A good comforter can last for many years, but only if it’s cared for properly. Wash it the wrong way and you can end up with lumpy filling, torn seams or a comforter that takes days to dry. With winter coming, now is a good time to give your comforter a fresh start. This guide covers how to wash a comforter at home, how often to do it and simple habits that make all your bedding last longer.
Start with the care label
Every comforter is different, so always read the care label first. It will tell you whether the comforter can be machine washed, the water temperature to use, whether it can go in the dryer and whether it needs dry cleaning. Silk and some wool-filled comforters often need professional cleaning, while most down-alternative and many down comforters can be washed at home.
How often should you wash a comforter?
If you use a duvet cover, the cover takes most of the wear and can be washed along with your sheets. The comforter itself usually only needs washing a few times a year, or whenever it gets stained or starts to smell stale. Without a cover, you’ll need to wash it more often. Spot-clean small spills straight away with a little mild detergent and cool water so they don’t set.
Check your washing machine first
A comforter needs room to move in the water to get clean and rinse properly. Many home machines, especially smaller top-loaders with a center agitator, are too small for queen or king comforters, and an agitator can twist and tear the fabric. If your comforter fills the drum tightly, take it to a laundromat and use one of their large front-loading machines.
How to wash a comforter step by step
1. Prepare it
Check for loose seams or small holes and mend them first, or the filling may escape in the wash. Treat any stains gently.
2. Choose a gentle cycle
Use a gentle or delicate cycle with cool or warm water, following the label. Use a small amount of mild detergent. Too much detergent is hard to rinse out of thick filling.
3. Add an extra rinse
An extra rinse cycle helps remove all the soap so the filling doesn’t stay stiff or sticky.
4. Washing down comforters
Down needs a mild detergent, and many people choose one made for down. Skip fabric softener, which can coat the clusters and flatten them. Press out excess water gently rather than wringing.
Drying a comforter without clumps
Drying is where most comforters go wrong. Use a large dryer on low heat and add two or three clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls to keep the filling moving. Every 30 minutes or so, take the comforter out, shake it and break up any clumps by hand. A thick comforter can take several hours to dry. Make sure it is completely dry all the way through before you use or store it, because trapped moisture can lead to mildew and odors. On a dry, sunny day, finishing it outside on a line also helps.
Protect your comforter with a duvet cover
The easiest way to make a comforter last is to keep it in a cover. A duvet cover is far easier to wash than a bulky comforter, and it lets you change the look of your bed without buying a new insert. Bedding sets that include a matching quilt cover, fitted sheet and pillowcases, such as this sheet and quilt cover kit or a cozy coral fleece bedding set for winter, make it easy to keep everything matched and protected.
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Caring for sheets and blankets
- Wash sheets every week or two in the water temperature the label recommends.
- Don’t overload the machine. Sheets need room to move to come out clean and less wrinkled.
- Avoid very high heat in the dryer, which can weaken fibers and cause shrinking.
- Take things out promptly and fold them while warm to reduce wrinkles.
- Rotate sets. Having two or three sets of sheets in use spreads the wear.
Blankets have their own needs depending on the material. Our guide to buying blankets includes care tips for cotton, wool, fleece and chenille, and our article on thread count explains what makes sheets last.
Storing a comforter
When you swap a heavy winter comforter for a lighter one in spring, wash it first and make sure it’s completely dry. Store it in a breathable cotton bag or container in a cool, dry place, rather than sealed in plastic. Our guide to bedding storage has more ideas.
FAQ
Can I wash a king-size comforter at home?
Only if your washer is large enough for it to move freely. Otherwise, use a large-capacity machine at a laundromat.
Why is my comforter lumpy after washing?
The filling has clumped while wet. Keep drying on low heat with dryer balls and shake it out regularly until it’s fully dry and fluffy again.
Can I use fabric softener on a comforter?
It’s best to avoid it on down, because it can flatten the filling. Check the label for synthetic comforters.
How long does a comforter last?
It depends on the quality and how it’s cared for. Keeping it in a duvet cover and washing it gently will help it last much longer.
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