With Spring Coming, How Do I Store My Down Comforter?

Down bedding is nature’s best insulator and in the winter the cloud like feeling of a down comforter keeping you warm is dreamy. As winter ends and spring starts you should consider storing your heavyweight down comforter until the fall approaches. Storing your down comforter is not hard and will help keep your investment pristine and in heirloom condition for many more winters to come.

The first thing you will want to do is make sure your down comforter is clean. Generally machine washing is the best way to care for your down bedding unless the fabric contains silk or rayon. Usually a twin size or full/double size comforter can be washed in a home washing machine. Queen, king or cal king sizes are probably too big for your washing machine and drying machine so you should take them to a laundry mat with several dollars in quarters. Dry cleaning is an option but it is expensive and some dry cleaners use a chemical which care harm the down in your bedding. Generally a down comforter can be dry cleaned for between $20 and $60 depending on what part of the country you’re in and the availability of quality cleaners. So if you opt for the at home or laundry mat – please make sure to watch the videos on BeddingCare.com for the ‘how to’ part of comforter washing.

Once cleaned – you should fold your comforter usually at the width of two rows of boxes (whether sewn thru or baffle box). Then you can store the comforter in a special storage bag made for comforters (usually a fabric material with a drawstring – much like a sleeping bag holder). You can also take an old flat sheet and wrap the comforter and do a twist tie on the end to keep it secure. You will want to make sure your comforter stays dust free but can also breathe. Do not store the down comforter in an airtight plastic bag. Place the secure comforter in a cool dark environment as heat and light can discolor the fabric at the fold marks. Do not place dryer sheets, mothballs or other like items in the bag with the comforter.

When it gets cold again you can take out the comforter – toss it in the dryer for ½ hour and that should give it a good fluffing and eliminate any trapped moisture from inside the comforter. You can also give the comforter a good sunny airing – just make sure the clothesline or rail the comforter leans on is clean – the sun will help bleach the fabric and make it look brighter (this applies only to white comforters).

When in doubt you can always give your comforter a toss in the dryer to remove moisture and fluff the down. You never want to wash a comforter and not dry it properly – two cycles in the dryer is generally recommended. Airing a down comforter out in the sunlight is a good idea between washings to remove odor and give it a fresh update.

To learn more about storing your down comforter you can visit BeddingCare.com which is a site sponsored by DOWNLITE the country’s largest down bedding manufacturer.