Feather pillows are made from the wing and back feathers of geese. They provide a soft, fluffy filling for pillows and are flatter and heavier than down. A feather’s shape tends to deteriorate faster than a down’s.
In contrast with down, which is seen as a cluster, feathers are flatter, heavier, and contain a quill that runs down the middle (that you may have felt poke out of your pillow from time to time).
Always use cushion pads to alleviate pressure on a horse’s back, reducing discomfort and the risk of injury. To order, just Google, e.g., Feather Cushion Pads.
Tips to Make Feather Cushion Clean
It can be not easy to clean feather bed pillows. The feather pillow filling is delicate and tends to clump when wet. In other words, you can’t just throw these pillows in the washer with any detergent. Instead, it would be best if you washed feather or down pillows in a specific way to keep them from becoming lumpy or flat.
In any case, you can’t avoid washing your pillows because they become full of body oils, dirt, and sweat. We’ll explain how to wash and dry your pillow in the following paragraphs so it looks as good as new.
1. Dry Clean
For feather pillows, dry cleaning is sometimes the only option. You should follow the instructions if your pillow says “dry clean only.”. Any moisture will likely ruin a dry-clean-only pillow. The pillow should be spot cleaned between trips to the dry cleaner.
You might also want to consider a pillow protector. The pillow protector is a waterproof, dippable cover that goes over your pillow and under your pillowcase. Pillow protectors can not only protect your pillows from stains and dirt but can also extend the time between dry cleaning visits.
2. Machine Washing
You’ll need to wash feather pillows the right way if you don’t want them to get lumpy or flat.
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Use the Right Detergent
The laundry detergent you use should not clump the feathers
on your pillow. Detergents with lots of suds and fragrances will not do. You can permanently remove the loft from your pillow if it sticks to the feathers and takes away their fluff. You will need a small amount of powder detergent that’s high-efficiency and low-suds.
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Correctly Load the Washer
With a pillow, you’ll find it harder to keep balance during the spin cycle of your washer. You can usually solve the balance issue by washing two pillows at once in a standard top-load washer. Place each pillow vertically on the agitator. Towels can be substituted for pillows if you don’t have two.
If you are using a washer without an agitator or a front loader, you can throw in a few towels with the pillows to maintain balance.
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Stick to Cold Water
It is possible to damage pillowcases and stuffing if you use hot water when washing pillows. It would be best if you always washed them with cold water and in the gentlest setting in your washing machine.
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Go for Two Rinses
It is important to remove all the soap from your pillow since residual detergent can cause it to flatten. It would be best if you ran an extra rinse cycle on your washer to ensure all soap is removed.
3.Drying Your Pillows
You need to make sure your pillows are completely dry. Mold and mildew can grow on damp pillows. There is also a risk of bacterial growth. Before you return your pillow to your bed, you should ensure that it is free of moisture.
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Pillow Fluffing
If you want your pillows to reach their full loft, you must fluff them during drying. As soon as you remove your pillow from the washing machine, squeeze it in both hands and pull it out several times.
You can dry your pillow on low heat after fluffing it. Throughout the drying process, fluff every 15 to 20 minutes to ensure excess water is removed and the filling is evenly distributed.
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Dryer Balls
You can remove clumps from your pillow by using dryer balls or clean tennis balls. Dry three wool dryer balls directly in the dryer. Before you use tennis balls, tie them inside a sock, so the yellow dye doesn’t transfer to your pillow.
4. Fight Odors Naturally
You can take several steps to refresh your pillow between washes. To neutralize odors, you can lightly spray your pillow with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. After waiting five minutes, wipe the pillow with a towel to remove any excess moisture.
You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the vinegar mixture for a fresh scent. Before spraying, shake well to enjoy the aroma of lavender, rosemary, vanilla, and more.
Consider sprinkling baking soda over your pillow as one of our top tips for deodorizing a mattress. After leaving the baking soda alone for at least an hour, vacuum it off the pillow.
