How to Dry a Down Comforter? – Effective Guide

how-to-dry-a-down-comforter

Comforters provide a plush and lavish sensation in bed, serving as a guard against the chilly nights. However, after a period of usage, it becomes necessary to wash them for maintenance of cleanliness. Due to their large size, comforters can pose a challenge to clean and dry. In this tutorial, we have outlined straightforward DIY methods for drying your comforter either in a dryer or by hanging it outdoors.

What You’ll Need?

  • 2-3 tennis balls
  • A dryer
  • Fluffer rings

How to dry down the comforter?

These easy to follow steps will dry your comforter quickly, plus the comforter will be extra snuggly for the best feeling of comfort. Follow these steps;

1. Place the comforter in the dryer

The comforter should be evenly distributed inside the dryer; otherwise, it will become snuggly during the drying process. To make sure that it is evenly distributed, place some tennis balls inside the dryer, and they help in distribution. If you can find tennis balls, you can use fluffer rings or rubber dryer balls as alternatives. They help fluff the comforter up during the drying process.

If you are wondering what dryer size is good for the task, you can use an average-sized dryer, like the one you have. It will handle the task perfectly well. If the comforter is too large for your drying machine, we advise you to take it to the nearest dry cleaner or Laundromat.

2. Use a low heat setting

First, check the care label of your comforter and find out the correct drying heat the fabric can withstand. Most comforters are made of muslin, and they can’t withstand a high heat setting, though a high heat setting will kill and destroy all dust mites. It is best to use a low heat setting even though the comforter will take hours to dry. Plus the dryer and tennis balls may not withstand the high heat setting.

3. Regularly fluff the comforter

To redistribute the fluffy material inside the comforter, you need to take it out every 30 minutes and fluff it. It encourages even drying and it also keeps the comforter aerated. If you are using the high heat setting, which we discourage, taking it out of the dryer helps you check burns on the fabric if any. If you are using a low heat setting, it is unlikely that the fabric will develop any burns. Plus fluffing your comforter during the drying process eliminates that snuggly look in your comforter.

4. Hang it outside

If the weather out there is sunny, take out your comforter after drying and hang it outside for a few hours. Sunlight help destroys dust mites, plus your comforter will be properly aerated by wind preventing cases of mildew on the fabric. Remember to rotate it at 90 degrees and also fluff it every hour to make sure the fill or down don’t collect on one side of the comforter, and it encourages an even drying surface to prevent that snuggly appearance.

If the weather outside is bad, you can hang it indoors, maybe on a drying rack, make sure your drying area is well ventilated. Fluff and rotate it often as instructed above for an even drying surface.

Tips for drying

  • Always fluff and rotate the comforter after 30 minutes to prevent the down or fluff from accumulating on one side.
  • Use tennis balls, as they help fluff the comforter for an even drying
  • Use the low-heat setting to prevent burns on your comforter fabric
  • Hang it outside for a few hours to properly aerate the down comforter, and also, sunlight kills dust mites

Warnings

  • Read the care label that comes with your down comforter and find out the correct drying heat of the fabric
  • Improper drying techniques will distort the down or fluff in addition to allowing mildew to develop

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will a fabric softener hurt my comforter?

Before answering this question, it is worth shedding some light on how a fabric softener works its benefits, and some of its setbacks. Now, a fabric softener works by reducing that static cling in your fabric and the process, making your fabric softer. It creates a waxy film on your fabric, and this waxy film is what gives your fabric that soft smell since most fabric softeners are scented. Another good question is when to use your fabric softener? Here are a few instances;

Maintaining appearance – fabric softeners help make the fabric more elastic giving them a good appearance.

When washing with hard water – especially if you use municipal water for cleaning, fabric softeners help eliminate the hard water effects like staining on white clothes.

Washing bed linen – they help the bed linen fabric smell good and feel extra soft for comfort.

Now, fabric softeners have some setbacks when it comes to washing your down comforters. One setback is that the waxy film coating locks in sweat and it makes your down comforter dirty and also smelly. A good fabric should wick the sweat away for even drying. Another setback is that a fabric softener coats down the down or fluff, reducing their fluffy appearance.  Your comforter becomes less fluffy over time, and it takes a toll on its comfort. In conclusion, we think it is best to avoid a fabric softener when washing your comforter with a fabric softener.

2. How can I remove the musty smell from a down comforter?

You only have two options for this problem, you either wash the down comforter completely (Have in mind that our next article shows you how to wash your down comforter) or hang it in a well-aerated place, it can be indoors or outdoors. We highly discourage you from washing your comforter frequently as it reduces its fluffy appearance over time. If you feel that you must wash your comforter regularly, then we advise you to place it inside a duvet cover. You should only wash your down comforter once every two years for it to last. As for drying your down comforter, follow the steps above, and drying ensures that your comforter stays smell free and also helps kill dust mites. Watch this video for more info.

3. How do I fix a down comforter that was washed at home and is now extremely flat?

We can tell from your statement that often clean your down comforter, or worse, you used a fabric softener when cleaning your comforter. Avoid cleaning your comforter frequently, it is recommended to clean it once every two years. Fabric softeners cause the fluff or feathers to clump and lose their fluffiness. The good news is that we came up with steps to bring back the fluffiness in your down comforter. Follow these steps;

  • Pour some detergent into a washing machine, detergents help eliminate the waxy film in the feathers
  • Place the down comforter inside the washing machine
  • Use the warm temperature setting and rinse in two cycles using the knob controls
  • Dry the comforter using the low heat setting, and use tennis balls to fluff the feathers
  • Remove the comforter every 30 minutes and fluff it up
  • Your comforter will regain its fluffiness when it’s fully dry

Final Verdict

The key to maintaining your down comforter’s fluffiness is by following these steps above when drying it. Also, limit washing it to once every two years or even monthly, depending on the frequency of use. In this case, we recommend that you place it inside a duvet cover if you must wash it frequently. Please share your experiences with us and we hope this article was helpful to you. Also, check out our next article titled, how to wash a down comforter.