Pillows are found in every home, as they are bedding items that provide comfort during sleep. They all differ in size, cover materials and fillings. The most common are products with down or feathers inside, since this filler is natural, hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly. But you need to be able to properly care for it.
Can feather pillows be washed?
Before you understand how to wash feather pillows, determine the composition of the material. There are two types of natural fillers: manufacturers indicate them on the labels.
The first one is a chicken feather. This filler absorbs moisture well and takes a long time to dry, crumbling after drying. Therefore, you cannot wash them by hand or in a machine: they can be cleaned dry using professional equipment. In order not to spoil the material, take the pillow with such filling to the dry cleaner: professionals will select a safe cleaning method.
The second type is the feathers of geese, swans and other waterfowl. This material will withstand washing if you follow the recommendations.
How to dry properly
This can be done in several ways:
- After machine washing the pouches, distribute the contents evenly, and then lay the pouches on old, unwanted fabric. Roll them tightly to get rid of excess moisture and speed up the drying process of the filler.
- To get rid of moisture from the pillow, you can also use a dryer at a temperature of 30°C, a radiator, or take it out into the open air, hanging it on a rope. Pour the dried feather into a clean pillowcase, which you sew on a sewing machine for reliability.
This is interesting: it is useful for feather filling to sometimes “take” sunbathing: ultraviolet rays ensure its disinfection.
How to wash feather pillows
Household chemical stores sell detergents for down jackets and pillows. These are mainly gels and liquid products. Pillows are washed at a low temperature, so the powder granules do not dissolve in cold water, get stuck in the filling, and are difficult to rinse out.
Liquid laundry detergents.
Heitmann gel is perfect for washing feather pillows. Lanolin in the product restores the protective shell of the material, making it soft and airtight. Another option is Nikwax Down Wash, which also prevents lint from sticking together when wet. The cost of funds is from 500 to 1,500 rubles.
Shampoo.
Dirt from the hair penetrates onto the pillowcase and pillow, so regular shampoo is suitable for hand washing. It is diluted in a basin and the pillow is left in it for half an hour, then rinsed thoroughly twice.
Food acids.
You can also use vinegar or citric acid for washing. They remove grease stains and dirt without harming the pen. But vinegar leaves an unpleasant odor, so the pillow will have to be ventilated. Lemon has no smell, but for it to work effectively, dissolve it in hot water.
How to properly care
Most housewives choose pillows with feather filling due to its softness and airiness. However, do not forget that materials of organic origin are subject to destruction after several years. Find out how to properly care for your sleep accessories so that they last you as long as possible:
- Fluff your favorite pillow quite often, such as every morning. This simple procedure will help maintain its elasticity and provide you with a comfortable sleep for many nights.
- Wash the product several times a year, as it is able to absorb sebum, sweat and other secretions of the human body very well. This way you will rid the pillow of an unpleasant odor and remove pathogens that have managed to settle in the filler.
- If it is necessary to treat particularly contaminated items, it is better to contact a dry cleaner and trust the professionals. They know how to remove stains of different origins.
Advice : we recommend replacing the pillows with new ones once every 5 years.
If you follow all the intricacies of washing pillows at home, you will no longer need to spend money on buying new bedding. This way you can extend the life of this household item and maintain your health. Good luck!
Folk remedies for cleaning pillows
If you don’t want to spend money on professional chemicals, but washing with regular shampoo doesn’t seem effective, use popular advice. For example, a mixture of baking soda and tea tree oil is suitable. Tea tree oil has an antifungal and bactericidal effect. Its mixture with soda is more effective than soap and other liquid cleaning products. Mix 100 g of soda with 12 drops of oil in a basin until a wet powder forms. Rub the mixture onto the pillow and leave for 60 minutes. Then shake and vacuum.
Wash completely
If the feather needs to be washed, you can choose whether to wash the entire pillow and its contents, or remove it and do it right. It is not recommended to wash entire items, because you may not achieve the desired effect, but there will be a huge chance of throwing away feather pillows. Washing the pillow as a whole will save you from only a small amount of dust, but there will be great difficulties in drying it, because the filling will bunch up in heaps, which will be extremely difficult to knead. And it will take a lot of time to completely dry the product.
If you decide to start the washing process in a washing machine, be sure to use a special cover, because the old linen of the product may not hold up and break - the drum of the washing machine has high speeds. You will lose your pillow, and the washing machine may burn out, because the filler will clog the pump and filter of the device.
Handwash
Washing rules.
