How to Wash a Feather Pillow at Home

Everyone knows how sweet it is to sleep on a soft, fluffy and fresh pillow. 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 filler has remained the most relevant for centuries. Let's consider whether it is possible to wash a feather pillow, how to do it correctly?

Feather pillow and its features

Pillows with natural filling have an important feature - durability, hygroscopicity, air permeability, thermoregulation. To preserve all the listed characteristics, proper care is needed. Natural filling is able to absorb dust and sweat.

There is a high risk that ticks may appear, which can 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 pressing. It is necessary to regularly follow all the rules of hygiene, drying and washing.

How to Properly Prepare a Feather Pillow for Cleaning

When starting the procedure of cleaning the filler, you need to know that wet cleaning is carried out using two methods:

• in the washing machine;
• hand wash.

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

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 increased by 2 times, but the width remains the same.
3. One pillow will require 2-3 covers.

Before placing the pillow in the drum, perform a few simple steps:

1. Beat the pillow with a slapper to remove dust.
2. Carefully rip open one edge of the filling cover.
3. Transfer the contents into prepared bags, filling each one half full.
4. Sew up the free edges of the covers.
5. Place in the washing machine and turn on the delicate or hand wash cycle.

Washing a pillow in a washing machine

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

Place tennis balls or special soft balls with spikes in the drum. They will help prevent the feather filling from clumping during the washing process.

Hand wash pillow

The procedure of washing a feather pillow by hand is considered more labor-intensive.

Steps of action:

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

Steam cleaning

One of the cleaning methods is steam cleaning. For this you will need a steam cleaner or a regular iron with a steam function.

• Fix the pillow in a vertical position.
• Treat the surface of the product with steam on both sides.
• Repeat the procedure 3 more times with an interval of 10-15 minutes.
• Dry by hanging in the sun.
• After drying, straighten the filling with your hands.

Steam cleaning is not a full-fledged wash. It only makes the products safer and fresher. Dust mites, microorganisms and bacteria die under the influence of steam. The pillow becomes clean and acquires freshness and a pleasant aroma.

Proper drying of pillows after washing is an important stage of the hygiene procedure

We have already studied the features of washing down and feathers. An equally important stage of the hygienic procedure is the correct drying of the filler. Feathers cannot be left wet - the filler sticks together, becomes moldy and acquires an unpleasant smell. How to do it correctly?

• Drying in the open air. This procedure can only be carried out on warm summer days. Knead the lumps with your hands and place them in cloth bags. Hang them in the shade so that the wind blows on them from all sides. Drying feathers in the sun can lead to loss of elasticity and structure of the feathers. Periodically shake and knead the feathers in the bags - improves ventilation.
• Drying on a heating radiator. The pillow acquires a fresh smell in the cold. But the cold can only kill microbes, not dry the fluff. Therefore, in winter, it is better to dry pillows on radiators.
• Drying indoors. The most correct method if you have a spare room. Before drying, it is recommended to thoroughly ventilate the room. Spread moisture-absorbing fabric folded in several layers on a vertical surface. Spread the feathers in a thin layer and mix them periodically with your hands.
• Fill the stuffing with dried feathers and sew up the edge.

Helpful tips for caring for feather products

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

1. Every morning after sleep, fluff up your pillow with your hands - this helps to saturate the pillow with oxygen and make the feathers elastic.
2. Air the products in dry weather at least twice a month. Do not place in direct sunlight! In winter, air for several hours in the open air.
3. Remove dust from the pillow periodically by fluffing it on both sides with a flat plastic flapper.
4. Do not store the product in plastic bags. It is recommended to use a cover made of natural fabric for this purpose.
5. To prevent the pillowcase from getting dirty, it is recommended to use an additional cotton pillowcase.
6. Do not lie down on a pillow with wet hair - moisture quickly destroys the structure of the down.
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 rip open the pillowcase and make sure that the fungus has not affected the filler and pillowcase.
8. The result of improper care of feather filling is the accumulation of microscopic mites, which are dangerous to health.

All of the above recommendations are suitable for any type of natural feather filling.

Conclusions

Following simple recommendations and rules for caring for 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, it is better to use dry cleaning services.

The filler is placed in a special machine, the fluff and feather are effectively cleaned in a washing disinfectant solution and treated with hot steam. As a result of this procedure, all dust mites die. To destroy bacteria and pathogenic microbes, a quartz treatment and intensive air cleaning procedure follows.

VIDEO: How to wash down pillows in the machine.

VIDEO: Washing feather pillows at home.