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» How to clean fluff from a pillow. How to wash a feather pillow at home - hand and machine wash steps

How to clean fluff from a pillow. How to wash a feather pillow at home - hand and machine wash steps

Everyone knows how sweet sleeping on a soft, fluffy and fresh pillow is. Thanks to the latest technological developments, we are offered several types of fillers. Everyone has their own requirements for a pillow for sleeping, but feather filling has remained the most relevant for centuries. Consider whether it is possible to wash a feather pillow, how to do it correctly?

A bird feather is a traditional pillow filler.

Naturally filled pillows have important feature- durability, hygroscopy, air permeability, thermoregulation. To maintain all of these characteristics, proper care is needed. Natural filler is able to absorb dust and sweat.

Feathers are usually combined with down to increase softness and reduce weight.

There is a high risk that ticks can start, which cause a number of pathologies, and cause health problems:

  • asthma;
  • allergic reaction;
  • bronchitis;
  • migraine, etc.

The question of how to wash a feather pillow at home remains the most relevant. It is necessary to regularly follow all the rules of hygiene, drying and washing.

For bedding, the feather of waterfowl is used - ducks, geese, eiders, swans.

Important! The frequency of general cleaning of products from natural fluff is 1-2 times a year. Frequent cleaning of feathers leads to their destruction and a decrease in the life of the feathers.

The advantages of such pillows are - affordable price, hygroscopicity and breathability.

How to properly prepare a feather pad for cleaning

When starting the filler cleaning procedure, you need to know that wet cleaning is carried out in two ways:

  • in the washing machine;
  • handwash.

They must be cleaned once a year.

For the procedure in the washing machine, purchase covers made of thick cotton fabric in advance. You can make them yourself at home.

In any case, the entire product cannot be processed.

Let's decide on the size of the bags:

  1. Let's measure the length of the pillow.
  2. The length of the cover should be doubled, but the width remains the same.
  3. You will need 2-3 covers for one pillow.

When preparing for a machine wash, it is necessary to sew several covers of chintz or other fine cotton fabric without holes.

Before putting the pillow into the drum, carry out a few simple steps:

  1. Knock out the pillow with a clapper, ridding it of dust.
  2. Carefully rip open one edge of the filler case.
  3. Transfer the contents to the prepared bags, each of which is half full.
  4. Sew up the free edges of the covers.
  5. Place in the washing machine and turn on the delicate cycle or hand wash.

It is better not to use standard powder, as its particles are difficult to rinse out and may remain in the pillow filler.

Helpful advice! The pillow naper should be knocked out well and washed separately. Perfect option- replace the napernik with a new one.

You can sew a new cover made of thick fabric.

Washing a pillow in an automatic machine

For washing, use only gel detergents intended for delicate fabrics. It is not recommended to use powder detergent.

Suitable preparations for washing down and feathers are gel detergents for delicate fabrics or special detergents for natural fibers.

Place tennis balls or special soft balls with spikes in the drum. As you wash the feathers, they can prevent clumps from falling off.

During its operation, the balls "beat" the product, removing all impurities. When cleaning the feather filler, they prevent it from falling into one lump.

Important! Do not wash feathers in hot water... The maximum temperature is +30 degrees. Spin revolutions - minimal or generally rejected.

Ideal if the machine is equipped with a "Duvet" function.

Hand wash pillows

The washing procedure is considered more laborious. feather pillow hands.

The manual method is more laborious than processing in a washing machine.

Action steps:

  • pour water heated to 30 * C into the bathroom or large basin;
  • add gel detergent and stir by hand;
  • unstrap the pillowcase on one side and transfer the contents into a container with water;
  • soak and leave for 4 hours;
  • Collect part of the filler with a large colander, rinse gently under a tap with running water and transfer to a dry container. Do this with all filler.
  • change the water in the basin or bath, add again detergent;
  • transfer the feathers to the prepared container and rub them with your hands;
  • repeat the procedure with a colander, thoroughly rinsing the feathers under running water.
  • squeeze moisture out with your hands.

This method allows you to control each step and avoid damage to the filler.

Helpful information! Pillows filled with swan down are recommended to be washed by hand if the machine does not have the “wash swan down” function.

If it is not possible to select the minimum spin, it is better to turn it off.

Steam cleaning

One of the cleaning methods is steam. To do this, you need a steam cleaner or a regular iron with a steam function.

A little-known care method for feather pillows.