The water should be cool - up to 30–40°C; high temperatures will ruin the feather. In this case, the filler is washed in parts or the feathers are completely removed from the pillowcase and soaked in water. You won’t be able to wash the entire pillow by hand: the dense filling will only get wet and clump into clumps. It is almost impossible to dry the pillow well - the feathers will begin to rot and a musty smell will appear. Before washing, you need to knock out the dust from the pillow.
First way.
Add a special lint and feather detergent or shampoo to the water. Stir the solution and pour the pillow filling into it. Choose a larger basin so that the feathers float freely and do not stick together. Leave for 3 hours. Then place the filling in a colander and rinse under running water. After this, rinse in a bowl of clean water.
When you rinse your pillow, add a couple drops of peppermint essential oil to add freshness. If there is a musty smell, a solution of table vinegar will help: a tablespoon per 5 liters of water.
To dry, spread the filler on a clean, dry cloth, periodically separating the stuck together feathers.
Second way.
This washing method is easier, but it does not clean feathers as well. Divide the filling into several parts and pour into pillowcases. Wash them in a basin with detergent and leave to soak for several hours. Then rinse the feathers well and wring them out. You can dry the filling directly in pillowcases, but you need to shake it periodically to prevent lumps from forming. You can take out the feathers and lay them out on a horizontal surface.
Basic rules for washing pillows at home
In order for feather or down pillows to serve their owners as long as possible, they need to be cleaned once or twice a year. Cleaning pillows at home is not an easy task, and you can deal with it in different ways:
- vacuum cleaner;
- hand wash;
- machine washable;
- iron with steam function.
Steam cleaning
When cleaning with an iron with a steam function, the product is treated on all sides within 20 minutes. Then it is hung out in the sun until completely dry. Next, the pillow is well fluffed and the pillowcase is changed. This method allows you to: destroy unpleasant odors, kill harmful microbes and dust mites.
Attention! Steam cleaning pillows at home is not suitable for bedding with chicken down or feathers. It is recommended to dry clean such items.
Dry method
The dry home method of cleaning a pillow comes down to the following steps:
- You need to take a carpet beater or vacuum cleaner and go over the product well.
- After this, the bedding is hung in the sun.
Attention! This method is not the most effective and is only suitable for products that have not absorbed large amounts of dust and dirt.
Handwash
Hand washing pillows is carried out in the following sequence:
- A new bedstead is prepared in advance, which can be easily sewn from dense teak.
- Warm water is drawn into the bathroom and a soap solution is added.
- The product is steamed, the fluff and feathers are placed in water in small portions for several hours.
- Next, the feathers are removed from the bathroom using a regular colander.
- The filler is washed under running water and packed in a bag sewn from several layers of gauze.
- The bag with the filling is placed in the machine and the spin is set at minimum drum speed.
- After this, the bag with feathers is placed in a well-ventilated area until completely dry.
- The last step is to fill the new quills with washed and dried feathers.
Important! Washing the filling of feather pillows is allowed only if the product is filled with waterfowl down. It is strictly forbidden to wash chicken feathers.
Machine washable
Washing in an automatic machine will look a little easier:
- The napkin is ripped open, and its contents are put into a bag made of thick fabric and sewn up.
- Down or feathers are washed at a water temperature of no higher than 40 degrees with powder without bleach.
- The delicate washing mode is set with a minimum number of spin speeds.
- After the machine washes, the bags with filling are hung out to dry in the sun.
Wash at 40 degrees
Important! If you put under-dried filling into a new bedsheet, mold will form and an unpleasant odor will appear.
Washing in a washing machine
Washing rules.
You can wash the entire pillow in a washing machine, but it is advisable to use special balls or regular tennis balls to prevent the filling from sticking together. Throw several towels into the washing machine: they will evenly distribute the load on the drum.
Mode.
It is ideal when the machine has a mode for washing down and feathers. But this is rare, so if there is no such thing, set it to delicate.
Temperature.
Hot water will damage the filler, so the temperature should be the same as when washing by hand. The maximum value is 40°C.
Spin.
It is better to turn off the spin mode so as not to break the feathers, and put the pillow in the bathroom to drain excess water, and then gently squeeze out the excess moisture with your hands. But if you are not confident in your abilities and need an automatic spin, set the maximum speed to 400 rpm.
Wash by hand
You can wash pillows at home in an automatic machine, but the manual method has one significant advantage - the fluff is cleaned evenly, does not clump together and retains its shape. This rule especially applies to orthopedic pillows, each wash of which reduces the healing properties of this item.
