A Simple Step-By-Step Guide On Washing a Comforter
If you've finally found a comforter you love, the thought of washing it may seem daunting. While washing machines are a gift from the laundry gods, that's not to say they're always the best for your laundry.
The truth is, some comforters can't be machine-washed. Some fabrics are more delicate than others, meaning a washing machine can be too rough on the material. If you're someone who doesn't have the time (or patience) to hand wash their comforter, you should look into the care your comforter requires prior to the big purchase.
Determine Your Comforters Fabric
The wash protocol is dependent on your comforter fabric. Silk, wool, and rayon are the fabrics that (usually) should be placed on your hand wash to-do list.
If your comforter is cotton, it should be fine to wash in the washer machine. However, you should check the label just to make sure.
Usually, the label will give you a better idea of what you can do and not do. A comforter can cost some big bucks — you don't want to ruin it on the first wash.
Easy Fabrics To Clean
For the most part, cotton fabrics have an easier up-keep. They're machine washable and are one of the more durable fabrics.
Some may feel like a cotton comforter isn't as luxurious as they’d like. After all, don’t we wear cotton t-shirts all the time? Perhaps. But we’re here to talk about the cotton that offers blissful luxury combined with no-stress up-keep.
We're talking about comforters and duvets made with Supima cotton 500 - count sateen thread. Supima cotton is the highest quality cotton regarding softness, durability, and color retention. It only makes up 1% of the cotton of the world's cotton industry and is USA-grown.
Step #1: Read the Label
Before accidentally subjecting your beloved comforter to a wash it's not ready for, you should read the label. The label will give you the necessary info on the fabric and how it should be treated and washed.
Some fabrics may require a hand wash, while others will be perfectly fine in the washer. If you're someone who doesn't want the hassle of hand washing their bedding, then doing research prior to your purchase is key.
Step #2: Remove Any Stains
Even if your comforter is washer safe, that's not to say the wash will remove every little stain. Washers are good for cleansing your clothes and bedding, but stain removal is more tedious work.
You want to be sure to try and remove any stains before you wash and dry your comforter. Sometimes if you wash and dry fabric before removing a stain, it can be much more challenging to get from there on out.
Step #3: Use The Best Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergent is one of the most important factors for washing clothes or bedding.
There are a lot of harsh and harmful ingredients in laundry detergents, so you want to be sure you're using a high-quality and safe detergent. We say the fewer ingredients, the better!
The detergent doesn't just make a difference in the quality of the wash, but it also plays a role in your health. The toxic chemicals in some detergents can be detrimental to your health over time and damage the environment.
Opt for an all-natural, eco-friendly detergent that is as kind to your skin as it is to our planet.
Step #4: Dry Your Comforter With Tennis Balls
Drying your comforter with tennis balls is an essentially helpful tip if you have a goose-feather comforter. If you have an issue with the filling of your comforter getting bunched up or unevenly distributed after a wash, we suggest putting tennis balls in the dryer.
When you dry your comforter with tennis balls, it helps the filling distribute lump-free.
Step #5: Fluff the Comforter Throughout Cycle
Yes, drying your comforter with tennis balls is a good way to distribute the filling, but we understand that some people are comfortable putting tennis balls in their dryer.
If that's the case for you, we consider stopping the wash and drying cycle every 30 minutes (or halfway through) and giving your comforter a nice fluff. Shaking and fluffing your comforter will help the filling distribute well.
Caring For Your Supima Cotton
While there is proper protocol for washing any comforter, we want to let you in on all the tips and tricks for caring for your Supima cotton comforter.
Supima cotton is just as soft and durable as simple to clean. But when you have an item you truly appreciate, you always want to air on the side of caution, especially when it comes to washing.
Watch Your Wash Setting
The wash setting can seriously affect your bedding. Whether you're washing your sheets or comforter, you should opt for a gentler setting.
Miracle Tip: Make sure the load size is correct. There is nothing like a wrong load setting that can seriously ruin a comforter.
If your load setting isn't right, it can end in detergent stains all over your favorite comforter.
Watch Water Temperature
We're sure you've been told before to watch the water temperature when you're washing your face, but what about when you're washing your bedding?
The water temperature you wash your bedding in is essential. For the most part, your sheets and comforters will have a tag giving you the suggested temp, but if yours lacks that vital information, we're here to help.
We always suggest lukewarm water for washing your comforter. Hot water can lead to shrinkage or color fading, and cold water may not be as sanitizing as some prefer.
What About Antibacterial Comforters?
If you have an antibacterial silver-infused Miracle Made comforter and aren't sure how often you need to wash it — we've got you covered.
If you decide to get ahead of your laundry by getting an antibacterial comforter, we can't say you're the first (or last).
Antibacterial comforters are fantastic because that means 3x less laundry! That's right; it's considered self-cleaning if you have a silver-infused comforter. That means your bedding collection can go weeks free of odor or bacteria.
This means you can spend less time doing laundry and spend more time on things that matter, like creating towel animals.
Benefits of Antibacterial Bedding
If the thought of antibacterial bedding is foreign to you, don't feel bad, they aren't super common yet. Antibacterial bedding has benefits you may have never imagined them having, definitely more than your average comforter.
Using antibacterial bedding can have tons of great benefits.
Here are a few of our top picks:
No odor
Less laundry
Cooling effect
Reduced allergens
Who doesn't love the idea of odor-less sheets and blankets that can also reduce your allergic reactions?
Allergies are very common, and blankets and sheets are notorious for grabbing and holding onto those allergens.
Happy Washing (Maybe)
If you've yet to splurge on an antibacterial bed set, chances are you're in the laundry room every weekend trying to get your comforter its best wash yet —- we get that can be frustrating. We know your time is precious, and we love the idea of you spending your weekends doing something a bit more fun than doing laundry.
Sources:
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8 Big Benefits of Antibacterial Linens | Thelistwire
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Environmental Impacts of Detergent | Sciencing
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Supima Cotton | FAQ | Supima
