The secret to properly washing a feather pillow

Cleanliness is the key to health, so not only sheets and pillowcases, but also blankets and pillows must be washed and cleaned. They are washed much less often; sometimes it is easier to replace washing with dry cleaning. But this is expensive and there is not always a guarantee that they will clean well. I prefer to wash them at home manually or in a washing machine - it depends on my mood and free time.

How to properly prepare a feather pillow for washing

You can wash it entirely, but the effect will not be ideal. The weight of a standard feather pillow is about 3 kg; when it gets wet, it weighs even more. The feather sticks together due to moisture and forms an incomprehensible lump that is difficult to fluff. It’s more convenient for me to divide the filling into several parts and wash each separately.

For this, several linen bags are prepared. On a spread cloth or oilcloth, the quilt is carefully ripped apart along the seam and the feather is transferred in small portions into bags. The main thing is not to sneeze at this time, although you really want to, otherwise the filling will merrily scatter throughout the room. Before disassembling the pillow, you need to knock it out to remove dust.

The napkin is washed separately.

Important! After washing and drying, turn the diaper inside out and lightly rub the fabric with laundry soap, and then air it out. After this treatment, the feather does not come out, does not prick, and the down mite does not start.

Machine washable feather pillow

The most convenient way, without extra effort and time. But there is a small catch - not every model of machine can do the washing. The loading limit must be at least 6 kg. If you disassemble the pillow into parts, it will be more convenient to wash and these portion bags will dry faster.

I choose the delicate mode, at 30 degrees, for no more than half an hour. This is quite enough for a good cleansing.

Attention! Hardware stores sell special laundry bags; they are convenient for storing sewn feather covers. If the pillow is small, size 50 × 70 cm or less, then you can wash the whole thing. To protect the bedside table and not end up with a full machine of feathers, you can sew another cover, about 15 cm larger in size, put a pillow in it and sew it over the edge.

I set the spin function to 400 revolutions so that the pen does not bunch up. I use conditioner to a minimum and choose a neutral fragrance.

Attention! The feather retains odors for a long time.

Handwash

The best time to treat pillows is summer. I often do laundry at the dacha: I have a car, and it’s not difficult to throw laundry items into the back seat. Advantages: unlimited amount of water and space to dry.

There are two options: wash entirely or in parts. I’m not a fan of long processes, so I just fill the bath with warm water, dissolve the gel for natural fabrics and lay the pillows in a row on the bottom. You need to make sure that the water covers them completely.

After 30 minutes you can start washing. The drain mesh is installed in advance, otherwise the particles remaining in the water quickly clog the drain pipe, making it very difficult to clear the blockage.

If the filler is more than five years old, then the task becomes more complicated. The structure becomes fragile, it quickly gathers into lumps.You will have to wash it in “free floating”.

I prepare a soap solution from 6 tablespoons of gel detergent and 3 tablespoons of ammonia, immerse the pen in water, and leave for 3 hours. I carefully wash it with my hands, collect it in a colander in a separate container and rinse it in clean water. Now you can collect the filler in a clean case and hang it out to dry. With this method, the feather does not stick together and does not fall off the awns.

How to dry a feather pillow

Basic rule: drying time should be within 2 days. If you drag out the process, a musty smell will appear, giving off mold, and you will have to wash everything. After rinsing, I place the feather bags on a wooden rack and let the water drain.

I use wood: it does not oxidize, does not leave stains on the fabric, and most importantly, does not give off any foreign odors. Then I carefully distribute the filler and leave it in this position to dry, turning it 4-5 times a day from side to side so that each side is better ventilated.

If the weather is sunny and windy during the day, the pillow dries faster when suspended. It is attached to a rope by one or two corners, regularly turns over - at the same time, the filler straightens out better.

Important! An under-dried pillow cannot be used. The slightest damp spot will serve as an excellent source of mold and the appearance of downy pests.

In winter, I try not to burden myself with such worries and start washing the pillow only when necessary. I dry it near the battery or heating element, in a straightened state. It is not advisable to place a pillow on the heating radiator. The quilt deteriorates from overheating, the pen becomes brittle, crumbles, and loses volume.

A clean pillow will give you deep sleep and provide an excellent opportunity to relax and gain strength.And to maintain its fluffiness, it is necessary to regularly beat the filler, ventilate and dry it in the fresh air.