First, how to wash down pillows? Generally, there are two kinds of methods. One is using the washing machine while the other is washing the pillow by hand.
The delicate underside feathers of a goose are used to make down pillows. Unfortunately, these pillows are susceptible to dust, dirt, and grime over time. Cleaning your own pillow is simple, despite what it might seem like. Down pillows can be kept looking good and smelling fresh by washing them every few months.
Please read on for more information about how to wash down pillows.
Table of Contents
Using The Washing Machine
Take off the pillowcase. When washing your down pillow, make sure to remove any pillow protectors you may have used. If your cover is made of cotton, you can usually wash it in the washing machine with your other clothes. If the cover is made of a delicate fabric, such as silk, you should wash it separately in a delicate cycle.
If the cover is made of silk, air dry it rather than putting it in the dryer to prevent damage or shrinkage.
Pick a delicate cycle for your washing machine. Choose the woolen or delicate setting on your washing machine. To prevent pillow shrinkage, use cold or warm water. To wring out as much moisture from the pillow as you can, use the highest spin speed setting. Make sure there are two rinse cycles if you have the option to change the settings.
The detergent can be completely removed from the pillows by putting them through two rinse cycles.
Your down pillow may shrink if it is exposed to hot water.
To the machine, add a gentle detergent. If your washing machine is top loading, add a cup (236.58 ml) of detergent and let the cycle run for 30 seconds. Prior to putting your pillows in it, this should allow the detergent and water to mix. If your washing machine is a front loader, add a cup (236.58 ml) of laundry detergent to the dispenser on the top of the machine.[3]
For even whiter pillows, add a 1/2 cup (118.294 ml) of oxygenated bleach to your washing machine.
In your washing machine, put the pillows. Press down on the pillows to fully saturate them with water if you have a top-loading washing machine. You must put the pillows inside a front-loading washing machine before the cycle begins if you have one.
To maintain the balance of top-load washing machines, add two pillows.
If you have a top loading machine, down pillows will float in the water because they are buoyant. This can be avoided by fully saturating them before beginning the cycle.
Run the cycle while securing the lid. The washer’s door should be shut, and the cycle should be allowed to complete. If your washing machine only has one rinse cycle, use two full washes to make sure all of the detergent is removed from the pillow.
The pillows should have extra water squeezed out. Your pillows will be saturated with water once the cycle is over. To remove the extra moisture, press a terry cloth against them.
To avoid water spilling everywhere, you should do this inside your washing machine.
You risk damaging the feathers if you wring or twist the pillow.
2 tennis balls are used to dry the pillows in the dryer. Set your dryer to the tumble setting without any additional heat. Your pillows will fluff up better if you use tennis balls as they dry. Run another dryer cycle until the pillows are completely dry if they are not dry by the end of the first one.
If you’d like, you can add a dryer sheet to your pillow to give it a fresh scent!
Washing The Pillow By Hand
Take off the pillow protector. The pillow protector must be taken off before washing the pillow. To access the down pillow, simply remove the cover or unzip it.
Put some hot water in the bathtub. After letting the water run until it warms up, block the drain. If you don’t have a bathtub, you can use a plastic container or sink as long as they are big enough for your pillow.
Water with detergent added. Use a pH-neutral, gentle detergent. Add one cup (236.58 ml) of the detergent to the water. Till suds begin to appear, combine the water.
pH neutral detergents include Eucalan, Soak, and Tide.
Put your pillow in the water, then rub it. Then, begin massaging the soap into your pillow while submerged in water. Shake and massage the pillow continuously until the detergent permeates it. Get the pillow completely wet and soapy. Continue agitating and rubbing the pillow’s stains and messes.
The pillow should be washed under the sink. Rinse the pillow thoroughly after draining the tub to get rid of all the suds and detergents. Before drying the pillow, make sure it is completely free of detergent.
To get rid of some moisture, squeeze the pillow. To remove some of the initial moisture, apply pressure to the pillow with a terry cloth. Ringing the pillow could harm the feathers, so avoid doing so.
For a quick air drying, hang the pillow. Dry the pillow by hanging it from a hook or a clothesline. To hasten the drying process, you can also use a hairdryer.
On moist or damp pillows, mold can grow.
Can You Dry A Down Pillow In The Dryer?
