Why do down comforters turn yellow

Consider using air-drying as a prep or precursor to machine-drying. Mitigate the risk of mildew by fluffing and drying the comforter in the dryer afterward. Use a dryer on a low heat setting. If you do use a drying machine, avoid setting the cycle to a high heat. White comforters can safely dry at a higher heat than can colorful comforters — but they still run the risk of shrinking. Stick to a low setting unless you are extremely pressed for time. Toss dryer balls, a canvas sneaker shoe with no laces, or sock-covered tennis balls into the dryer along with the comforter.

Any of these items can help break up the feather clumps as it dries. This should fluff the comforter, and it might speed the process. Check and fluff periodically. Whether you choose to air-dry or to machine dry, make sure to keep an eye on your down comforter to make sure that the process is going smoothly. Check that the fabric is drying evenly through, and not just in patches.

Fluff and distribute the down by kneading and shaking the comforter. Clumps mean that the still damp and will need longer in the dryer. Wait until dry. Once the comforter is completely dry, fluff it out and place it back on your bed. The whole drying process could take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours, depending on the method and heat setting that you use. Make sure that you have plenty of time to let the comforter settle.

Once the comforter is dry, it's ready to use. James Sears House Cleaning Professional. James Sears. I recommend you read the tag before you clean the down comforter. Most manufacturers recommend only washing down comforters every years; washing more than this can harm the down feather's oils. In between washes, try freshening your comforter naturally by hanging it outside to air-out on a sunny day. You can also sprinkle baking soda over the comforter and let it sit overnight.

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Yes, it will, at least in my experience. The feathers will stick together in hard balls. Not Helpful 2 Helpful Use a duvet cover. Just make sure it completely closes all the way around so you don't lose any feathers. Not Helpful 7 Helpful The comforter I have is from Austria and it says on the label not to wash and not to dry clean.

What other options are there? It currently smells like a teenage boy. Not Helpful 24 Helpful Is there any other way to freshen-up a down comforter, especially if it has an odor? You could use fabric fresheners or you can toss it into the dryer on low heat and toss in a dryer sheet with a desired scent.

Sunshine is excellent too -- if you can hang it on the line each day for a few days, the sunshine will help a great deal. Not Helpful 20 Helpful Hydrogen Peroxide gets blood out. You can just put it on that area. Apply, rub, and repeat until it's gone, then rinse. Not Helpful 10 Helpful If your item is white, you can try using a bleach detergent.

Soak the item in warm water with the detergent for about an hour and hang it outside under the sun to dry. Don't do this with delicates though! Not Helpful 5 Helpful 5. How do I fix a down comforter that was washed at home and is now extremely flat? Sunlight has some natural brightening properties that can make your comforter sparkle.

Generally, comforters only need to be washed a couple of times a year. Also, washing your comforter too often can wear it down. White is more likely to show dirtiness more clearly than other colors.

Here are the best ways to turn your dingy comforter back into a bright white comforter. But first, a word about using bleach to fix the problem. Common sense might say to use bleach on your formerly white comforter.

Yes, bleach is designed to eliminate stains and keep materials white. But bleach has a chemical reaction with things like sweat, bodily oils, and other elements that end up on the comforter. Thus, it turns the already dingy comforter into a more yellow color. There are several different whitening laundry boosters on the market. These products use an added optical brightener that remains in the fibers of the comforter after the wash.

Many of these products suggest adding them to your normal laundry detergent and running the washing machine like normal. But if you have severe yellowing, you can presoak the comforter before washing. Mix the booster in water according to the instructions on the box. As you can see, washing feather and down pillows can be quite easy. Just a few things to remember like drying on low heat and making sure the pillows are totally dry will keep them clean and fluffy for years to come.

One of the main benefits of natural down and feather filling is the long life you can get from your pillows. With a couple washes per year, they will stay looking and feeling like new for up to 10 years. When you sleep on one of our pillows, your head and neck will get the comfort and support they need. Shop our pillows today! Your Cart : 0. Flash Sale Early Black Friday. How To Wash Pillows. Want to Save? Why do pillows turn yellow? Washing a Down or Feather Pillow. Quantity — Always wash two pillows at a time to keep your washer balanced on the spin cycle Water Temperature — Hot, warm or cold; your choice - be aware that some shrinkage of the fabric can occur with warm or hot water Spin Speed — Use the fastest speed to take as much moisture out as possible Rinse — Add an extra rinse cycle to make sure all the soap is gone Soap — Gentle soap without additives.

Unless you have a commercial front loading washer and dryer, take your down comforter to be professionally cleaned. Related: Down vs. Down Alternative Comforters. It may seem like an undertaking at first but, following this guide and the specific instructions for your down comforter, cleaning and care can be simple. See our disclosure page for more information. Use A Duvet Cover The quickest and easiest solution to maintaining a clean down comforter is to place it in a duvet cover.

This will help protect your comforter from body oils and other stains. It is also much easier to wash a duvet cover than a full comforter.

Fluff Your Comforter Everyday One way to combat odors with your comforter is by fluffing and moving around the down filling on a daily basis. Hang Your Comforter Outside On a low humidity day, hang your comforter on the clothesline.