Washing Comforters/Bedspreads: What's Your Process?

[gansky1]

"Venting" cycle - love that!

My Duet (2nd Generation) does have a Bulky cycle, but it's options are limited.  No higher than medium spin speed and no hot water option.  

The Speed Queen f/l washer has a smaller door opening, but I think does a better job with more water for larger items.  I haven't had a problem washing most anything in that machine.  Hot water, boosted if you like, and fast running cycle.  I also like to wet these items through with a rinse and spin before washing.  Get the air out first and the results are much better overall.

 

[frigilux]

Doing a rinse and spin prior to the main cycle is a good idea. Never thought of that. The cats' and my comforters seem to get saturated quickly---the recirculation helps a lot---but the comforter in the guest room (which gets washed only a few times a year) is lighter/more buoyant and would certainly benefit from a good soak-down followed by a spin.

I could use a 'venting cycle' today! My timer would get stuck on the part of the cycle where I yell at the top of my lungs. I'm normally very even-tempered for an Italian, but I ran out of patience about an hour ago, LOL.

Gansky-- I'm fairly settled on the Maytag 8100s, but the new Speed Queen front-loader has definitely caught my attention. The SQ dealer is next door to where I get my hair cut, so I stopped in yesterday to look at the pair again. I can almost get past the internal water heater issue---my water heater is set at 140 degrees---but I don't want to return to a smaller drum. The 4.5 in the Maytag (or LG, or Samsung) is the direction I want to head. Also not sold on the pulse spins between the wash and rinses. But they are a solid-looking pair, to be sure. Love the soak and 3rd rinse options.

 

[DADoES]

 
Calypso.

 

[frigilux]

CR put the Calypso at the top of their ratings---to howls of disdain from most quarters---so it's been interesting to learn about the machine's strengths. No one I knew had one and user reviews complained of breakdowns and items getting caught under the nutating washplate. You and John (combo52) have done a lot to correct some misperceptions for those of us who have never had experience with one. From the videos I've seen---some of them yours---the wash action is robust as well as fun to watch.

Thanks to the AW member who posted this photo (found via Google). Google's bank of appliance images owes a huge debt to this website. AW is the point of origination for most of them.


(Edit/Update: Turns out the photo credit on this one is yours, Glenn!)

[this post was last edited: 9/1/2015-15:01]

 

[jerrod6]

I have an older Miele 1986 that does not have a special cycle for comforters.  I have a down comforter and a thermal fiber comforter both queens.  I don't wash the down in the washer but do put the thermal fiber in it.

 

I use the delicates cycle which uses a lot of water along with a decent tumble.  Downside of this cycle is that there are no spins between the wash and rinses  and the last spin  is  between medium to low.  To compensate for this I use a cycle named fine rinse.  This is two high fill rinses, with the last rinse drawing water through the fabric softener and ending with a spin of any speed you chose at the end.  So after the delicates cycle I start the Fine Rinse cycle and select high spin.  All comes out well.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

I also have a Calypso and really like it.  I usually use it for whites (really like the whitest whites cycle) but have done other loads as well.   For a sheets only load, each sheet is often a twisted rope when the cycle is done, so I usually wash sheets in one of my FL's.

 

I have a KM Elite He5t (among others) and have used the bulky cycle when needed.  Max spin speed is limited to medium as well, so I will run a spin only at a higher speed once the bulky cycle is done.  

 

The last few months have been warm enough that I sleep with only a sheet (if that).  For the dog fur / dander / dirt issue, I take unused (mismatched) sheets, put one on the sofa, and two (1 folded in half, one not) on my dogs "side" of the bed.  I put them over the sheets or blanket or comforter and wash them weekly.   This saves from having to wash blankets or comforters except for a couple times a year.

 

Kevin

 

[launderess]

"what exactly is a duvet cover/protector "?

Duvet cover - Resembles a large pillow slip that has the same function; you place the duvet inside to keep it clean. Also serves to decorate.

Duvet protector - Like the above but not meant to be seen. Fits over the duvet but under the cover. Can be had with several properties such as waterproof,anti-dust mite and allergen.

 

[launderess]

Again

Duvet wash:

 

[philcobendixduo]

Bathtub! (but no pets)

I've tried washing my "full size" quilted bedspread in my 1987 Kenmore Electronic Fabric Care washer but there is not enough room for the spread to move about in the water - it just stays in one place while the agitator agitates.

SO - I put my usual laundry soap in the bathtub, fill with warm water, and soak the spread for 20-30 minutes "stirring it about" every 5 minutes or so. I then drain the tub and squeeze out as much water from the spread as possible. Then, refill the tub with cold water and stir about to rinse. THEN, after squeezing as much water as possible out of the spread, I give it a spin in the Kenmore. Then, the spread is hung out on the line to dry in the sun.

