Washing down - The perfect guide to washing

How can you wash down?

Washing down and doing it right

Many people wonder how to wash a down comforter with down and whether it is even that easy to do? We will answer these questions for you. In this guide, we summarize the most important tips to consider for washing down comforters with down as well as down pillows in order to make the right choice. We answer the question of which down detergent is best suited as a detergent or delicate detergent and at what temperature and dryer program down can actually be washed. Perfectly washed down is excellent for these great sleep products from Mister Sandman:

Washing down and drying properly - A guide to down care: Washing down with optimal preparation

To begin with: Yes, you can definitely wash down pillows and feather pillows at home with the washing machine. If your pillow is filled with down or feathers, they can go in the washing machine. You should always pay attention to the individual washing instructions for the down pillow filled with down or the feather pillow filled with feathers. It is best to wash down pillows and feather pillows in separate wash cycles in the washing machine with detergent (fine detergent) to achieve a good and proper result. It is important to get a good result, so tip: It is best to protect the down pillow extra well by putting the pillow in a laundry bag or a cotton cover of another pillow before washing, so that the down filling does not clump.

Washing down with the right detergent

Since the down in down pillows and feathers in feather pillows have the same material base as wool, you can use wool detergent, another fine detergent, as an alternative to down detergent when washing down in the washing machine. Only a small amount of detergent, such as fine detergent, needs to be used to properly clean the filling. To maintain the loft quality of the down and feathers, under no circumstances should you use fabric softener, as this damages the structure of the filling and is not good for the down pillows or feather pillows.

Tips for perfect fluffiness

For optimal fluffiness, it is best to use a well-tested down detergent that can wash particularly gently and clean the pillows properly. It is best to choose one that restores the fluffiness of the down in the down pillows and the feathers in the feather pillows.

Washing down - The right program for the washing machine

Use a delicate or wool wash program for washing and cleaning in the washing machine. You can find the temperature on the label of the pillow with feather filling or down filling. In principle, the wash cycle should not exceed 60 degrees. Tip: Many modern washing machines have a special down wash program.

Washing down - Rinse and spin cycle

To wash out the last remnants of detergent, such as a good down detergent, from the fibers of the down, an extra rinse cycle is important. To prevent the products and the filling of the pillows from clumping, an extra spin cycle is also advisable. Tip: Set the washing machine to a very low spin speed, such as 400 revolutions.

Washing down and drying down pillows as well as feather pillows

After washing in the washing machine, it is advisable to dry the down pillow and feather pillow properly. The filling of feathers and down must be thoroughly dried, where a tumble dryer is suitable. Tip: To prevent the down from clumping, you can add a few non-coloring and clean tennis balls or clean sneakers to the dryer, so that the down and feather filling do not stick together (also works great for an outdoor down jacket).

Washing down - Properly shake down and air dry

To dry the pillow, it is advisable to shake it by hand. If the pillow is not completely dry yet, put it back in the dryer for about 15-20 minutes. Repeat the process until it is really dry. Tip: Be sure to place the pillow in a dry location for drying and do not hang it up, as the filling of down and feathers can clump together and the fluffiness decreases. Then let it air dry.

Washing down - How often should I wash my down pillow?

It is advisable to repeat the washing process every 1 to 2 times a year from pair to pair, so that the pillow is really clean. Therefore, this number of cleanings is optimal to ensure that the quality of the down is preserved for as long as possible and provides pleasant comfort on all mattresses.

Washing down 101: Can down comforters and down pillows be washed and dried at home?

Um die Frage zu beantworten, ob man Daunen waschen kann zuhause können wir mit einem eindeutigen “Ja” beantworten. Daunendecken, Daunenkissen, selbst andere Bettwäsche wie Federkissen und Co. könne mit einem Schonwaschgang in der Waschmaschine waschen und im Trockner trocknen. Wenn man also einmal eine Verunreinigung, etwa Flecken auf der Matratze und auf der Bettwäsche, etwa der Bettdecke hat, kann man diese leicht zuhause in der Waschmaschin reinigen und muss dafür keine Reinigung aufsuchen, die das Reinigen für einen übernimmt. Heutzutage haben so gut wie alle Waschmaschinen ein Daunen-Waschprogramm, womit man Daunen ohne Probleme waschen kann. Ganz egal ob im Winter oder Sommer, Daunen waschen war noch nie so leicht.