Yes, with a few simple instructions, the incredibly simple to maintain feather or goose down pillows can be placed in the dryer and will come out beautifully.
- Placing the pillow between two towels and applying pressure will help the down pillows dry out. By doing so, the water in the pillow will be forced out, and the towels will absorb it. Avoid twisting or wringing the pillows to avoid damaging the down feathers.
- Use a gentle cycle, such as the low-heat or no-heat setting, to dry the feather pillows. The safest way to dry feather pillows is on the no-heat setting, even though it might take a few cycles to finish the job. Be careful if you choose the low heat setting to speed drying because even this setting that seems safe enough to harm the feather filling can actually do so.
- Between cycles, fluff the pillows and check them frequently. If there are any down clumps inside, beating the pillows will help break them up and improve drying.
- It makes sense to clean down pillows with dryer balls. The pillows will remain fluffy as a result.
- The feather pillows should be fluffed and any clumps should be massaged out once they have dried. Feather clumps can also be eliminated by shaking the down pillow while holding it by its corners.
When Ought Your Down Pillows To Be Changed?
Down and feather pillows can last between five and ten years with yearly washing. As a general guideline, remember to: You should half-fold your pillow. You’re in luck if it bounces back. If it continues to be folded, it’s probably time to buy new pillows.
Your down and feather pillows will last longer if you give them the care and attention they require to remain fluffy and supportive year after year. For best results, try one of this kind, natural cleaners.
Treating Stains On Down Pillows
If you’re human, you’ve probably discovered drool, makeup, or hair product stains on your pillows. Stains and that yellow discoloration, however, are completely normal and, better yet, simple to remove. We’ve all experienced them. To remove stains, dab a corner of microfiber cloth in a solution made of a little water and a few drops of mild laundry detergent, then rub the stain gently until it disappears. Rinse with a fresh water-dipped corner of a different cloth.
What types of stains do pillows typically get?
Most frequently, body oils, sweat, and personal care items like face lotion, hair spray, and toothpaste cause pillow stains.
Read about: Why Are Mattresses So Expensive?
The Differences Between Pillows Made Of Down And Feathers
There is frequent confusion between the terms down and feather pillows. When deciding which pillow to use each night to rest your head, it’s critical to understand that they are not identical.
Goose and duck underbelly and chest feathers are used to make down pillows. These feathers are prized for their exceptional softness and lack of quills. Compared to feather pillows, down pillows last longer and don’t compact as easily.
A less expensive option for down pillows is feather pillows. Duck and goose feathers from the back and wings are used as fill and are frequently combined with some down to add additional softness. You might eventually find a feather poking through because these feathers have quills in them. Pulling it out is very satisfying, so do it now.
How Often To Clean Feather Bed Pillows?
It’s okay to clean feather bed pillows once a week, twice a month, or even once a year, especially during hot, muggy months. Your pricey pillows can last a long time, even if you wash them once a year or more, though.
A waterproof, allergen-blocking pillow protector is a great investment because it will significantly increase the life of the pillow. While down pillows are machine washable, properly fluffing and working out clumps requires a lot of hand work, which leaves room for error. The more frequently you wash it, the greater the chance that mold will develop in your pricey pillow by leaving behind moist clumps.
Using a waterproof pillow protector will prevent the pillows from becoming dirty in the first place and drastically reduce the number of times they need to be washed each year, extending their lifespan and improving the owner’s lifestyle.
Conclusion
So, how to wash down pillows?
Down pillows are simple to clean. Contrary to synthetic pillows, it actually revives them so that they are just as fluffy as when they were first made. Down pillows can be washed in any size washer and are beautifully restored after washing. It’s one of the advantages of the superb natural materials we use to fill our down and feather pillows. These natural fills are exceptional for their support and softness as well as their ease of upkeep.
Just consider the negative scenario. Washing synthetic pillows can be risky. Frequently, they emerge lumpy, ruining the entire pillow. For this good reason, many people avoid washing their pillows and end up sleeping on dirty pillows for years before giving up and purchasing a new one, typically throwing the synthetic pillow in the trash. However, you can repeatedly clean pillows made of duck or goose down and feathers without any problems. In addition to being healthy for you, keeping your pillows clean will also help them last longer. Because of their thickness and density, getting your pillows thoroughly rinsed and dried is the key to washing them.