How to Wash Down Pillows and Comforters the Right Way

Down pillows do best washed every three to six months, while comforters only need it up to twice a year, since each wash strips some of the feathers' natural oils. Both should dry on the lowest heat setting with a few clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls tossed in to redistribute the feathers evenly, and airing them out on a clothesline between washes helps keep them smelling fresh. Small stains respond well to a little mild dishwashing liquid and water.

A front-loader, or a top-loader without a center agitator, is the gentlest option for pillows. A top-loader with an agitator still works if the pillows go in vertically and the machine runs only one or two minutes on the gentle cycle, followed by two spin-dry cycles to wring out as much moisture as possible.

Most people use more detergent than they need. Using about half of what the manufacturer recommends still gets clothes just as clean and stretches a bottle of detergent much further.