Can You Wash Your Down Filled Comforter?

Although goose and duck down has been used in bedding for centuries, it was not used commonly as a insulating material in clothing until Eddie Bauer patented the goose down jacket in 1936. The down comforter sold today might have more similarities to 20th century down jackets than anything else.

Construction

• A down comforter is simply a quilted-style of blanket that is sewn into many various segments. Each section of quilt then is filled with goose down. The patchwork construction method insures that the insulating material remains in each small section. In this manner the comforter can function as a very warm blanket for a long period of time.

The Down

• Using a front-loading washing machine to clean your down comforter will not harm the down, as long as the water temperature is not hot and a mild detergent is used. In fact, according to "My Luxury Mattress," down will perform best as an insulator when the material occasionally is washed and cleaned.

The Fabric Cover

• However, the washing and drying process may affect the fabric covering of the comforter, so that the outer material no longer holds all the down feathers inside the blanket. This all depends on the weave of the material, since tightly woven fabrics will hold up for a much longer period of time than loosely woven materials.

Drying

• After cleaning your down comfortable it is important to dry the item thoroughly, so mold does not find its way into the feathers. As a result, when machine-drying your comfortable, temperatures should be lowered and drying times extended.