  • Fasten the pillow in an upright position.
  • Steam the surface of the product on both sides.
  • Repeat the procedure 3 more times with an interval of 10-15 minutes.
  • Hang dry in the sun.
  • After drying, spread the filler by hand.

Steam cleaning, while not like washing, will still keep your bedding safe and refreshed.

Steam cleaning is not a complete wash. She will only secure and update the products. Dust mites, microorganisms and bacteria die under the influence of steam. The pillow becomes clean, fresh and pleasantly scented.

The hot air of the steam generator has a detrimental effect on microorganisms, bacteria, dust mites.

Proper drying of pillows after washing is an important step in hygiene.

We have already studied the peculiarities of washing down and feathers. An equally important step in the hygiene procedure is proper drying of the filler. Feathers should not be left wet - the filler sticks together, grows moldy and gets bad smell... How to do it right?

It is important to completely rid the feathers of moisture. Otherwise, fungi and pathogens will begin to multiply in them.

  • Drying in clean air. This procedure can only be carried out on warm summer days. Use your hands to crush the lumps and place them in fabric bags. Hang in the shade so that the wind blows from all sides. Drying feathers in the sun can cause the feathers to lose their firmness and structure. Shake and knead feathers in pouches periodically - improves ventilation.
  • Drying on a heating battery. The pillow takes on a scent of freshness in the cold. But frost can only kill germs, not dry out the fluff. Therefore, in winter time it is better to dry pillows on batteries.
  • Drying indoors. The most correct method if you have a spare room. It is recommended to thoroughly ventilate the room before drying. On a vertical surface, lay a moisture-absorbent cloth folded in several layers. Spread out the feathers in a thin layer and stir occasionally with your hands.
  • Fill the filler with dried feathers and sew the edge.

The best time of the year to wash your feather pillows is summer. Thanks to high temperature the moisture will evaporate quickly and the product will dry in 1-2 days.

Helpful information! Along with the dried feathers, you can add some hops to the filler. Its smell has a calming effect on the nervous system and promotes healthy sleep.

Knowing how to properly clean and dry the feather filling of a pillow can extend its useful life.

In order for the feather filling of your favorite pillow to be able to delight with its aroma for a long time and give a good and healthy sleep, you need to adhere to simple recommendations:

Whisk the product once a day. It is better to do this in the morning, so that the filler will regain its shape during the day.

  1. Beat the pillow with your hands every morning after sleep - it contributes to the saturation of oxygen and the elasticity of the feathers.
  2. Ventilate products in dry weather at least 2 times a month. Do not place in direct sunlight! In the winter season, ventilate for several hours outdoors.
  3. Remove dust from the pillow periodically by beating with a flat plastic clapper on both sides.
  4. Do not store the product in plastic bags. For this purpose, it is recommended to use a cover made of natural fabric.
  5. To avoid contamination of the pillowcase, it is recommended to use an additional calico pillowcase.
  6. Do not lie on a pillow with wet hair - moisture quickly destroys the structure of the fluff.
  7. Dirty feathers contain harmful bacteria. If the pillow has been stored in the attic or closet for a long time, do not rush to use it. It is recommended to open the pillowcase and make sure that the filler and the pillowcase have not been infected with fungus.
  8. The result improper care behind the feather filler is an accumulation of microscopic mites that are dangerous to health.

Thorough cleaning of the feather at least once a year is a must-have item for the care of pillows.

Important! Pathogens are found in the saliva and sweat of a sick person. They are easily absorbed into the hygroscopic fluff, causing a relapse of the disease. Therefore, the sick person's pillow must be steam treated.

conclusions

Compliance with simple recommendations and rules for the care of feather filler allows you to maintain health, well-being and healthy sleep for all family members. If it is not possible to wash feathers at home, then it is better to use dry cleaning services.

If it is not possible to wash at home, it is advisable to dry-clean the pillow.

The filler is placed in a special machine, the down and feathers are effectively cleaned in a detergent disinfectant solution and treated with hot steam. As a result of this procedure, all dust mites die. For the destruction of bacteria and pathogenic microbes, a quartzing and intensive air cleaning procedure follows.

Professionals will clean and disinfect the fluff, and then fill it with a new pillowcase.

VIDEO: How to machine wash down pillows.

VIDEO: Washing feather pillows at home.

The most common type of pillows are down and feathers. They are found in almost every home. Such products are very comfortable and soft, the filler in them, unlike synthetic ones, does not "fall off" and does not collect into lumps.