Washing down: Basics for washing down comforters

The filling of the comforters, such as in a down comforter, consists of the down from geese or ducks. The feathers of the underlayer are very soft and fluffy. They resemble a down and are called down because they have a branched structure. With this construction, they can trap a lot of air, store warmth, and thus create a really well-functioning insulation in the comforter. Therefore, it is pleasantly cool under a down comforter in summer and in winter the down comforter retains enough warmth. In the pillows of down pillows, the filling consists of a mixture of feathers and down, as feathers have a high support force. We therefore recommend considering a mixture of down and feathers when buying your next pillow, as pure feather pillows are usually too hard.

Washing down - Difference between summer duvet and winter duvet

A down duvet is usually offered as an item or product in the shop as a box duvet. In this duvet, the filling of the down is divided into individual chambers, so that each chamber contains only a specific amount of down. This is also the case with a feather duvet. This prevents down and other fillings from clumping together, keeping the duvet pleasantly airy and maintaining its loftiness. Duvets for summer are less thick and have less filling than bed linens designed for winter. It is best to regularly shake it by hand to ensure enough air reaches the down duvet.

Washing down: What should be considered?

Down naturally has very good self-cleaning properties. Therefore, airing it out is still important, so that it can be done by hand. This allows any potential accumulated moisture, such as that from night sweats, to dry more quickly. In addition to the duvet and other bed linens, the mattress, fitted sheets, and mattress toppers should also be regularly fluffed. Nevertheless, one should regularly wash the down duvet, down pillows, feather pillows, or feather duvet, as house dust mites can accumulate over time, which is unfavorable for allergy sufferers. Therefore, guides and experts recommend washing the bed linens in the washing machine at least once a year with appropriate down detergent or another gentle detergent.

Washing down: Can down be washed in the washing machine?

Whether you can clean and wash the down duvet at home depends on whether your washing machine and dryer have enough capacity. The capacity for a down pillow or feather pillow is possible with almost all washing machines. However, the capacity at home is often smaller than in a laundromat or dry cleaner, so you often cannot clean every down duvet or feather bed. It is best to first check the label, which clearly states how to wash and dry the product and down items. Down duvets should, like down pillows, generally be washed separately to maintain good quality.

Washing down: First wash and then dry

It is all the more important to let the bedding dry gently and well after washing. A very important tip: Please make sure that you do not only let the laundry dry in the air, definitely not under direct sun exposure (not in summer when it is hot), because down does not dry quickly and in the worst case, mold can form. If it is too hot, temperatures of up to 70 degrees can occur in the duvet (when air-dried), which robs the down and feathers of their self-cleaning fatty layer, making them not soft and fluffy anymore, but rather brittle. Therefore, definitely use a gentle wash cycle, such as a wool wash program or a special down laundry program. Afterwards, definitely use a dryer. If there is no possibility to clean the down products at home with you and your children, simply take them to a nearby laundromat and dry cleaner during a walk with your children. A down duvet can be quickly cleaned and dried and is definitely reasonably priced.

Washing down: Which gentle detergent and at what temperature should the machine wash?

First, it is always advisable to carefully check the label of the bedding before washing it in the machine, whether it is a down comforter, down pillow, duvets, or a feather pillow. You can wash duvets in the machine at temperatures between 40 degrees and 60 degrees, as washing machines have now been designed with much gentler and more caring wash cycles. This way, you can ideally wash a down comforter with a light and cleansing wool wash program. Be sure to use a gentle detergent, as a regular detergent can be too harsh and not good for the down. Otherwise, the down will clump together, and the comforter will lose its loft, similar to an outdoor down jacket.

Washing down: How should I dry it properly?

When the laundry is finished, the down comforter or down pillow must go into the dryer at medium temperature for about a three-quarters of an hour. After that, it is very important that the duvets are well shaken out by hand so that the down, which sticks together due to moisture, can separate well from each other. Again, put the down comforter in the dryer for 20 minutes with non-coloring tennis balls, so that the filling of the down is loosened and becomes airy. Shaking it out again is very important afterwards to ensure that the last water residues disappear from the duvets. Then let the down comforter dry completely in a dry and warm place, making sure to lay it on a drying rack and not hang it, so that no stagnant moisture forms or the down clumps together again.

Buy duvet at Mister Sandman

In our Mister Sandman Online Shop, you can find not only high-quality mattresses but also great and unique bed linen and bedding items, such as our wonderful Serena down comforter. It is made of fine and soft down that has a high self-cleaning function. The soft cover promises high comfort at a great price. Every item in our shop comes at a fair price. We do not charge you for shipping, so there are no shipping costs. When ordering, we assist you with our mattress finder, our mattress guide, to find the right mattress and additionally the suitable pillow and blanket. We help you figure out which mattress suits you best. We also have great mattresses for children, as well as bed linen and pillow products for children. If you are interested in these topics and looking for answers, you can contact us anytime.