In order to know how to clean a feather pillow at home, you need to follow the following technology:
- Remove the filler, place it in a bowl of warm water, dilute the cleaning product in it (shavings of laundry soap will do just fine).
- After two hours, take out the feathers, rinse thoroughly in clean water, wring out and distribute on a flat surface for the final stage - drying. It is better if it is an outdoor place or a ventilated room. At the end, all that remains is to return the filler and stitch the product on a sewing machine. More details in the video below.
Errors when washing
Most often housewives make the following mistakes:
- Add too much detergent. Household chemicals are quite aggressive, so they can ruin the structure of feathers. Add as much liquid as indicated in the instructions. If you use folk remedies, also adhere to the recommended dosages.
- Wash in hot water. Temperatures above 40°C will hopelessly damage the filler. Please take this into account when washing by hand or by machine.
- They don't rinse well. Feathers absorb detergent well, so you need to wash it at least twice. Otherwise, after drying, they will lose their softness and lumps will appear.
Drying Features
There are a number of tips that will help you dry fluff better and more efficiently:
- After “squeezing” the bags in the machine, it is better to get rid of excess water by placing them between towels; you cannot twist them;
- the filler must be completely dry, otherwise mold and lumps may form in it;
- You can put several tennis balls in the machine, they will beat the product well;
- pillowcases should not be dried in direct sunlight, as they will quickly lose their brightness;
- If automatic drying was used, the fluff should still be taken out into fresh air, or dryed with cool air.
Note! To understand whether the feathers are completely dry, you need to weigh the pillow before washing. The same weight should be obtained after drying.
Drying tips
Place the feathers on a dry cloth near the radiator or radiator, but not on the heating devices themselves. Cover with gauze to prevent them from flying around. Leave for 2-3 days. Stir the feathers occasionally: this way they will not stick together and will be more airy.
Another method is blow drying. Maintain a distance of 20–30 cm from the feathers. Dry continuously for up to 10 minutes. After some time, repeat the procedure. But even after this method, you should leave the filler to dry naturally for several hours before returning it to the pillow.
Dry air cleaning
Dry air cleaning is carried out in dry cleaners that have special equipment. You can restore a product in this way in just 15 minutes.
Note! This type of cleaning is also applicable for chicken feathers.
As a result, the cleaned fluff is placed in a new pillowcase, the cost of which is included in the price of the service. The pillow becomes fuller and softer when exposed to an ozonator, which directs a powerful stream of air onto the feathers.
How much this service will cost depends on the salon.
Features of down
The modern bedding market offers a wide range of fillings for featherbeds, mattresses and pillows. Nevertheless, the pen is still very popular. Numerous studies have proven that this is the most durable and warm filler; it is not for nothing that it is found in the edges of waterfowl and warms them even in severe frost. At the same time, down does not interfere with the free release of moisture, providing support for an optimal microclimate during sleep. And, of course, the down pillow is distinguished by its impressive volume and relatively low weight. In addition, it quickly restores its shape after compression.
How to wash a pillow yourself
Pillow feathers are cleaned in three ways:
- washed in a washing machine;
- washed by hand;
- sending it for specialized cleaning with quartz.
The last method, by the way, is very convenient. Firstly, the master will do everything for you. Secondly, the feathers will be dried and thoroughly disinfected. Thirdly, the filler gets rid of the debris that inevitably forms during the use of pillows. True, fine dust will remain. But mites and mold will die.
In the washing machine
Of course, this is a very convenient and quick way to wash down feathers. However, there are some peculiarities. To wash a feather pillow in a washing machine, set the correct mode, temperature, and spin. Here's how to do it.
Soaking . It is advisable to use this function if the pillow smells unpleasant. Add one of the odor and mildew removing products to the soaking compartment.
Washing mode . Depends on the features of your machine. Choose “Delicate”, “Down Feather”, “Handmade”, “Wool”, “Wool Blanket”, etc. The temperature is not higher than 30-40℃ - hot water destroys the protein in the feather, causing the filler to become fragile.
A lot depends on the chosen mode: how comfortable the pillow will be after washing, how quickly it will get dirty again, how long it will last
Wash balls . Put them in the drum. They will fluff up the feathers and the filler will not clump together.
Drum balancing . To do this, add a few old towels and rags to the bags.
Washing powder . A powder with minimal foam formation is suitable.
Double rinse . Feathers and down perfectly absorb not only moisture, but also detergents. Make sure to rinse your pillows thoroughly.
Spin . The advice here is contradictory. Some people recommend turning off the spin cycle. Someone claims that you need to set the maximum speed, then the feathers will dry faster.
