How to Clean Comforters

Comforters are a welcome addition to your bedding in the fall and winter.

What most people don’t know is how to care for them. Some think that you don’t have to clean them because your body never actually lays on them.

Ugh! If your kids or your pet has ever jumped on your bed in the morning or sat on your bed to watch television with you, then there is something on them worth cleaning.

If your washing machine is designed for extra large loads, then you could get away with washing your comforters at home. Use a liquid laundry detergent in cold water when cleaning your comforters. Powder may get trapped in the folds of the comforter during washing.

Make sure to tuck the edges of your comforter under when placing it in the washing machine.

I have had a comforter ruined because an edge got caught in the top of the washing tub during the spin cycle and it tore a hole in the comforter. If you are unsure that your comforter will fit and get an adequate washing, use a commercial washer in a laundromat. Those machines are designed for any kind of laundry load.

Because of the fiber fill and its size a comforter may need two or three cycles in your dryer. Again, a compact dryer is not meant for something the size of a comforter. Hang the comforter over a clothesline or a shower rod to allow it to dry. A hair dryer will make sure that the fill is completely dry. A commercial dryer on a medium to high heat setting will do the drying job in one cycle. Comforters must be completely dry before folding and storing in a closet. Any moisture could produce mildew.

If your comforter is filled with down feathers instead of fiber fill, then the cleaning instructions are a little different. Using a commercial washer and dryer or a dry cleaner would probably be recommended. Because the feathers give down comforters a unique smell, they need to be aired out on occasion.

Throwing it across a clothes line and beating it like you do with rugs will remove dust and dirt. Stains on a down comforter should be spot cleaned immediately.

Down comforters will be heavy when they come out of the washing machine. Wring any excess water out of them before drying. Placing a ball in the dryer with the comforter will keep the feathers from bunching up in one place as they dry.

Comforters need to be cleaned just like any other bedding material. Over time, they will smell if nothing is done. All comforters should be cleaned after the winter, before putting them away during the warmer seasons.

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