But products made of such material quickly accumulate dust in themselves, and bacteria easily multiply in them, which is harmful to human health. That is why you need to know how you can wash a feather pillow at home.

What to do with old feather pillows

Unlike chicken feather pillows, a duck or goose feather pillow will last up to 50 years.

Nowadays, the choice of pillows is very wide. You can purchase a downy item, feather item, or bamboo item. Each type of filler has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The most significant disadvantage of feather and down pillows is that, in the absence of proper care, they become a breeding ground for mites, bacteria and dust. This is why feather fillers need to be cleaned regularly.

However, you should be aware that after a certain time you will have to get rid of the pillow, because it will be unusable. The shelf life of such products depends on whose feather they are filled with.

If it is a goose or duck feather, then you can use such a pillow for a very long time - up to 50 years. When chicken feathers are present in the "filling" of the product, then after 5-7 years it is better to get rid of it, since the filler will become unusable.

Where to clean your down pillows


Due to the nature of the filler, cleaned down or feather pillows can be used for no more than six months. After this period has expired, they will have to be washed again.

You can clean a pillow with such a filler both at home and in a dry cleaner, a laundry or a special salon where they are engaged in the restoration of pillows.

Tidying up a pillow at home is not as difficult as it seems, but it will take a long time to process it yourself. In addition, after washing, the filler dries for a long time, and the cleaning process will take a long time.

If you have free time, you can do everything you need at home. For those who do not want to "stretch" this process the best option will be treated to dry cleaning.

How much does it cost to dry clean a feather pillow

In specialized dry cleaners and laundries, you can be offered two types of washing - dry and wet.


  • Wash with organic detergents. The feather is removed from the pillow, placed in a reservoir and treated with a special solution. Thanks to this, all bacteria, microorganisms and foreign odors are destroyed in the filler. The feather is then washed and dried.
  • Dry cleaning (also called air cleaning) is the treatment of the filler with air or hot steam, as well as UV radiation. The feather is blown through to restore the volume of the product, and dust and debris are removed. At the same time, ultraviolet light is being processed - this allows you to destroy all bacteria. After the cleaning has been carried out, fill the new bedclothes with a cleaned feather.

Chicken feather pillows are preferably dry cleaned.

The cost of dry cleaning services directly depends on the size of the pillow. The larger it is, the higher the price will be. On average, the price varies between 400-500 rubles. Plus, the old pillow case will have to be thrown away, and you will pay extra for a new case.

How to clean down pillows at home

If you do not trust dry cleaners, you can always do the work yourself, without extra money.

How do I clean my feather pillows? First you need to determine which feather and down of which birds are stuffed with products. If this is a chicken feather, then it would be better to go to a dry cleaner, focusing the attention of employees on the need to dry clean, without using steam. Otherwise, the feathers may simply crumble into fibers.

But if the feather is a goose or duck feather, feel free to get to work yourself. You can clean your feather pillow filler by hand or machine wash.

Handwash


Goose or duck feather pillows can be cleaned with laundry soap and ammonia.

To clean your pillow effectively, you first need to decide which detergent you will use.

It can be laundry soap with ammonia (half a piece of soap is rubbed on a grater, dissolves in one bucket of water, and two teaspoons of ammonia are added there).


If you don't want to mess around with the preparation of such a solution, use a detergent for washing woolen fabrics. The work must be performed in the following sequence:

  • Unpick the pillow, and in parts immerse the filler, laid out in bags, into the prepared solution. This must be done carefully, tightly tying the bags, otherwise light fluff will scatter throughout the room.
  • After all the fluff is immersed in the liquid, stir it slightly with your hands and leave to soak for 4-6 hours.
  • Then remove the filler from the cleaning solution and rinse with clean water. It is better to do this with the help of a shower. If you want to give your feathers a scent, you can treat them with fabric softener before the final rinse.
  • Spread the feathers to dry flat surface in a well-ventilated area and cover with cheesecloth. The feather will take a long time to dry, usually several days.
  • Sew the dried, clean fluff into a new pillowcase.

Remember that you need to wait until the feather is completely dry, and only then lay it out on the napkins. Otherwise, excess moisture will spoil the filler, and it will be impossible to fix the situation.

Machine wash


It is recommended to wash the pillow piece by piece, after placing the feather in the covers.

