Helpful Tips on How to Wash a Feather Pillow at Home
A sound sleep is the key to well-being. One of the factors for a comfortable sleep is a comfortable, soft and clean pillow. The classic version of the pillow filler is feathers.
This natural material is quite demanding on the way of caring for it, but it will adequately reward all the efforts made with a long service life, thermal insulation properties, and an ergonomic shape.
Read about how to wash feather pillows at home and not spoil them in the article.
Content
Can this be done?
The recommended washing frequency for pillows is twice a year. Frequent water treatments adversely affect the condition of the filler, deteriorating its quality.
There are two types of natural filler:
- chicken;
- waterfowl (goose, duck, swan, eider).
The label sewn to the product will help determine the composition, as well as provide complete information on the method of care.
If the filler is a chicken feather, you can forget about washing... This option is only dry cleaned in specialized centers.
Chicken feathers differ from waterfowl feathers in their structure:
- it absorbs moisture well,
- dries for a long time
- after drying, it tends to crumble into small components.
Feathers of duck, goose, eider, swan feel comfortable in the water, so washing is not a serious test of strength for him, it is enough just to follow certain rules.
To return the feather pillow to its original appearance, use wet cleaning:
- washing machine;
- hand wash;
- ferry.
An important point is to study and follow the recommendations of the manufacturer of this bedding.
Preparation for the procedure
The preparatory stage includes several sequential steps:
- cleaning the pillow from dust;
- preparation of bags for washing;
- distribution of feathers from the pillow to the pouches.
Dust accumulated during the operation of the product must be removed using a regular carpet beater.
The next step is to sew special bags into which the filler will be placed during washing. It is impractical to completely wash the pillow. A dense layer of filler in the product will not allow high-quality cleaning, but it can get lost in lumps that do not dry well and cake.
Optimal is sewing 4 bags from thick cotton fabric about 25-30 cm in length and the same in width.
According to experienced users, teak is the best material option.
It will keep nimble down and small feathers from trying to leave the cover during washing. But cheesecloth, even in several layers, should not be used.
An alternative to several pouches is one large pouch that is twice the length of the napkin. For standard pillow sizes, the length of the cover will be one hundred and forty centimeters.
The most important point is the distribution of the filler into the bags.... This requires:
- Close all doors and windows to prevent drafts.
- Spread a sheet on a flat surface, put a pillow on it.
- Carefully rip apart the naperl along the seam.
- Transfer the feather to the bags, sew up carefully.
If the pillow case is in satisfactory condition, it is shaken off the fluff, washed and reused. If you wish, you can sew a new cover.
Old pillowcases are used as laundry bags.... Before applying, make sure that the fabric is intact and dense enough.
Washing in a washing machine
Erase feather pillows in a typewriter using the following modes:
- "delicate",
- "duvet blanked",
- "wool".
In this case, the water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
And for better disposal of excess detergent it is recommended to include an additional rinse.
There is no need to pre-soak the product. The pillows are washed with a gel wash for delicate fabrics. The best results are obtained with special gels for washing down products, which are also used to care for down jackets. These products are free from phosphates and bleaches.
When choosing detergents for washing pillows, it should be borne in mind that natural fillers perfectly absorb and retain odors. Therefore, the strong, strong aroma can cause poor sleep and headaches.
Do not use detergents, they are poorly washed out, negatively affect the structure of the filler, forming lumps.
Machine wash up to 4 special balls must be thrown inside the drum... This technique will prevent lumps from churning down and improve the cleaning performance. The balls can be replaced with tennis balls.
Push-ups should be carried out at revolutions not exceeding the four hundred mark. If the washing machine does not have this level, then it is better to disable this function. You can squeeze the feather bags by hand by wrapping them in a clean sheet or towel and applying even pressure with your hands.
How to hand wash?
Many people associate the phrase “hand wash” with hard work. However, in reality, not everything is so scary.
When self-washing the feather pillow by hand the sequence of actions is as follows:
Pour water at a temperature of thirty degrees into the bath, the water level must be sufficient so that the feather can stay on the surface.- Dissolve the detergent, you can add laundry soap, do not use bleach.
- Pour feathers and fluff into the container; it is not necessary to use bags for washing.
- Leave for a couple of hours.
- After soaking, the filler is cleaned by gentle squeezing with the palms.
- Colander the feathers and rinse under the tap or rinse in a bowl of clean water.
- Squeeze out with your hands and transfer to a dry cloth.
There is a faster way to hand wash:
- dissolve the detergent in water with a temperature of up to thirty degrees;
- open the pillowcase and pour its contents into three old pillowcases, sew them up;
- immerse in the solution and press with your hands to walk over the entire surface of the makeshift pillow;
- rinse at least three times;
- squeeze and hang pillowcases with feathers to dry on a clothesline, shaking occasionally.
It should be noted that when using this method, the quality of cleaning the product decreases.
In order for the filler to dry well, fluff up and not mold, it is preferable to wash the feather pillow in the warm season.
How to steam clean at home?
To refresh the filler and napernik, to destroy unwanted inhabitants of the pillow, the method of exposure to hot steam is successfully used.
Steam cleaning uses a steam generator or steamer... These devices can be replaced with an iron if it is equipped with a vertical steam function.
The cleaning procedure is pretty simple:
Hang the pillow vertically on a rope, fixing it.- Steam thoroughly on both sides.
- Leave the product for fifteen minutes, then expose it to steam again.
- Next, the pillow should be removed, shaken several times.
- Leave in a horizontal position to dry, turn and beat several times during drying.
It should be fairly noted that steam cleaning is not a substitute for a full wash, but literally in twenty minutes it will get rid of pathogenic microflora and mustiness.
Competent drying
Drying is an equally important step in cleaning this bedding. A mistake made at this stage can devalue all the efforts made.
In order not to spoil the result, you must follow the recommendations:
spread feathers and down on a dry cloth or paper, stirring during the drying process;- cover with gauze on top so that the fluff does not scatter;
- it is allowed to dry the fluff near the battery, but not on it;
- when drying the filler in bags, they should be suspended in the air, without exposure to sunlight, periodically beat them with your hands;
- the use of a hair dryer is possible provided that the distance to the filler is at least twenty centimeters and the time of continuous exposure is no more than ten minutes.
After drying, the filler is transferred to a clean napert, sewn up... To evenly distribute the filler, shake the pillow or gently beat both sides of the product with a clapper. To prevent contamination of the pillowcase, you can put on an additional cover.
Useful video
The video will tell you how to wash and dry a feather pillow:
Conclusion
A sweet sleep on a clean pillow is definitely worth the effort of cleaning it. This is not only maintaining a useful accessory in good condition, but also taking care of the comfort and health of loved ones.
Learn how to wash and dry pillows with a variety of fillings. here.
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