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Washable Down Comforter
How To Take Care of a Washable Down Comforter
You've always wanted the warmth and luxury of a down
comforter but been reluctant to invest because of the
care involved? It's a popular notion that items stuffed
with down can't be washed at home, or indeed at all. If
you've been avoiding buying a down comforter because you
don't want to tie yourself to a schedule of dry
cleaning, it's time to start shopping. Down comforters
ARE washable - depending entirely upon the composition
of their covers.
Surprised? Don't be. Because down is so often used as
the filler for luxury comforters made of silk, satin or
satin, people have come to think that 'washable down
comforters' are a myth. It's simply not true. Down is
washable, if you take some care with the washing and
drying. The only problem that down suffers from washing
is a tendency to clump when wet and dry in clumps. There
are a few different ways to deal with it, the easiest of
which is to just toss a clean tennis shoe into the dryer
along with your comforter.
Don't make the assumption, though, that every down
comforter is washable. Each comforter is different. If
you've chosen a comforter created from luxury fabrics
with delicate detailing, it's not likely to stand up to
a vigorous run through the washer. Instead, follow the
cleaning instructions provided with the comforter to
avoid causing damage to it.
One of your best options is to choose a plain down
comforter with a ticking or 100% white cotton cover,
like Wamsutta's Base Camp comforter - and then outfit it
with a duvet cover in the style that you most like. When
the comforter itself needs washing, simply slip the
duvet cover off, toss the comforter into the washer.
Even the best quality washable down comforter will show
some wear from repeated washing though. To extend the
life of your washable down comforter, follow the
following guidelines:
1. Start with quality. Look for reinforced stitching at
corners, and even seams in the quilting. The most likely
damage to a washable down comforter is in picked
stitching that starts to let seams go.
2. Even if it's washable, protect your new down
comforter with a duvet cover to keep the worst of the
dirt, soil and body slough off the comforter itself.
3. If you choose a comforter for its style rather than
comfort and prefer not to use a cover, you can reduce
the need to wash it by folding it down or removing it
from the bed when you sleep.
4. Keep the washing to a minimum, even if the package
does say it's a washable down comforter. The more you
wash it, the more it will wear.
5. Wash your washable down comforter on a delicate cycle
using cold water and a mild laundry detergent. Never use
bleach.
6. The very best way to dry your washed down comforter
is in a tumble dryer on the low setting. Add one or two
clean tennis shoes to the load before turning the dryer
on. They'll serve as 'beaters' to break up and
discourage any clumping of the down inside the
comforter.
If you follow the above cautions, your washable down
comforter should come out of the dryer fluffy, warm and
ready to snuggle you into a cozy sleep all over again.
About the Author
Abe Gardea is a full-time freelance writer and a contributor to http://www.comforter-n-duvet-cover.com.
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