With the help of a typewriter, it is possible to wash the pillow without disassembling it. The main condition is that it must be in a special case. If this is not done, there is a great risk that the pillowcase will burst and the fluff will clog the working parts of the machine.

The washing quality of the "whole" pillow is not very high, and you can count on a good result only if the feather is not very dirty. If the filler has managed to "collect" a large amount of dust, it is better to open the pillow and place the feathers on the fabric bags for the duration of washing and drying.


It is necessary to wash the pillows in the machine in the “delicate wash” mode and at a temperature not exceeding 40C.

When washing, adhere to the following rules:

  • use only special liquid detergents for woolen fabrics or down products;
  • wash in a "delicate" mode;
  • use the extra rinse and spin function;
  • after rinsing, leave the bags with filler in the drum for 30-40 minutes to allow excess moisture to the glass.

Machine wash is good because after it the filler dries much faster.

Sleeping on a clean, freshly washed pillow is very pleasant. And it doesn't matter what you will do for this - wash the product yourself, or entrust the work to professionals.

Well no

Experts advise cleaning the pillows at least once a year, and it is better to do this every four to five months. The bottom line is that keratinized skin particles, hair, dirt and bacteria collect in the pillows. All this leads to the development of dust mites and microbes in the products. To prevent this, pillows need to be cleaned regularly.

If the pillow is not cleaned correctly, it may lose its pristine shape. Therefore, you should provide safe and high-quality care, depending on the filler material:

  1. Down and feathers are the most popular pillow fillings. Down is one of the varieties of feathers, therefore it is necessary to wash both those and other things in the same way. You can do this with your own hands, using steaming, or in an automatic washing machine.
  2. Nowadays, bamboo bedding is becoming more and more popular. They are very comfortable and safe, do not cause an allergic reaction and are characterized by high aesthetics. In addition, these things are very easy to care for. The bamboo product should be washed entirely by hand or in a washing machine. In this case, the water should have a temperature of no more than forty degrees. You can use a shampoo, gel, or other liquid fabric product. But it is not recommended to use chlorine-containing and powder mixtures. It is forbidden to wring out pillows with such filler.
  3. Products made of holofiber, latex and synthetic winterizer must be washed with a special detergent designed for synthetics. To do this, start the delicate mode and select a temperature of up to forty degrees Celsius. After the procedure, the product must be thoroughly squeezed out, because synthetic fabrics effectively absorb moisture into their structure.

Cleaning down and feather products by hand

To clean the pillow at home, you need to take gauze bags or gauze cloth, conditioner, brand new naperniki and a product intended for washing wool. Then the product is cut and the fluff or feathers are taken out, laying them out in separate bags that will need to be sewn up.

In water with a temperature of forty to fifty degrees, you need to add a cleaning agent and carefully wash the gauze bags where feathers or fluff have already been placed. Then the products need to be rinsed several times in cold water... Conditioner can be added during the last rinse.

After that, the bags need to be squeezed out and dried for heating radiator or the street. When drying, the filler must be turned over and whipped from time to time.

After the down and feathers are completely dry, you can put them in a brand new pillowcase, which you need to sew up and put on a washed pillowcase. If washing is done by hand, then you do not need to use gauze bags, but put the material in a soapy solution so that individual feathers and fluffs do not stick to each other.

Then the filler should be soaked for a couple of hours, after which the soapy water should be drained with a colander and the filler should be rinsed under running water. Then it must be washed again and rinsed again.

To dry the fluff, it can be neatly laid out on a newspaper sheet and left for several hours. Drying must be sufficient, otherwise mold can form in the pillow.

Washing by hand is a rather laborious and painstaking process. But it can be used to clean the filler material of a pillow or blanket very well. Bacteria, mites and other pests will disappear completely with this method of washing, and the hostess will not need to think about how to sew a duvet at home.

Washing in an automatic machine

In an automatic machine, pillows with feathers and down are washed in the same way as with manual way. For this purpose, the napert is unpicked, and the filler is placed in gauze bags.

Only in this case the bags are placed in the machine. Washing is carried out using a delicate mode and at a temperature of no more than forty degrees. Spinning should be carried out at a minimum speed.

In this case, you need to use exclusively wool products and add conditioner for rinsing. If you need to wash the product completely, then you need to put it in a special bag and activate the delicate mode with a low temperature and speed.

It should be noted that this washing method can also be used for pillows with holofiber, padding polyester and bamboo. After thoroughly wringing out products with down or feathers, you need to steam and change the pillowcase. Pillows with other filling materials can be dried completely.

