any plastic clips that are safe for use with a comforter cover in a front loader?

[passatdoc]

Yes, I know it's a weird question, but here is the problem. I have a number of comforter covers which easily fit in my Frigidaire frontloader. However, some of them (particularly the ones from IKEA) have an opening for the comforter that is not secured by buttons or a zipper. When I wash such covers with bottom fitted sheets and pillow cases, sometimes the other articles end up being swallowed by the comforter, wind up in a ball inside the cover, and probably don't get washed and rinsed as well as they should. This doesn't happen when there are button closures since I can close the opening.

Any suggestions? Are there all-plastic clips that could be used to keep the opening closed during the wash? Not having to fuss with buttons makes inserting and removing the comforter nice and easy, but washing them is a hassle unless I wash them alone. But each one takes up less than half of the capacity of the washer, so it would be wasteful to wash each one alone.

 

[passatdoc]

ps

Of course, any clip would need to be dryer-safe as well, since the same problem occurs in the dryer: the smaller articles wind up in a ball inside the comforter cover. I use a gas dryer on medium heat setting, so the clip would not be exposed to High temperature drying, which I use only for towels.

 

[launderess]

Easy Peasy

Standard method for those of us with laundry maid skills (LOL),is to simply baste the opening closed with long ruuning stitches. Once laundring and drying is done, pull out the thread.

Simple, yet effective.

L.

 

[passatdoc]

Any commercial products out there for those of us with sub-par sewing skills?

 

[launderess]

Large Safety Pins

Or diaper pins.

 

[passatdoc]

Are they safe to go through the dryer??
Wood or plastic?

 

[launderess]

Long as they are "rust proof", shouldn't worry.

Just make sure to use high quality pins that will stay closed. If one can access a laundry or drycleaners supply they should have them.

Cleaner's Supply - Dry Cleaning Supplies, Tailoring & Laundromat Supplies

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www.cleanersupply.com

 

[launderess]

Stil think one ought to learn simple basting. Maybe your mother or grandmother can teach? It is very useful skill for this project others.

L.

 

[passatdoc]

Wow...never knew they made rustproof pins. Thanks for the tip. These should work, and inserting and removing three or four of these to close the gap is easy than inspecting the laundry half way through to check for balling.

 

[launderess]

Please Make All Contributions Payable To:

St. Veronica's home for wayward laundresses.

*LOL*

L.

 

[passatdoc]

eBay

Found a set of eight 2 1/2" solid brass clips on eBay for 99 cents. One man's trash is another man's treasure. As long as I am not outbid (doubt it) they will be shipped to me next week. Most of the fabric places here sell only in huge packages, like 100 per pack, and they were too small.

 

[sudsmaster]

You might also look at the button gadget you can find at places like Walgreens. Basically it uses a little hand held injector to push a plastic loop around a button and fasten it on the other side. You could probably use it with or without a button to close the opening, and then just snip the plastic loop when done.

You might also consider putting buttons on the opening, but a sewing machine with a buttonholer feature would probably be a great help there.

Another possibility might be to install snaps. These are relatively easy to attach using the proper tool, come in non-rusting stainless steel, and would be relatively benign in terms of clanking around in the dryer.

I also found some strong plastic clips - sort of like clothespins, but white plastic, no metal, and about half the size of a regular clothespin - at Walmart a while back. They grip pretty tightly but would probably knock the sides of the dryer quite a bit. Being all plastic, they certainly would not rust.

Of course I also thought of a running stitch. Simple but effective. I'd worry about safety pins working loose and getting in the washer pump.

 

[launderess]

Will agree basting is the better option, but if one does not know how to sew, what is there to do? *LOL*

Have lots of vintage European linens, mainly from Germany where the duvet covers either have buttons (for fastening onto sheets),or are open ended. Simply baste the open end,launder and remove the basting before ironing.

With basting don't have to worry about removing all pins before leaving damp laundry to iron.

L.

 

[passatdoc]

I won....

I am the proud winner of eight solid brass safety pins (2.5 inches long) on eBay for 99 cents, plus 1.99 for shipping. Sure beats driving all over town looking for them.

Where/how did you accumulate so many German duvet covers? I use king or queen size comforters on queen size beds. It's not a rule, but often in Germany people will use two twin or full size comforters on a large bed rather than use a king or queen size comforter. Well, with the smaller size of their washers, maybe it's easier to wash their comforters or duvets at home if they are smaller.

I am in Germany every year or so but I usually don't buy duvet covers---nice as they are and reasonably priced---because most of the ones I see for sale are too small for my comforters.

