Spring is almost here and time to start planning your spring cleaning. Your down bedding may not come to mind, but it is very important to give it proper care if you want it to remain beautiful and more importantly work efficiently.
You may have been wondering if it is really worth it to renovate your favorite down comforter, pillow, featherbed or down topper. There are a few things to consider, most importantly what your initial investment is, and if there is any sentimental value attached (handed down from your grandmother).
Renovation is definitely worth it if you have a high quality down product, which means high thread count down proof ticking and high lofting down. With proper care they will remain beautiful and keep you toasty warm in winter. That means cleaning comforters every 5 years, renovating after 10 years. For down pillows renovate every 3 or 4 years (even with protectors natural hair oil stains the down proof ticking). Featherbeds and toppers should be renovated every 7 – 10 years. Renovation is also an opportunity to upgrade to a larger size (or even change to a smaller size), get a more down proof (leak proof) casing or add new filling to boost up the old filling and bring the down back to its former glory.
Keep in mind if your downs are from Europe they are definitely a very high quality in both the ticking and the filling. Even if you purchased in the USA 20 or more years ago, they are likely a much higher quality than much of what is in the market today.
If you have purchased a down product at a very low price for example same price all sizes, it does not pay to renovate. Better to buy new and this time upgrade so you do not have to keep replacing. It feels good to recycle.
Using the proper protectors goes a long way to eliminating unnecessary cleaning and renovation. Always choose a professional for cleaning and renovation to protect your precious downs.
In between the professional care you can air out down comforters on a clothes line on a dry warm day or put in a low heat dryer for 20 mins. For pillows put these in the low heat dryer occasionally to re-fluff. Featherbeds and down toppers can be hung over a chair near an open window unless you are able to get them outside on a table. It just refreshes and re-fluffs them beautifully.
