Caring For Your Comforter

A down comforter is bedding filled with feathers, light-weight cotton, or some other non-heavy material. But because they can be heavy, think, and sturdy, you might be tempted to treat your comforter like any other piece of washable material: towels, jeans, T-shirts, etc. Comforters aren't so fragile that they can't withstand normal washing and drying, but they can last for years and years as long as you take proper care of them. This includes remembering a few important things while using them, washing them, drying them, and storing them for later use.

While your down comforter is in use, you can preserve the top of it by covering it with a light-weight blanket or sheet. This sheet or blanket will act as a barrier between your down comforter and any dust or dirt in your environment. Unless you're the type to enforce a "no sitting on the beds" rule in your home, every time you sit on your comforter, you risk bringing in bacteria from outside into your bedroom and ultimately onto your bed.

Placing a sheet or blanket on top of your comforter will also reduce the wear and tear on your washer. You'll only have to wash the thin top protection (sheet or blanket) on a regular basis rather than the bulky down comforter. You can also preserve the condition of your comforter by hanging it out in the fresh air (once a month), or giving it a good shake once in a while to evenly distribute the down in-between it's layers. Because of its weight, you may need help in performing either of these latter suggestions.

Stains on a comforter can easily be removed by the services of a professional dry cleaner or one of the many spot-removal products available grocery or drug stores. If you choose to use a spot-removal product, follow the instructions exactly as they're given, or you may end up with worse damage than what originated. If you choose to use the services of a professional dry cleaner, you can return your comforter to the dry cleaner for future cleaning - a yearly maneuver.

Most people choose to use a dry cleaner because the home washing machine simply isn't large enough to accommodate the large size of the comforter. If size is an issue for you as well, you can clean your comforter at the dry cleaners, or in cold water at a laundry mat.

To dry your comforter, simply set your dryer on a low setting, and put your comforter in with other thick pieces of material, like a couple of wet beach towels. These wet towels will help the comforter move around in the dryer and evenly dry out. They will also help to evenly distribute any of the feathers or lightweight cotton within the down comforter.

You can store your down comforter in an area that is well ventilated to prevent mold growth. To preserve your down comforter's fluffiness, try not to store other items on top of it.