apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Instead of tennis balls, which can sometimes overheat and stink, I usually use rolled up socks for drying my duvet cover. Same goes for down-filled outerwear!

ive been able to wash twin sized comforters at home in a top loading washer without a problem.

i wait for a hot, sunny day, so i can hang it on a line outside after it's been in the dryer for about 30 mins.

I wash our king-sized comforter at home in a large-capacity top-loader. I also wash our down coats, using the tennis balls in the dryer. They come out beautifully every time.

I've washed and dried my queen sized for years in home machines and never had a problem.

Ditto what gingergirl said, and mine is still in good shape (if a bit stained from coffee spills and sick kitties) after some 7 years. I use a little Woolite.

How bizarre, I just finished washing mine yesterday for the first time in years (maybe even the first time?) and had no problems - but when I opened up the dryer lint trap it was full of downy fluff, much of it escaping into the air! So beware!

My son's down comforter gets, ahem, 'damp' once a week or so and I wash it in the front loader at home with no problems. I decided life's too short to worry about the status of those feathers. I do take extra care to make sure it's completely dry, though.

We wash our queen size duvet in our European front loader -- it fits. I recommend using "Sportwash" for down.

http://www.atsko.com/products/laundry-care/sport-wash-residue-free-detergent.html

Does anyone know what, if anything, you can do if your down comforter starts to leak? I've had mine for about 10 years, and I LOVE it, but lately when I take it out of the duvet cover to fluff it, little bits of down go flying. It's not a huge amount--yet. I'd like to preserve the comforter, though, and I'm wondering if I could sew a second covering around it or something along those lines.

as3087 - you might also speak with a local tailor or quilt shop and see if they would be able to restitch the seams for you (I'm assuming your comforter has baffles) if that's where the "leaks" are coming from. There might also be especially worn spots in the fabric rather than the seams and in that case your idea of a second cover would work too - although if it is threadbare fabric, I would follow the original baffling with a large running stitch to try and contain the feathers in case the original fabric ripped completely.

On a hot summer day, I put the comforter in the tub, add some gentle soap and warm water, then I walk on it a few times. I let the water out, do a rinse cycle the same way, let it sit in the tub to ger as much water out as possible (walk on it a few times), then get my husband to help me carry it to the clothesline. It has to be turned a few times, but by the evening, it's dry and smells beautifully of sun and clean air. Sweet dreams!

How perfect! Sadly, our pup got sick the other day and soiled our down comforter. Thanks a big huggy bunch.

Take your laptop to bed tonight and google the following video and find out where your down comforter comes from. Young ducks have every feather ripped off their entire bodies every six months for three years. Imagine how you would feel if handfuls of your hair was pulled out until you were bald and then imagine that pain all over your bodies. Give up the down. You contribute to the abuse of birds by buying that stuff. Please think compassionately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVtkZGsEzhs

I'm *so* glad DebbyMc posted. I've an "inherited" down but will never buy another. I hope that I remember this when shoping for winter coats, too.

When I received my hand-me-down (get it?), I it to my dry cleaner. She refused to clean it because the cost would be half the price of a new one and past customers had simply abandoned their blankets. She actually suggested I throw it away and buy a new one. Glad to read everyone's tactics for getting it clean.

as3087, I've heard that the down breaks down if you lay on top of the comforter. Is it possible that the reason your comforter is leaking is because the feathers are breaking?