Steaming features

Use of a steam generator or manual steamer - perfect solution, allowing you to clean and smooth the pillow in literally twenty to thirty minutes. it great option for those who do not know how to clean a down pillow at home.

These devices can be used for the following materials:

  • complex;
  • thin;
  • delicate.

They perfectly clean fabrics, eliminate viruses and mites from surfaces. In addition, unpleasant odors from old utensils can be removed by steaming.

For this purpose, the equipment must be filled with clean water. After that, the product must be hung in an upright position. The surface must be treated a couple of times on each side.

Then the product needs to be dried, straightened inside the filler material and put on the washed pillowcase. Steaming helps to secure and clean the pillowcase and filler.

You can also take the product to a dry cleaner, where you can clean the feather pillows. There, the product is not only professionally cleaned, but also restoration if necessary. Pillows of old models definitely require replacement of the pillowcase and filler.

Correct and timely care of bedding is a guarantee of the health and safety of all households, as well as a guarantee of the durability of the pillows. They will always be comfortable and soft.

You can use two calico pillowcases to reduce the amount of dirt on the pillows. Before putting on a new napernik on the product, the material must be washed in advance with laundry soap and dried thoroughly. In this case, the feather base will remain safe and hygienic for a long time.

Attention, only TODAY!

A pillow is one of the most common household items, life without which for most people is not possible. Many people choose products with natural fillings and, as a rule, these are feather pillows. However, they need proper care, which will allow them to be preserved for many years and save the family budget.

Can feather pillows be washed

Yes, they can be washed both by hand and using a washing machine at home or in specialized salons.

How to wash a feather pillow at home

Before you start washing, you need to consider which feathers are used as filler. If these are chicken feathers, then it is better not to wash them at home, but to take them to a specialized salon or dry cleaner, focusing on dry cleaning without the use of steam. If the pillows are filled with goose or duck feathers, you can wash them yourself.

Handwash

For this procedure, any complex liquid detergent or gel for washing from a store is suitable (for example: Ariel, Laska, Persil, Losk, BiMax and others). It will not be superfluous to add a stain remover and / or conditioner (Vernel, Vanish, etc.). Or you can wash it in the old fashioned way - with a solution of laundry soap and ammonia in the ratio of two teaspoons to about 100 g of a grated bar of soap.

It is necessary to wash the pillow in the following sequence:

  • unpick the pillow, arrange the feathers in parts into bags in the prepared solution, after tying them tightly;
  • after immersing all the filler in the liquid, stir it and leave to soak for four to six hours;
  • when time has passed, remove the filler from the solution and rinse with cold clean water;
  • to dry the feathers, you need to spread them on a flat surface in a ventilated area, covered with a gauze cloth, and then wait a few days (stirring occasionally) until dry;
  • Sew the dry filler into a new pillowcase.

Is it possible to wash a feather pillow in a washing machine

Pillows with feather filling can be easily washed in the washing machine, the main thing is that the feathers are inside the pillowcase, or packaged in special covers so that the filler does not scatter throughout the washing machine and spoil it, clogging everything that is possible.

How to machine wash feather pillows

If the feather pillow fits entirely into the drum, then it can be washed without removing the filler. It is optimal to wash two at once, but at the same time at least 1/3 of the empty space should remain in the drum. Otherwise, you will have to open the product, take out the filler and place it in separate fabric bags. It is recommended to knock out the pillow before washing.

  • use detergents for washing delicate fabrics without conditioner and rinse aid;
  • the water temperature during washing and rinsing should not exceed 40 degrees;
  • the number of rinses should not exceed three, and the number of drum revolutions - 500;
  • after rinsing, leave what has been washed in the washing machine for 30 - 40 minutes so that the glass has excess moisture;
  • If you put 2-3 tennis balls (or rubber of a similar size) in the drum, then during the wash they will break the collected feathers and release the stuck dirt and dust lumps.

How to wash a feather pillow

You need to wash the feather pillow in the Delicate wash mode so that it does not deteriorate, or use the Duvet mode if there is one in the washing machine.

How to dry a feather pillow after washing

After excess moisture from the glass pillow, you need to get it out and place it on a flat surface, periodically turning it over to the other side for even drying. Or you can pick it up on a clothesline with clothespins and wait a day until it dries, periodically turning it over and whipping it so that the feathers are fluffy. Washing in a washing machine on an automatic mode is better because after it the feathers dry out faster than with a manual method.