Let's think logically. Feathers are not wool; they will not shrink when wrung out. In addition, after washing we will knead the feathers and straighten out all the lumps. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with spinning. On the contrary, there is less risk that the filler will not dry out, suffocate, or become moldy.
On the other hand, with active spinning, the feather rods break and crumble. The greatest confidence is in the golden mean: push up, but choose the lowest speed.
About balls
Judging by the reviews, special laundry balls, although expensive, are not very convenient - they absorb water inside, which is then difficult to get rid of. Instead of special balls, several tennis balls for tennis and massage prickly balls are used. To prevent shedding, each weight is tied into a separate sock of a suitable color.
Balls for washing down products can be easily replaced!
Spiky ball toys from children's stores or for dogs also work well. But they need to be checked for shedding: wrapped in a hot, wet cloth and left for 20 minutes. Also, take out the whistles and weigh them down. For example, lightly stuff it with small stainless steel parts.
Resourceful housewives also use Crocs or rubber flip-flops instead of balls. Or washed potato tubers, better than young ones. In addition, balls of thread are used. At the same time, it is important that the dye of the threads does not fade, therefore, you need to select threads that will match the color of the down jacket. The balls are packaged in men's socks.
Washing whole pillows
In some cases, you can wash feather pillows without packing the filling in small bags. The choice of products, water temperature, washing, spinning and drying modes do not change. The only thing is that it is advisable to add oxygen bleach. The product will wash the cover and it will be like new.
However, there are some nuances here. Firstly, it will not be possible to wash the inside of the pillow properly. At best, it will become a little cleaner. Secondly, a dense bedsheet hardly allows moisture to pass through. So it will take a painfully long time to dry the pillow.
As for technology, here it is.
Whole pillow washing technology
If you put one pillow in the washer, it will unbalance the drum. During the spin cycle, the shock absorbers may even break off. When washing a whole feather pillow, add another item of the same volume to the drum. They will balance each other, and the machine will work as it should.
A pillow measuring 50x70 cm fits in a washing machine with a capacity of 6 kg of laundry. A larger item will shrink in the drum and the pillow will not wash well. The same thing will happen in an automatic machine with a small drum. If your pillow is too big for your machine, you will still have to sew small bags and package the feather.
You can wash whole pillows, but be careful
One more point to consider. Teak shrinks well in hot water. After washing at high temperatures, your napkin may shrink by a third. The pillow will become too dense and the pillowcase will have to be changed.
To prevent streaks from leaving on the case, add 1/3 cup of vinegar to the rinse water.
Handwash
The water temperature is the same as for machine washing. The good news is that you can do without packaging covers. The principle of choosing detergents is similar. For washing you will need a large container - a basin, a baby bath. It is convenient to wash feathers in a regular bath. But you need to take care of a thick mesh for drainage, otherwise feathers and fluff will clog the drain.
Price issue
Surely every housewife who has become acquainted with the benefits of dry pen cleaning is interested in the cost of this procedure. We have already found out that it is not labor-intensive, it requires only 15-30 minutes of time, but its implementation involves the use of a special installation. At the same time, the cost of the service is affordable for most of us, depending on the size of the pillow. So, if you have your own pillowcase, cleaning a standard pillow 70 × 70 cm will cost you an average of 500 rubles; a new pillowcase will increase the cost by 50-70 rubles, depending on the fabric and the quality of the piping. Considering that the procedure should be performed only once every few years, it will not be costly for you.
Features of care
In order for a feather pillow to serve you faithfully, you need to provide it with proper care. Few people know that it needs to be cleaned every five years of operation or simply replaced with a new one. The fact is that down absorbs dust and sweat particles, losing its properties and characteristics. Well, in the end, sleeping on such a pillow becomes simply unhygienic. Surely many of those who sleep on a feather pillow remember with horror how long and tedious the process of wet cleaning is, how long it takes to dry the pillow in the open air. But now you can forget about it. Dry cleaning a pillow is a modern innovative method of removing all contaminants; it is not for nothing that it is also called restoration. In this material we will study in detail all the features of this method.
What is this?
So, dry cleaning of feather pillows is a modern technique, a unique technology that allows you to return the product to its original appearance, rid it of dust, dirt, and unpleasant old odors in the shortest possible time. The procedure requires the use of unique equipment without water and chemicals. Thus, the fastest, safest and most effective method of eliminating contamination today is dry cleaning of feather pillows. Reviews from modern housewives have become the best confirmation of this.