 

[passatdoc]

ps

While bumming around at Long's Drugs (a California pharmacy chain which has great deals on merchandise like household items, food, outdoor equipment, etc.) tonight, I found a bag of the white plastic clips, which I bought. I agree, they look rustproof and certainly would keep the slit of the duvet securely closed, but they look awfully bulky to be tumbling around in a dryer. I bought them as an experiment for $3. If they don't work out, I can use them around the house to secure half-full bags of chips, flour, sugar, pasta, and so forth.

 

[panthera]

Passatdoc

Duvet sizes are shifting here. We still have the traditional sizes, but I have seen "full" "queen" and "standard" (whatever that is?) at various stores.
Actually, given the enormous price difference between the US (where these things are still viewed as upscale) and here, it would make sense to just buy one size up and take a quick stitch down one side. The German 220 or 250cm "long" and "extra long" sizes are perfect for California Queens, which is what I have in the States. (My bed, not my partner, the cowboy queen. Countess?)

Anyway, follow the online offers and if you see something you like, let us know - I travel alot back and forth between Germany and the US, we could figure something out, somehow.

I solved the "my duvet just ate my jeans" problem after the first wash load bounced my Miele across the kitchen. I just button the duvet closed across the top. Same with pillow cases.

In Europe, many folks who sleep together prefer their own "special" comforters. That is one reason for the two separate smaller comforters. Of course, when you share a bed with someone who steals the sheets, it doesn't hurt, either. My cat and I begin with equal shares of my California Queen water bed. By the morning, she has the down comforter all to herself and has stretched her tiny frame to take up all but the 10" at the very edge (the drafty side, of course) which she generously allots to me and the silk bast comforter. If we shared one, I'd end up with nothing.

 

[passatdoc]

Vielen Dank, Panthera

Während meiner letzten Reisen in der Bundesrepublik habe ich nicht wirklich auf Bettwäsche gesucht, weil ich glaubte, dass deutsche Bettwäsche zu klein fuer Ami-Bettdecke sind. Aber wenn IKEA Comforters in der Bundesrepublik verkauft, dann soll es auch jetzt Bettwasche fuer König- or Königin-Bettdecke. Auf nächsten Mal in Deutschland muss ich noch mal auf Bettwäsche suchen.

ps Entschuligen Sie bitte meine zahlreiche grammatische Fehler, aber "richtige deutsche Grammatik is nicht von Amis zu erwarten..." Also brauche ich ein Laptop aus Schweden, so gibt's kein ß oder Ü, es tut mir leid. (ich habe hier die zwei Kenzeichen gekopiert...)

UND habe ich die neue Rechtschreibung nicht gelernt. Wie Herr Dr. Helmut Schmidt (Redaktor, Die Zeit) sagen wuerde, "Was war los mit der ALTEN Rechtschreibung???"

 

[passatdoc]

ps

When buttons or zipper are available on the opening, I always close it. Laundress was advising me on solutions when there is just an open slit, as many IKEA covers have. As you (Panthera) correctly stated, duvet covers here are generally an upscale rather than "regular, everyday" item. Look at the prices at www.companystore.com, you will faint. So even though prices in Germany for most things always cost more than in USA, even when the dollar was strong, Bettwaesche were an exception, and often far more economical in Germany....except for the size problem.

Another possible solution as Laundress mentioned is to add snaps. I will stop at a sewing/fabric store and see what they offer as far as the tool and how difficult it is to use (I know nothing about sewing other than replacing buttons). For now I will use the solid brass safety pins I bought on eBay for $2.98, less than the cost of gas to drive to a store to buy them.

 

[passatdoc]

ps#2

...and because of the high prices in the US, more and more of my covers are purchased at IKEA, one of the few stores that consider a cover to be a "normal" rather than "upscale" item. The quality is variable, the thread counts are not that high and a lot of the fabrics are very, well, third world. Some of the designs are nice, though. I have some covers nearly ten years old from IKEA that are still going strong. They may not always look or feel that nice, but I have not had one that wore out in less than ten years. I am phasing out the old Company Store comforters.

Also, their comforters are excellent value. I have allergies to dust mites, so I gave away my down comforters (20 and 25 years old, still in great shape) and bought synthetic ones at IKEA. They are just as warm and comfortable as down, are hypoallergenic, and easy to maintain. In particular, I bought a "four seasons" comforter that is actually a set of two comforters, one lightweight and one midweight. The two comforters snap together for winter use and it is VERY warm, though so thick it is not easy to insert it into a cover. A great value in king size at $100. My only complaint was not enough snaps on the sides to keep them attached, but hopefully I will follow Laundress's suggestion and buy a snap tool and a set of snaps.