Hi all,
we have a QS quilt, it is 80% down so its very light and fluffy but in recent times ive noticed it getting quite dirty. I see advertised all these fancy quilt dry cleaning services but they charge so much.
Is this something I can put in the washing machine?
Is there a "right" way to do it? (Can I use stain remover on the sweat patches?)
Many thanks...
I have washed down quilts with good success. Sweat stains are difficult to remove. For them you might consider the dry cleaner but air the quilt afterwards to get rid of the fumes from the process and the plastic they wrap them in.
Unfortunately, you've already got a dirty down comforter / quilt........in order to avoid the problem (a dirty down quilt) you need a removable / washable cover
per this article on the web
A comforter without a cover is called a "duvet." In order to take good care of a new down comforter or blanket, we recommend that you use a "duvet cover," a large "pillowcase" that covers the large blanket. A cover will add some weight, and a decorative cover could add a lot of weight. But a duvet cover will protect the down blanket or comforter, and a cover is easier to clean than a large comforter.
You "can" do it yourself but I would recommend against it. The down fill can clump & be very difficult to dry quickly & completely....leaving you with a damp lumpy mess. .
You'll need a large washer & a large dryer (like at the laundromat) if you want to attempt this yourself.
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Nothing gets stuff clean like a good washing in soap & water (since the majority of dirt / stains are water soluble) but unfortunately some things just don't tolerate a water washing very well. :(
Unless you want to risk the item...I would suggest biting the bullet going with the expensive professional clean (if the item is worth it)
If you do go for 'washing" it yourself use very little soap & make sure its ok for down.
I'm no expert but I think dry cleaning is a "no - no" for down.
After its clean, get a cover to keep it clean.
cheers Bob
What is QS? Antique? What type of fabric? Pieced? If an old, pieced quilt, washing is a bad idea. Washing any quilt in washing machine is not a good idea, because the down floats and that will strain the fabric. It could tear. I believe one old method of removing stains was to put white corn meal on the stain - never tried it.
QS = queen size, sorry.
Its not old, maybe 8-10 years.
I think ill try the washing method with a little detergent only and give it a very very good solid dry.
thanks all.
You could hand-wash it with Woolite. You can do it on a clean driveway and use the garden hose to rinse. This is a good method for large delicate items. A warm sunny day will help dry it or you can use a large-capacity dryer on the lowest setting. Add three clean tennis balls to help fluff it back in shape. There is some risk using a clothes washer--possibly damaging the machine. If you care about the quilt, a professional cleaning is best.
Drying hint: Buy a set of tennis balls (I paid $2 for 3) and throw them in the dryer with the quilt. It's a little noisy, but this keeps the down from bunching up. Everything dries much more nicely and easily. No joke! Also make sure you dry on low heat or just air.
I can definitely recommend the duvet cover, also. Some can be pricey, but you can find them for as little as $20, too (think close-out stores, or at least one of the big bedding stores). KB
I dry quilts outdoors, either draped over our hedge or laid on the lawn. Lawn is good when grass is tall enough to need mowing, clean sheet under the quilt. Good air circ, not strong sunlight. Not a good idea if you have mulberry trees or a lot of birds :o)
If you are going to wash it, I would put detergent on the greasy or soiled spots. If you have a tub you can use outdoors (or a small child's pool), line it with a sheet then put the quilt in to wash. You might be able to get the fabric clean(er) before the down gets saturated. Use the sheet like a sling so's not to tear fabric lifting it while it is saturated and heavy. Roll the whole thing up to squeeze out excess water, spin gently in washer to get out more water, lay out or air dry. I have washed down pillows, and it is very difficult to get real down saturated with water, so it is iffy to guess how the comforter will work in washer.
Yes, but not in YOUR washing machine. Many coin laundromats have very large washing machines for washing comforters, etc. Worked fine for me, but (as people have noted) allow plenty of time for drying.
I've washed down "everything" (comforters, sleeping bags, jackets, pillows, etc.) in the washing machine with never a problem. The fabric of the comforter is probably a bigger consideration than the fill. I've used Shout and nonchlorine bleach on down-filled items with no problem.
For queen size, you'll definitely want to use jumbo laundromat machines. It really doesn't take terribly long for down to dry if you fluff it up while it's drying; I've usually used the tennis ball idea posted earlier, although I've also washed my tennis shoes along with a down item and then put them in the dryer with it (it takes longer to dry this way since you have to turn down the heat because of the shoes). Again, check the fabric of the cover and adjust dryer heat accordingly.
Dry cleaner? I don't know -- I've always figured why spend the money when machine washing works so well. Just for the record, I would REPLACE a queen-size down comforter before I would attempt to wash it by hand in anything! Talk about making work for yourself, yikes.
Jo Ann
Have the quit professionally cleaned, then make washable quilt cover(s)--these are quick and easy to make if you have a sewing machine. I do this for two down comforters and launder the covers. One is zippered, other has buttons, and another has a flap. I prefer the flapped cover opening.
I lost track of the begining of this thread, but if it's a down quilt, DO NOT have it cleaned. Wash it according to the accurate instructions you have received, paying special attention to lifting it out of the tub with something under it, rather than by its own weight.
I happen to have a yard where I could spread it out to dry in the sun, but if you don't, you can use a large professional dryer, as others have advised, with tennis balls (I prefer shoes) to even out the down.
I queried a respected outing shop years ago about cleaning my down sleeping bag. These folks know what they're doing. They said that dry cleaning actually deteriorates the down.
If it's not down, ignore this.
Aspasia
Does an "outing shop" have anything to do with the Aids Quilt?
Surely you jest! "Outing" means going "out" on a camping trip, or hiking or kayaking or any kind of outdoor trip.
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Worse than that, I'm told the dry cleaning fluid can leave fumes in the bag that will kill you. The dry cleaner my mother took mine to it refused to do it for that reason.
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