Washing Comforters/Bedspreads: What's Your Process?

[frigilux]

Since adopting two adult cats, each having a queen-sized comforter for a bed, I find myself washing theirs (and mine) frequently. There's a comforter in the Frigidaire front-loader's 3.9 cu.ft. tub every seven to ten days.

I'm not a fan of the Frigidaire's Bulky cycle. The wash tumble is very slow; it doesn't seem to provide any more water than other cycles; the final spin is brief (about 3 minutes) and relatively pokey---I'd guess around 550-650 rpm. This means the comforter spends more time in the dryer, requiring numerous readjustments to keep it drying evenly.

I've always washed comforters on the Normal or Heavy Duty cycle at maximum spin speed (1300 rpm). Dryer time is minimized and the comforter requires only a turn or two during the cycle.

My theory: Is spinning the water from a comforter really more of a strain on the machine than dealing with an at-capacity load of bath towels? The Frigidaire never seems to have problems balancing the comforter loads. I'm fully prepared to endure the slings and arrows from the chorus of "I Told You So" if the machine ever explodes, LOL.

So...how do you wash comforters? At home? The laundromat? Which type of washer and cycle do you use? Detergent preference? (You probably guessed mine: A Tide Turbo pod.)

Just curious. Thanks in advance for sharing your preferred methods![this post was last edited: 8/31/2015-15:20]

 

[mattl]

After the bulky cycle, just run a high speed spin cycle. I've done that a few times and it seems to work well.

 

[yogitunes]

most bulky cycles default to a medium spin for the off chance of it balling up, and having to deal with out of balance conditions.....

there may be a chance on some machines to choose a high speed spin with a bulky cycle......machines vary

using the Neptunes, almost seems like old school way of washing with a FLer, Normal cycle for just about everything under the sun, 'max extract' gives a high speed spin for all cycles.....

with a Siberian, she looses fur all the time, mainly that undercoat, and rather than washing my quilt just about everyday, I place a fleece blanket on top of the bed while she sleeps with me, its just easier to wash that everyday, and it quickly dries.....a high thread count flat sheet would work as well, ones that are larger than your bed cover all parts really well....of course I can't find something bigger to fit a king size

usually a hot/warm wash, Sears UP detergent, 1/4 cup of bleach, and usually a bit of softener, it helps the fur to release from the fabric better.....

of course for best fur removal is to use the FilterFlo, theres hardly any fur found in the lint trap of the dryer after that...

 

[whirlcool]

We go to our local Chinese operated Washateria. They have new Wascomat machines and we use the middle size machine on hot/warm wash/rinse settings with two extra rinses. Hot on these machines is about 130F. The comforters come out really nice. When drying them we use a medium heat and every 10 minutes we pull the comforter out and shake it, put it back in and let it dry for 10 more min, repeat until totally dry. This method seems to dry the comforter without baking or overdrying it. When down gets overheated it stinks.

Seeing as we have four dogs, and two of them like to sleep on the bed with us we don't want to be washing the comforter every few weeks. So at Ikea we bought a very nice cotton duck duvet cover for our Queen sized comforter. It's pretty thick. When we got it, it was not very comfortable. It was very stiff. But with repeated washings it has gotten very soft. It also acts as a barrier so doggie odors and stuff is not passed onto the down comforter requiring frequent washings. Another plus is that the duvet cover is easily washed in our Whirlpool TL machine. [this post was last edited: 8/31/2015-15:43]

 

[ea56]

I wash our king size down comforter in our LG FL on the Bulky cycle and use warm water. After the cycle is done I run a spin only at ex high and the comforter dries in about 45 mins. on high temp. I do rearrange it once or twice during the dry cycle to insure there are no damp spots. I use Arm&Hammer liquid or Tide Turbo liquid and the comforter always comes out perfectly clean. I might add that I've been washing this comforter since we first bought it in 1983, using both TL's and FL's and the LG does the best job ever.

 

[neptuneguy27]

My process

I start my comforters on a cold water manual soak cycle; no detergent. With my Maytag Epic this will ensure a deep water fill; generally, about 1/4 to 1/3 the way up the glass. The comforter gets completely saturated with this method. Since there is no spin (just a drain) at the end of the manual soak, the comforter remains saturated. I reset the washer to whatever cycle and temperature is required. Typically Normal wash with Hot water, spin speed is either Medium or High; add my detergent and softener and I am on my way. To dry, generally two Rapid Dry cycles are enough to dry them completely. I take them out in between cycles to fluff them up and to expose any damp spots. If they are very near dry I will either shorten the dry time or lower the temp from High Heat to Medium Heat. Works like a charm. In fact I just did my dogs comforter last night.

Chris

 

[aamassther]

Frigilux, I never use the Bulky cycle either. It just doesn't seem like they get clean enough. I use either Normal or Heavy, depending on soil level (Dogs and Cats in the house as well). Warm or Hot, depending on comforter. I generally select a prewash, it helps to deflate the comforter, prepping it for the main wash as well as loosening protein soils prior to the warmer wash. Most of the time I don't put any soap in the prewash and as little as I can get away with in the main. I use Miele down wash for down comforters. Shaklee or Persil for the others (or the Ikea down ones, which are very sturdy). I also use the Pet bed cycle for the dogs beds, long hot wash, neutral soap like Shaklee very effective if item can withstand heat.

