How to Wash & Dry a Down Comforter: Tips & Tricks

All of the down in your comforter suddenly down at your feet? We’ve been there. After you read our down comforter cleaning guide, you’ll be warm and cozy in all directions — no dry cleaners necessary! While laundering items like pillowcases, sheets, and duvet covers is easy, cleaning some of your bigger, bulkier bedding items is more challenging.

One of the most intimidating bedding items to clean is the down comforter. Often made from feathers and plumules from ducks and geese (although vegan and synthetic options exist!), down comforters can seem unwieldy to clean. They’re big, heavy, delicate, white, clumpy, and temperature-sensitive — meaning many people simply drop their comforter off at the dry cleaners to avoid dealing with it altogether. Considering the potentially harmful chemicals dry cleaners use — chemicals that’ll off-gas into your bedroom air and even directly into your face — there has to be a better option.

Since most down comforters can be washed at home, we’re here to walk you through the process. Follow this guide, and you’ll have a fresh, clean comforter — without a big bill to show for it.

Will washing a down comforter ruin it?

If done properly, no, washing a down comforter will not ruin it! Like all delicate textiles, there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid permanently damaging your down comforter.

Using properly sized laundry machines, delicate cycles, mild temperatures, and mild detergents are all things to keep in mind. Fear not – we'll break down these details and more during the step-by-step instructions below.

How often should you clean your down comforter?

Sans any major spills, you should clean your down comforter once every one to two years. If you have a removable duvet cover on your comforter that you can take off and wash, cleaning your down comforter once every two years is plenty.

Can my washing machine handle my down comforter?

Probably not, but maybe. Here’s how to know:

Read the owner's manual and care tags

The first thing you’re going to want to do is check both the manual for your washing machine and the care tag for your down comforter. At-home and in-unit washing machines are usually too small, top-loading, or equipped with agitators — all things that prevent proper down comforter cleaning.

Many apartment buildings with laundry rooms use front-loading washing machines, but they will likely be too small for a comforter that is any larger than twin-sized. Unless your building has an additional extra-large washer and dryer unit, your best bet will be to find large ones elsewhere to wash and dry your comforter in.

Go to your local laundromat

Your local laundromat will have the gigantic, roomy washers and dryers that are perfect for your large down comforter. Most laundromats use extra large, front-loading washing and drying machines, ideal for a spacious, proper clean.

If your down comforter is extra big (or crunchy,) you may need multiple wash and drying cycles, so be sure to bring plenty of quarters and a lot of dryer balls (which help speed up drying times) with you to operate the machines.

What do you need to wash a down comforter?

Washing a down comforter just requires a mild detergent and dryer balls. Easy, right?

Instead of special tools or soaps, the most important element is the washing machine itself — a roomy machine gives your comforter space so that the whole thing gets thoroughly washed, rinsed, and dried without twisting or bunching.

How long does it take to dry a down comforter?

Drying your down comforter requires a lot of one thing: patience. Depending on the size of your comforter, it can take anywhere from 2–4 hours to fully dry, but wool dryer balls can help cut down on time.

Can I air dry a down comforter?

We don't recommend air-drying a down comforter. If the down on the inside is not completely and thoroughly dried, it can quickly develop mildew and mold. Not only that, air drying a down comforter takes forever.