How to dry feathers from a pillow

If the feathers were washed separately in cloth bags, then the procedure is similar to that applied to drying the pillow, but it will take much less time: 12 - 14 hours, after which the dry filler can be sewn into a new pillowcase.

Can feather pillows be taken out in the cold

But drying a wet product in the cold is not recommended. It is best to schedule your wash for the warmer months and dry your pillow in the sun.

Feather pillow cleaning, restoration

In addition, you can clean and renew your pillow to wash it, which will save time drying the wet filler. Cleaning is recommended every six months.

Where to clean feather pillows

You can clean them at home, or you can take them to specialized salons or dry cleaners, where they can be processed. special means and pour over.

How are feather pillows cleaned in specialist salons

Specialized salons or dry cleaners may use the following cleaning methods:

  1. Chemical. During dry cleaning, the filler is removed from the pillow and processed in a solvent that removes dust mites, dirt, dust and removes foreign odors. After that, the feathers are dried and ventilated from the solution, which can damage the feathers in some cases.
  2. Dry cleaning. With this method, the filler is cleaned with a strong air flow.
  3. Using ultraviolet light. When using UV, all living organisms, as well as waste products, are guaranteed to be destroyed.

After cleaning, the filler is sewn into new naperniki and the result is a clean and soft pillow.

How much does it cost to clean a feather pillow

The cost of cleaning feather pillows in specialized salons, on average in Russia, costs from 250 to 400 rubles per unit. The price may differ depending on the type of cleaning, the region of residence and the company itself, which carries out this procedure.

How to clean feather pillows at home

To clean a feather pillow at home, you can vacuum it. This will help remove dust mite dust from the surface and a little from the filler, but everything inside will remain practically unchanged. It is advisable to pre-pop the pillow, which will help to clean it of dust from the inside, but this will not completely remove it. At home, this can only be done by washing in the washing machine or by hand, or by professional cleaning in the salon.

In order for a feather pillow to serve its life well, it is necessary to properly care for it. It is worth adhering to the following recommendations:

  • beat every morning so that it is soft and fluffy;
  • ventilate regularly;
  • wash two or three times a year, as feathers absorb sweat and other secretions well, which makes it smell bad;
  • the life span is five to six years, after which you need to buy a new one or take it for restoration.

How to remove odor from a feather pillow

To remove the smell, try airing (frying) it in the sun, washing it, or dry-cleaning it.

Since feathers are a natural filler, it absorbs organic secretions well; for people with increased sweating, it is better to buy products with synthetic or bamboo fillers.

Smell from a new feather pillow

If the bad smell comes from new feather pillows, then there are several options to remedy the situation:

  1. If the receipts are safe, return them to the store.
  2. You can try to ventilate the product.
  3. Wash.

Feathers are coming out of the pillow, what to do

When the pillow becomes thin, feathers begin to creep out of the pillow. In this case, you need to replace the pillowcase, or put on a new one over the old one.

To care for your feather pillow, go to a specialist salon, or you can do it yourself. Washing, cleaning, restoration - all this will help to extend its lifespan and avoid unpleasant odors or developing allergies to dust mites, dust or feathers themselves, which is important. Correct care- this is the guarantee of life for any thing.

« How do I clean a feather pillow?”- this is the question asked by housewives who did not manage to give up such a sleeping item in favor of modern synthetic pillows. The reason for this may be a banal financial impossibility to purchase a new item of home comfort.

Why should you regularly clean your pillows stuffed with feathers or down? Among the main reasons, we highlight the fact that:

  • dense feathers and fluff over time knock into lumps under constant mechanical stress, as well as due to incoming moisture;
  • If you do not routinely clean down or feather pillows, ticks can start in them;
  • feathers and down easily collect dust and dirt, which also requires regular cleaning.

Now that we are convinced of the need for routine cleaning of feather pillows, we can begin to analyze the ways how to do this at home quickly, easily and effectively.

How to manually clean a feather pillow at home

Cleaning a pillow filled with feathers and down at home is best done by hand. There are several reasons for this:

  • so you definitely do not run the risk of clogging the filters of the washing machine with fine fluff and household appliance in disrepair;
  • cleaning feathers and down will be more complete and reliable.

Before proceeding directly to washing feather pillows, there are a few more important points to clarify.