 

[wayupnorth]

I have a dog and a cat that sheds excessively too. I have a queen bedspread I wash periodically in my Maytag 511. Normal cycle warm and try to hang it outside on the line on a windy day. The only place I find tons of fur is in the filter but my Maytag washes big loads with no problems and tub full of water, not a tea cup. When I have to use the dryer, I stop it every so often and clean that filter out.[this post was last edited: 8/31/2015-20:48]

 

[maytagbear]

I have a fiberfill comforter.......

I take it to the coin-op I like best (out of three) here in Kent. I use the Speed Queen "quad loader," hot water, and a detergent with enzymes. The price for washing is a bargain at 4.50! I dry it here at home, because their dryers are almost invariably gunked up with dryer sheets....ick!! I am not certain how effectively it would be washed in my Maytag Dependable Care.

I generally have to wash the comforter once a year.....I asked a friend who sews to run up a cover with Velcro a few years ago. It's a queen size flat sheet, folded in half lengthwise, and and the Velcro sewn on. I was the cover at home frequently. I provided the sheet and the Velcro, and took her out to dinner for her time. (She refused cash.)

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[appnut]

I do very bulky bedspread on Bulky cycle on the WFW97.  I use normal or heavy soil.  It uses a medium tumble pattern with more waater than most other cycles.  (In fact, I use this cycle for perm press type stuff too).  It has a 8 minute phase where it soaks and tumbles every 30 seconds.  then will add more water if needed.  I can add steam, or sanitize if needed.  Medium spin speed is default but I can add it up to high if needed.  One of the many flexible things I like with WP/Maytag over LG comparable cycle.   

 

[washerdude]

For washing our king size comforter

We use our Whirlpool Duet WFW72. Whenever we wash comforters, we use the "Eco sanitize with oxi" cycle because of how much water it uses. I selcet high speed spin, hot water, and light soils. There is no dumbing down of the water temp in this cycle and you can't pick any other temp. besides hot in this cycle. This cycle also has a neat feature, when it gets about 20 mins into the wash, it will add more water and during this stage, it will toss the comforter around with ease. Also during this stage, the washer also has shorter tumbles and longer soaks for the remainder of the wash until the first spin. Speaking of the spin cycle, this is the part where it fusses the most with king size comforters. Because it is so big and wet it has trouble holding it to the sides of the drum and this way it tricks it into thinking its off balance. Even though it doesn't get it right on the first few times, It will eventually go into the spins.

When it comes to drying, we let our Maytag dryer decide. We set it on the "Energy Prefered" setting on auto dry and put it on the medium temp. After this part finishes, I come back and flip the comforter and set it on timed dry for 40 minutes. By the end of this, the comforter is perfectly dry and ready to be used.

 

[launderess]

Take eiderdown to local laundromat

Place in 50lb capacity machine.
Add proper products
Set to "Hot" wash with "Heavy" soil
Start machine
Return when cycle completed
Place eiderdown in huge dryer at same location.
Load enough funds for several hours
Set dryer to "low"
Return now and then to check progress
Remove when dry

See no need to subject either of my front loaders to the forces generated by a wet and heavy eiderdown duvet. Thing is really only laundered if something manages to soak through the duvet cover and protector. Otherwise it is taken out to the country and aired for several days, then put away.

 

[frigilux]

Checking On The Duvet: Leave it to our Launderess to find the perfect hat for every occasion!
Drinks by Moet et Chandron.

 

[launderess]

Cheeky!

Am out of pocket a few hundred after repairing the suspension on Miele washer, so trust me when I say won't be testing its limits anytime soon.

 

[foraloysius]

When you wash a down comforter in a frontloader it helps to do a rinse and spin first. It helps getting the down wet and getting the air out.

 

[askolover]

When you wash a down comforter in a frontloader it helps to do a rinse and spin first. It helps getting the down wet and getting the air out.  

<a name="endCOMX_61227.14"></a>That's how I do feather pillows.

 

[toploader55]

My Miele has a "Comforter" Cycle. The first cycle is called "Venting".

It wets down the comforter with lots of water. Then proceeds to the Wash and Rinse.

 

[frigilux]

Launderess-- Sorry to hear of Big Bertha's recent medical bills. Oh, the things we do for the appliances we love. Hope that's the last visit she requires from Miele's service department.

Coming from the guy who buys comforters in the sale aisle at Target and JCPenney, what exactly is a duvet cover/protector and how does it work? Does it simply lay on top of the comforter? Is the comforter placed inside it? #hayseed

 

[zanussi_lover]

Duvets and Bedding

Duvets get a 60 degree wash with Bio/Non Bio Powder (Persil)

Bedding gets a 50/60 degree wash with Bio/Non Bio Powder or Capsules. (Persil)

No conditioner and hung on the washing line to dry dries nice and soft fresh and clean.

I don't own a tumble dryer, they are useful in the winter but I'd rather line dry laundry as it smells fresher.