BY HADLEY MENDELSOHN
Plus, who doesn’t love falling asleep under a freshly cleaned and plumped down comforter? We asked cleaning enthusiast and pro Patric Richardson of The Laundry Evangelist the best protocol for washing a down comforter. Take note of his simple tips ahead to fall asleep happily wrapped in a cleaner comforter tonight
Step One: Load It
First things first, read all the tags and see if your down comforter can go in the laundry machine or if professional dry cleaning is advised. If the latter is not required, then bring your duvet down to the laundry room! A top loader will work fine if that’s all you have, but a front loader machine will make it much easier. Now put the comforter in, preferably by itself so as to not overcrowd the machine.
Step Two: Add Soap
Use soap or down wash, not use commercial detergent. This is because super heavy detergents tend to weigh down the comforter, making it harder for the feathers to dry. Clumpy comforters are not nearly as fluffy and comfy. There are lots of drugstore options that work, just make sure you look for some marketed towards down comforters or delicates like Woolite, or use a speciality soap like The Laundress’s Wool and Cashmere Shampoo, if you’re willing to splurge. And remember, a little soap goes a long way. Since it’ll be the only item in the machine, you won’t to make sure you don’t overdo it.
Step Three: Select Time
For timing, choose the regular wash cycle. If you’re worried about damaging your down comforter, you can select a medium to slow spin setting.
Step Four: Set the Temperature
For temperature, select a warm cycle but with a cold rinse and make sure it rinses thoroughly. If your machine doesn’t offer that combination, then it’s safer to choose the cooler temperature.
Step Five: Dry It
When it’s time to dry the comforter, add a tennis ball and select warm heat. You’ll want to make sure that the time is set to a lower spin cycle but longer drying time. As previously mentioned, a wet comforter will result in clumps, so make sure it’s not even a little damp before you take it out of the dryer. But before you dry it at all, double check if yours is a true down comforter or a down alternative (like a hypo allergenic one). If you’re using the latter, make sure you dry it without a heat setting.
Bonus Tip:
Care Between Washes
And last but not least, hand wash and spot treat any stains periodically so you don’t shorten its lifespan by overwashing it and really get any stains out in one wash.
Snap It
When your comforter is clean and dry, place it on your bed to fluff it. Hold the bottom edge of the comforter, at the footboard of the bed. Raise the comforter up to eye-level and snap it down with a quick jerk. Allow the comforter to wave, distributing and creating space between the fibers inside, reviving its original loft. Repeat this process four to five times.
Use Your Hand
Use your hand to distribute the fill as needed. Look for lumpy areas and smooth them with the heel of your hand and forearm. This technique is usually needed with down-filled comforters.
Rotate and Flip
Rotate and flip your comforter for even wear. Do this each week if the comforter is reversible. If possible, keep an extra comforter set in a linen closet and rotate out every six months. This will help preserve the life of your comforter and let you switch up the look of your bedding.
Use a Dryer
Use a clothes dryer for small comforters. Bedding for a single or twin bed can be placed in a dryer on the air fluff cycle. Add a few tennis balls to keep the fabric from balling up. Do not use fabric softener sheets; they can leave a sticky residue on comforters.
Make it cozy with lots of pillows
You can really have fun with pillows on your bed. Anderson said that West Elm stores like to use a combination of two euro pillows, four standard pillows and two or three decorative pillows. “When in doubt, for selecting your pillows, use a more solid and neutral decorative pillow on printed bedding, and printed pillows on solid bedding,” he suggested.
Top with a throw blanket
You’ve probably seen throw blankets draped across the beds in showrooms and wonder how on earth they get them to look so casual yet so beautiful.
It’s actually pretty simple: “The best way to do this is to take a few steps back from the bed and casually toss the blanket across the bed for a more relaxed aesthetic,” Anderson said. You can also opt for a neater feel by folding the blanket and draping it over one corner at the foot of the bed.