Many housewives are interested in how best to clean a feather pillow: whole or by removing the contents? In favor of the latter option is at least the fact that washing even a small pillow of feathers entirely is sometimes beyond the power of even an adult strong man. This is because wet feathers increase in weight several times. Therefore, we will definitely clean the parts of the pillow separately.

It may also be a legitimate question to ask which feather pillows can be washed and damp-cleaned? Everything is simple here: you can only clean those pillows that were made from feathers of waterfowl. Any other feathers, especially chicken feathers, will become hard under the influence of water, and after drying they will turn into dust. Throw away the chicken feather pillow.

When we have figured out the basic questions, you can start to manually clean the feather pillow at home.

Choose warm seasons and sunny windy days for routine cleaning and cleaning of pillows and other feather and down sleeping items. If you are interested in where exactly it is better to clean the feather pillow, then the easiest way is to go to the country.

  1. First of all, we need to prepare a soapy solution. To do this, rub a bar of odorless laundry soap on a medium or coarse grater, and then mix with hot water and a teaspoon of ammonia. To speed up the cleaning process, prepare several of these solutions in separate basins.
  2. Now we remove the pillow from the pillowcase, and then rip the pillowcase with scissors neatly and along the seam, so that later it will be possible to restore the item.
  3. Distribute the feathers and down from the pillow in portions over the prepared basins with soapy water.
  4. The feathers will be soaking for the next two or three hours. You can spend this period usefully by sewing original bags from gauze folded in several layers.
  5. Now you need to rub the feathers together, and it is better not to do this with gloves, no matter how sorry the skin of your hands is. Then the fluff and feathers need to be rinsed under a not too strong pressure of running water, for which you can use a sieve or colander. The best way to rinse fluff is with a shower head.
  6. After you have thoroughly rinsed the pillow fill with water, allow the feathers to dry out a bit. Then down and feathers must also be distributed in portions on gauze bags and hung out to dry in the open air. It is most convenient to hang gauze bags not vertically, like ordinary linen, but horizontally between two cables.
  7. When feathers become light again, they must be completely dried in a well-ventilated area, or the structure of vertically hung gauze bags should be left as is. In this case, it is necessary to mix feathers and down in gauze at least 4-5 times a day.
  8. The last step will be to wash the pillowcase and pillowcase, which should not be difficult. Just wash the items according to the type of fabric.
  9. When both the feathers and bedclothes are dry, fill in a clean, fresh cloth with the same clean feathers and sew tightly where you ripped open in the second step.

Despite the fact that this method seems to be long and laborious, it is the most effective and correct one. A feather pillow cleaned in this way at home will not lose volume, it will remain as soft and pleasant to the touch. It is recommended to carry out routine cleaning of the sleeping item at least once a year.

Machine wash

Machine washable feather pillow is also possible and, in fact, it is practically no different from the previous method. Of course, this method will require less time and effort, but fraught with other problems.

In order to properly and quickly clean a feather pillow in a washing machine at home, it is also necessary to divide the sleeping object into feathers and a pillowcase. In addition to the fact that we need gauze bags for feathers and fluff, we also need to protect the filter of the washing machine from getting into it insignificant parts of feathers. To do this, you must purchase a special drum cover. The washing process is as follows:

  • put gauze bags with a small number of feathers in the washing machine;
  • instead of soap solution and powder, we will use washing liquid;
  • we set the minimum speed and the lightest spin, so as not to damage the feathers and down;
  • we also install a second rinse and be sure to add an air conditioner;
  • dry gauze bags with feathers in a well-ventilated area, but it is advisable to avoid direct sunlight on feathers and down;
  • we wash the napert, and then fill it with cleaned and dried feathers.

After such a wash, be sure to make sure that there are no feathers and fluff left in the machine, if possible, disassemble the filter. Such cleaning, although it will require less effort from you, can lead to damage to the household item.

An alternative to home cleaning your feather pillows is dry cleaning. There the feathers will be cleaned and dried correctly and efficiently. Most often, dry cleaners use not wet, but dry cleaning of feather pillows. Cleaning also involves a complete replacement of the pillowcase, after which you become the owner of a practically new and completely clean feather pillow.

Despite all the love for feather pillows, many doctors recommend abandoning such a sleeping object and using only synthetic sleeping objects in everyday life. This is because, according to statistics, people who use feather-filled pillows get much worse sleep than those who sleep on pillows made of other materials.

In any case, both feather and synthetic pillows must be kept clean and tidy!