While this method works well for me with no pet hair to deal with it IS a lot of work and uses a LOT of water. Obviously, this method is out during our "California Drought" so the bedspread will just have to get vacuumed for now to remove dust etc.

 

[henene4]

We only have 3 types of comforters in this house:

1: My thin cotton one. It washes pretty much like a towel. Boilwash, intensive&#92 extra rinse, full speed spin. Then, drying on a timed dry 1:20 setting with a few towels added to keep it from balling.

2: Thicker synthetic ones. They absorb water extremly slowly. So I pre-spin them at 1000 rpm (keep in mind we talk EU&#92compact machines), set them to either the normal boil wash cycle or an Easy care 140°F, extra rinse, prewash. The prewash acts as venting while not disturbing the load sensing.

3: My moms beloved woolen once. These things are heavy, huge, absorbent. So, they get a laundromat treatment. You can't wash them beyond a delicate 30°C &#92 86°F cycle (YUCK!!!), but I always hope that 30 minutes in the dryers at low temp will blow out most stuff. (Note: The 20kg E-Lux replaced a 16kg, 4 cycle and 350rpm solid mount Wascator from when the laundromat has been build. Not knowing the new cycles, I selected a cycle without any interim spin. Thus, I had to run the machine twice. However, I asked the manager, and NONE of the delicate cycles with the higher water levels included interim spins. The other, smaller machine however does interim spins.)

 

[lordkenmore]

My current process is simple. I only use blankets, which can be washed in a regular washing machine!

I do have one comforter that's out of service. In the past, it was washed at a coin operated laundry.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Comforters and blankets:

The big King comforter or the King quilt(that Katie made me) go to the laundromat.
Wash: 40# SQ on hot(50C)and special cycle for more rinsing.
Dry: 75# dryer for 30 min @ med heat.
Most blankets: warm wash in the WP and regular dry temp in the MT.
WK78

 

[electron1100]

Washing Bedding And Duvets

place in machine, select "cottons 60o" put 90ml of Tesco Bio Powder in soap draw, cap of low scent conditioner in, close draw and switch on, come back 75 minutes later and its done, dryer (reversing) will take 45 mins for cupboard dry or 35 for ironing dry.
Best option is to spin at 800rpm and put on line, for even less creasing.

Easy
Gary

 

[electron1100]

Washing Bedding And Duvets

place in machine, select "cottons 60o" put 90ml of Tesco Bio Powder in soap draw, cap of low scent conditioner in, close draw and switch on, come back 75 minutes later and its done, dryer (reversing) will take 45 mins for cupboard dry or 35 for ironing dry.
Best option is to spin at 800rpm and put on line, for even less creasing.

Easy
Gary

 

[electron1100]

Bedding And Duvets

Place in machine, select "cottons 60o" put 90ml of Tesco Bio Powder in soap draw, cap of low scent conditioner in, close draw and switch on, come back 75 minutes later and its done, dryer (reversing) will take 45 mins for cupboard dry or 35 for ironing dry.
Best option is to spin at 800rpm and put on line, for even less creasing.

Easy
Gary

 

[Marky_Mark]

In Spain I have a king size synthetic comforter that I can just about cram into my Miele W1 washer.  After the 1600 RPM spin, it fits easily in my Miele T1 heat pump dryer (although it fills the drum) and it dries completely no problem (although ends up very creased).  However I do always use it as a duvet by putting it inside a duvet cover (which I iron), so it doesn't get washed often.  We also have a double down duvet in the guest room and that gets the same treatment.

 

I'm currently in Goodyear, AZ with a Maytag Neptune washer and gas dryer.  The washer copes fine with comforters and bedding.  The dryer can dry comforters just fine, but they always end up creased and so I try to iron it once on the bed.  The dryer does tend to ball other bedding, just like my Miele in Spain.  I have also washed a comforter in an older Maytag belt drive TL.  Works ok, but I think a FL is better for comforters.

 

I am very envious of Gary with his 1980s British Hoover vented dryer that reverses every 37 seconds.  I would love one of those.  Although the Maytag gas dryer, with its 6400-Watt burner and fast airflow, does dry very quickly but it can leave duvet covers and fitted sheets in a tangled mess!

 

Mark

 

P.S. I prefer to have a fitted sheet on top of the mattress protector and then a duvet or comforter inside a duvet cover.  I just can't get along with bedspreads and top sheets between me and the comforter -- hotels often do it that way and the whole bed ends up looking like a war broke out after I've tried to sleep in it.  How about you guys?

[this post was last edited: 9/4/2015-00:40]