by Linda Ann Nickerson

Created on: May 21, 2008

DO's AND DON'Ts FOR WASHING DOWN

Do you love to sleep in cozy down-filled softness, with a feather-filled comforter or quilt? Do you curl up with a book or the television remote in a down-filled throw?

Eventually, those feather-filled blankets, comforters or quilts must be laundered. Certainly, you could send your down-filled comforter to the dry cleaning shop, but that can be quite costly. You can quite simply wash your own feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt at home or at the laundromat, using automated laundry equipment.

WASHING FEATHER-FILLED QUILTS AT HOME

Laundering your down feather-filled blankets, comforters or quilts at home is noisy, but easy to do.

DO LEAVE IT ALONE.

First, place your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt in your automatic washing machine alone. Save other laundry for another load. Set your washing machine for a gentle cycle, with warm water.

DON'T USE BLEACH.

Use detergent, as usual, for washing your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt. Do not use bleach with your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt.

DO REMOVE IT PROMPTLY.

Remove your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt from the washing machine, as soon as the final cycle is finished. Your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt will seem quite limp and soggy at this point, but do not be alarmed. It will puff up nicely again before you are done laundering it.

DO DRY IT WELL.

Place your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt in the automatic dryer. Again, save other laundry for another load.

DO INCLUDE THIS SECRET INGREDIENT.

Toss three brand-new (or very clean) tennis balls into the dryer with your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt. Switch the dryer on for a full drying cycle, setting it for medium heat.

The tennis balls will bounce around inside your dryer and fluff up your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt. Don't be alarmed by the noise. Those tennis balls tend to make quite a racket inside an automatic dryer.

DO BE PATIENT.

You may have to run your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt through a few drying cycles to dry and fluff it completely. When it is finished, your feather-filled blanket, comforter or quilt will be clean and puffy, just it was when you first obtained it.

NOTE: I always keep a can of clean tennis balls in my laundry room at home, just for laundering my feather-filled blankets, comforters or quilts. This laundry technique also works well for down-filled coats, jackets, parkas, vests and other feather-filled items.

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