Ordinarily, comforters are large rectangular bedding that can also be used as mattress pads aside from providing warmth to the user. They are filled with natural or synthetic materials as insulants. Apart from down feathers, wool or silk, comforters can also be made of fur with satin or silk backing. Comforters are constructed using cotton, silk or blend of polyester fabrics as shell or covering.
Down comforters are designed to last for years. They are machine washable; however ensuring their durability requires a lot of time, energy and common sense.
Organic Wool Duvet
To have it cleaned every three or five years, it must be protected by a comforter cover. With a cover, there is no need to top it with bedspread or blanket. When sheets are laundered, remove and clean your comforter cover. Flip and fluff your comforter when making bed.
When making your bed, fluff your comforter by providing steady flow of air and redistribute its fill by pushing the down in place. Never store your comforter inside a plastic bag to prevent mildewing. Plastic bags store moisture that may cause decomposition of the feathers.
In washing your comforter, use gentle detergent and low heat drying cycle. It must be machine dried completely for more or less 8 to 12 hours. Complete drying prevents disintegration. Line drying is not encouraged.
It is possible to wash your comforter yourself but you might imperil its life. Typically, home washers are often too small and with agitators at the center that pose unneeded strain on the comforter. Cluster breaking of the down may result with the heat and harsh detergents that can cause the feathers to become dry and inelastic, hence easily cracked or fractured. Failure to dry the product completely may disintegrate the fill. Shrinkage of the fabric usually happens for natural bedding which is 100% cotton.
Top loader washing machines are not recommended for washing comforters due to the tendency for them to just float on the water without circulating. Top loader washing machines are constructed where the clothes are loaded through the top of the machine. The outer tub is filled with water sufficient to suspend the clothing freely in the basket and the agitator pulls the clothing downward in the center towards the agitator. To repeat the process the clothing moves outward and up the sides of the basket. The aggressive action of the agitator can damage delicate fabrics. Comforters are machine washable however; due to its size it will be more reasonable to leave it to a professional.