[sillygirl]

Does anyone know how to wash a goose down duvet? Do they have to be dry cleaned?

[LMo]

Yes, I do this about twice a year. I go to a laundromat and use their biggest machine, along with some special down laundry detergent. I think it's ok AS LONG AS you dry it right away and thoroughly, hence why I use the commercial driers rather than the one I have at home.

It has to be totally dry or it'll permanently develop a bad smell. I wash my pillows this way too.

There is a really awesome cuban bistro next to the laundromat, so I time it so that I can have drinks with friends while my stuff is in the washer/dryer.

[January]

My brother is 6 ft. 7 1/2 inches tall. He purchased a very expensive down sleeping bag to take camping. I borrowed it one time and was so grateful to him that I decided to surprise him and wash his sleeping bag for him as thanks. I not only almost completely broke my washing machine, but I ruined his wonderful sleeping bag. It's a wonder I'm still alive!

Jan

[bejose34]

the best way to clean a down comforter is to dry clean it. if you get it wet it will smell anyway. same thing with down jackets. it is because they use all times of down. mostly chicken feathers. and they leave the worse smell in your clothes and comforters. I use to work in a dry cleaners and there is nothing you can do to get the smell out of them once it is there.

[sillygirl]

thanks for all the answers. I will probably take it too the dry cleaners. I don't want a stinky duvet lol

[(JD)]

It really does depend upon the quality of down, and whether it's been cleaned totally by the company before stuffing also how much baffling there is.

If it isn't washed properly, it can lump, and like the others warned, if it isn't dried properly, it will reek even when dry.

ah, the care and feeding of the comfort we keep

I've heard that quite often when you take things to the drycleaners to have them drycleaned they often wash and dry them rather than drycleaning them with chemicals.

what the drycleaning place has that you probably don't, however, is big commercial washing machines so that they can fit your king size down duvet into it whereas you might have trouble using your washing machine at home or even the commercial washers that you find in laundromats.

so i guess you can do it yourself if you have a washer / dryer that is big enough for that... but it might be a safer bet to get it done at a drycleaners.