during the summer heat. Then the feather can be dried in the fresh air and this will take no more than two days.

After finishing washing, lay the down bags on a terry towel, which is then twisted and lightly pressed. This will remove some of the remaining moisture from the filler.

Remove the washed down mass from the covers, lay it out on a horizontal surface, laying it under a well-absorbing fabric. To prevent the feather from being blown away by the wind, it must be covered with a breathable fabric or a layer of gauze.

The thinner the layer of fluff you can spread, the faster it will dry.

The feather must be stirred periodically to ensure air access. Disassemble the formed lumps with your hands so that the fluff does not cake.

Even for down packed in a bag, it is more preferable to have the product lie rather than hang. This way the filler is evenly distributed in density, which means it dries at the same speed. A folding clothes drying rack or a wire rack attached at both ends will work (you can simply place it on two stools). With this method, the cover must be fluffed and turned over every few hours.

Equipment will help dry your pen faster in the cold season.Place the pillow near the radiator or heater, remembering to periodically fluff and turn it over. Do not place the product directly on a heat source. You can use a hairdryer on medium heat. Holding it at a distance of 10 -15 cm, direct the air stream onto the pillow, whipping it with your free hand.

If the pen has been washed in a washing machine and dryer, you can use the built-in function. Set the temperature to no more than 30 ⁰С. Not all experts recommend this method, arguing that the down and feathers in this case do not dry out completely.

Carefully place the completely dry feather in a clean, thick case, which is sewn with a double seam. A little trick - using two bedliners you can keep the filler clean much longer.

Useful tips

The optimal time for complete drying of the fluff is 2-3 days. If the filler remains wet during this time, it begins to rot. If you notice the symptoms in time, namely an unpleasant musty smell, then the situation can be corrected. The fluff should be rinsed in a soapy solution, then rinsed thoroughly under running water. After this, you need to repeat the drying, trying to choose conditions where the feather will dry faster.

After the dried down is firmly sewn into the bedsheet, you need to lightly walk over it on all sides with a plastic beater. After this, not a single lump will remain in the pillow.

Caring for down pillows

You can extend the life of your pillow by following several rules:

• Every day the pillow must be fluffed, getting rid of dust and saturating the feather with air. Thanks to this, the product will remain fresh, elastic and keep its shape longer.
• Every one and a half to two months the pillow should be ventilated in the open air for two to three hours. This will get rid of not only the smell, but also the germs.
• Every time you change bed linen, you need to beat out the pillow with a plastic clapper.
• Pillows that are temporarily not in use must be removed. Plastic bags are not suitable for storage. Breathable fabric covers are needed. Before packing, it is advisable to dry and ventilate the pillow.
• You should not choose rooms with high humidity for storing bedding.
• To keep the pillowcase clean for as long as possible, first place the pillow in a simple chintz pillowcase, and then put on a beautiful main one.
• Feather pillows should be vacuumed monthly.
• It is enough to wash pillows once a year. It is better in summer to take advantage of the opportunity to dry in the fresh air.

Dry cleaning services are the best choice for those who want to get results without wasting time and effort. Using professional equipment, specialists will not only clean the down and feathers, but also treat them from parasites.