Feather pillows need regular cleaning from sebum, sweat and dust. Washing such products has its own characteristics. How to properly care for them, and is it possible to wash pillows at home in an automatic machine?

Large pillows will not fit into the drum of the washing machine, so they must first be prepared. To do this, they stock up on small bags of durable fabric - it is in them that feathers will be erased. In such a small package, they will be washed better, and the machine will be able to evenly distribute the laundry over the drum.

For a cover, you can take an old pillowcase (you just need to make sure that there are no thinned wiped places on the fabric, they can tear when washed) or sew new ones from any material that is well water-permeable. Even an old tulle curtain with a dense uniform weave will do. Gauze is not suitable for this purpose - fluff can crawl out through its holes.

Pillows are torn open and their contents are transferred to prepared covers. Now they need to be firmly sewn up. You can’t tie them - if they are untied during intensive washing, the feathers can get into the engine and ruin the machine.

Small pillows can not be torn apart. The main thing is to put 2-3 such items when washing things or add several things to the drum so that the load is evenly distributed and the machine does not vibrate much during the spin cycle.

Powder selection

It is best to use a special composition for fluff products or take a liquid detergent.

You should not use products with a strong fragrance - too intrusive smell of the filler will interfere with relaxation and can cause a headache in the sleeper.

In the second rinse, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the conditioner compartment: cypress, lavender or orange. This will give a light pleasant aroma and for a while will drive away dust mites from the filler.

Washing mode

If the washing machine does not have a special program designed for down products, you can select a delicate wash. For effective cleaning, a water temperature of 30°C will suffice.

It is important to rinse the filler well from detergent residues, so an additional rinse should be included.

Feathers should dry as soon as possible so that mold does not start there from prolonged dampness, so the maximum spin should be selected.

Drying

After the end of the washing program, clean products are taken out and they try to knead all the lumps formed with their hands. This should be done so that the filler is evenly distributed over the cover.

Swan down pillows can only be dried in a horizontal position, for example, by placing them on a clothes dryer.

Now you need to take unnecessary old sheets or towels, put pillows on them, twist them into a tight roll. It is important to do this carefully in order to dry the pillow as best as possible. If it does not dry in 2 days, then the filler will begin to mold.

If there is a dryer, it is better to use it. You need to choose a temperature of 30 ° C, periodically whipping the feathers. To speed up the process and make it more efficient, you can throw a few tennis balls into the drum.

You can use the battery for drying.

If it is possible to hang a pillow outdoors, it is better to use it. For better drying, the product should be hung on a rope - this way it will be blown from all sides by the wind and the drying time will be reduced. Every few hours, the feather needs to be whipped so that it dries evenly. The advantage of this method is that the filler is well disinfected by sunlight during the process, so that the remnants of surviving microbes and ticks will die.

Ironing pillows, especially those filled with swan down, is prohibited.

After the filler dries completely, it must be poured into a clean pillowcase - washed separately or new, and then sewn up with a double line.

General rules for washing pillows

A good way to check if a pillow needs to be washed at all or if it’s time to change it to a new one is to fold it in half. If the pillow straightens, then it is still quite usable, it can simply be cleaned at home. If she remained in the folded position, then it is wiser to buy a new one.

Dandruff, dust gradually accumulate on the pillows, they are saturated with sweat and sebum. Therefore, at least 2-3 times a year, they must be thoroughly cleaned.

It is important to use a durable cover when washing, sewing it securely. If the feather gets into the drum during washing, this can lead to serious problems. For example, the drain filter will become clogged, the wiring or the motor of the washing machine will burn. To avoid this, you can additionally place the cover with filler in a special laundry bag.

The approximate service life of the pillow is 2 years. Products made from swan's down retain their qualities longer.

Washing feather pillows, especially at home, is a troublesome but necessary process. Only a clean pillow can provide a good quality rest.