A comforter provides warmth, softness and protection from harsh cold at night, enabling one to have a sweet sleep. However, for hygiene purposes, comforters need to be washed after being used for a specific time or with a heavy user. Their large size also pose some challenge especially when cleaning and drying the product. Here, we share some simple do-it-yourself steps on how to dry your comforter either in the dryer or air-dry outdoors.
What You’ll Need?
- 2-3 tennis balls
- A dryer
- Fluffer rings
How to Dry Down the Comforter?
Following these simple steps will help you dry your comforter early, and it will also make the comforter feel extra cozy and comfortable. Follow these steps;
1. Place the comforter in the dryer
The comforter must be spread out inside the dryer because, if it is not, it will end up becoming too snug 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 cannot find tennis balls, fluffer rings or rubber dryer balls can also be used in this process. They also assist in the fluffing of the comforter as it dries.
The size of a dryer that is suitable for the task can be an average dryer like the one you are using. It will also suffice to handle the task, meaning that you can depend on it to produce perfect work. In case the comforter does not fit your drying machine, it is recommended that you take the item to the nearest dry cleaner or a Laundromat.
2. Use a low heat setting
First, wash the comforter and read the tag to know the allowable drying temperature of the fabric of the comforter. Most comforters are made from muslin and they are not able to accommodate a high heat setting, however, a high heat setting will effectively eliminate all dust mites, dead or alive. Despite the fact that it will take hours for the comforter to dry, it is advisable to use low heat and power. Secondly, the dryer and tennis balls may not endure the heat setting as they also have a limit to what they can handle.
3. Regularly fluff the comforter
For the purpose of adjusting the fluffy material inside the comforter, it has to be taken out at least every half an hour and then fluffed. It promotes proper drying and also ensures that the comforter gets adequate ventilation. Well, if you are using the high heat setting, which is not advisable, taking it out of the dryer allows you to check whether or not there are burns on the fabric. When using a low heat setting, there is a small chance that the fabric will start to burn. Not only does fluffing your comforter during the drying process reduce its capability to snuggle in your bed; it also hinders the development of that soft look in your comforter.
4. Hang it outside
If the weather outside is sunny, after washing and drying, take your comforter outside and let it air for several hours. Sunlight helps destroy dust mites, and your comforter will be flicked by the wind to ensure that no mildewed cases happen on the fabric. What is needed is to turn it at 90 degrees and also, to fluff it every hour to ensure the fill or down doesn’t settle at one place of the comforter and also to facilitate an even surface so as not to acquire that snuggly appearance.
If you feel that the weather is not favorable for hanging then you can do so inside the house using something like a drying rack, make sure that the place where you are drying the clothes is well-aired. Tumble it and turn it over frequently as indicated above to ensure that the fabric dries evenly.
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?
To answer this question, one may require additional information on how a fabric softener works and, consequently, its advantages and disadvantages. Now, a fabric softener helps to reduce that static cling in the fabric and the process, making the fabric softer. It forms a waxy layer on your fabric, and this waxy layer is what imparts that nice smell to your fabrics since most of the fabric softeners are scented. In addition to the earlier question, an appropriate question is: at what stage do you use your fabric softener? Here are a few instances;
Maintaining appearance – fabric softeners help make the fabric more elastic giving it 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 make the bed linen fabric have a pleasant smell besides making the fabric comfortably smooth.
Now, fabric softeners have some setbacks when it comes to washing your down comforters. However, one disadvantage of using the waxy film coating is that the sweat gets trapped by the film, and the down comforter gets soaked and stinks. An ideal material should pull the sweat to ensure even drying. Another disadvantage is that a fabric softener layers the down or fluff, making them less fluffy and full. Your comforter ends up being flattened and it loses that fluffy look and feel which makes it uncomfortable. Therefore to be on the safe side we advise that one should avoid using the fabric softener on the comforter during laundry.
2. How can I remove the musty smell from a down comforter?
For this problem, you only have two choices: washing the down comforter in its entirety (Bear in mind that the next article from us will guide you in washing your down comforter) or removing the comforter and hanging it in a good air circulation area whether indoors or outdoors. When you wash the comforter often, it loses the gentleness that it has once in a while so we advise you not to wash it too often. However, if you have to wash your comforter frequently, then we recommend that you wash it using a duvet cover. It must only be washed once every two years for it to stand the longevity test, according to your advice. Regarding down comforter drying, follow the same procedure as mentioned above, drying is important for the elimination of smell and killing of dust mites.
3. How do I fix a down comforter that was washed at home and is now extremely flat?
From your statement alone, we can deduce that sometimes you wash your down comforter, or at other times you may have used fabric softener on your comforter. It is advisable not to wash your comforter often; you only need to wash it after two years. Fabric softeners lead to the coagulation of the fluff or feathers and loss of fluff or sponginess. The good news is that we suggested steps that would assist us to regain the fluffiness of 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
When drying your down comforter, do so following the steps outlined above to preserve the fluffiness of your down comforter. Also, washing it should be done averagely once after about 2 years or even monthly depending on how often it is used. If you frequently wash it, then the best place would be inside a duvet cover for proper shielding of the contents. We would love to hear from you, so please do not hesitate to share your experiences with us and we hope this article was useful to you. Also, do not miss our next post with the title, how to wash a down comforter.
