Fine, soft feathers that are wonderfully fluffy. When it comes to pillows, down is one of the most popular fillings. But even high-quality down pillows and duvets need thorough cleaning and care from time to time. In this article, you'll find all the tips and tricks for washing your down pillows and restoring their fluffiness without clumping inside.
Here's how you can gently wash your down pillows.
Sweat, dead skin cells, or a spilled coffee: a pillow is subjected to daily wear and tear and endures a lot. Since it's constantly in contact with our face, it can cause skin irritations, allergies, and acne over time. If you long for the once fragrant and voluminous down pillow, only a thorough and gentle washing process will help.
If you wish, you can have your down pillows professionally cleaned at a specialist shop, which usually costs between 20 and 30 euros. This is particularly advisable if they are heavily soiled. This way, you avoid the risk of down and feathers getting into the washing machine's mechanism and damaging it. Professional cleaning also ensures that dust mites, germs, and bacteria are effectively removed, and that the down pillows and duvets are thoroughly dried afterward.
However, if your pillows aren't heavily soiled and you'd like to save money, you can easily wash them at home. We have a handy step-by-step guide for you to help restore your down pillows to their former glory.
How often should a down pillow be washed?
How often you should wash a down pillow also depends on its size. The larger the pillow, the less frequently it needs cleaning. However, a down pillow should be cleaned at least once a year. Since our face and head rest on the pillow, and people sweat while sleeping, this sweat penetrates the down and feathers. Over time, the weight and pressure of the head cause them to clump together. Washing removes secretions, cleans the pillow's inner lining, and fluffs up the down.
In contrast, a down comforter doesn't need to be cleaned as often, since it doesn't come into contact with the head as much. Provided there is no heavy soiling, washing it every 3-4 years is sufficient.
Preparing the down pillows
Before putting it in the washing machine, there are a few things you need to check to ensure the down pillow is washed thoroughly and the pillows are not damaged.
- Down and feather pillows can be washed in the washing machine, provided the capacity is large enough. The machine should have a capacity of 5 to 7.5 kilograms; otherwise, the down and feathers can become compressed and break. Smaller machines also don't have enough space for water, and the pillows won't get clean. Check your washing machine's capacity before washing.
- Before washing, check the care label on your pillow. Are there any specific temperature instructions? If you see that the down pillow shouldn't go in the washing machine, you should seek advice from a specialist retailer.
- Anything containing down or feathers must be thoroughly inspected for even the smallest tears and holes before cleaning. If a down pillow is damaged, down can escape during washing and damage the washing machine.
Washing down pillows in the washing machine
Once you've prepared your down pillow for washing, you can begin the cleaning process. If you have a tumble dryer, drying the pillow is also no problem. Here are our washing instructions for your down pillows:
- Place the pillow in a laundry bag or pillowcase. This will provide extra protection for your washing machine against down and feathers. Then put the pillow in the washing drum.
- If you like, you can add one or two tennis balls to the washing machine. The movement will help prevent the down and feathers from clumping together during washing.
- Down is a natural product and, like all products of animal origin, contains fat. Washing a down pillow with conventional detergent or fabric softener will cause it to lose this natural fat. Therefore, you should use a special down detergent to wash the down filling, as this will not damage the down. Wool detergent or delicate detergent are also suitable alternatives.
- To wash down pillows properly, you need to select the appropriate washing program. Depending on the manufacturer's instructions, you can wash down between 30 and 60 degrees Celsius; higher temperatures can damage it. A gentle or delicate wash cycle is best. Some newer washing machines even have a special down wash program. The spin speed should be as low as possible, ideally 400 or 600 revolutions per minute.
How do you dry a down pillow?
Care must be taken when drying down pillows. A tumble dryer is essential, as this ensures that the moisture is completely removed from the down. While you can theoretically dry the pillows without a dryer, this process takes longer and is much more time-consuming.
- Once the washing program is finished, remove the pillow and fluff it up lightly. Place the down pillow in the tumble dryer on a drying cycle between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius.
- If you wish, you can also add two tennis balls, which will fluff up the down pillows and absorb moisture.
- After the first drying cycle, remove the pillow and fluff it up by hand. Then perform a second drying cycle, and a third if necessary.
- Never place your down pillow in the sun to dry. Firstly, this will cause too much moisture to remain in the pillow, and secondly, direct sunlight will damage the down.