How to wash down and feather correctly – duvet, pillow and mattress topper

A truly good down duvet and a soft down pillow only get better with the years — if they are given the right care. Down and feather are living natural materials that breathe, insulate and recover their volume time and again, but they want to be handled with care. Washed wrong, the fill can clump, lose its loft and, in the worst case, be damaged. Washed right, they regain their airy fullness and that calm, cosseting feeling that lets you sink into bed and actually relax. In this guide we go through how to wash and dry down and feather step by step — for duvet, pillow and mattress topper — so you can confidently care for your bedding at home and keep the hotel feeling brought home year after year.

At Boe Leisure the fills are genuine natural materials: Sense of Satisfaction Down Duvet and Sense of Satisfaction Down Pillow are filled with duck down, while Harper Featherstone Feather Inner Pillow and Cody Lamont Feather Mattress Topper have a firmer duck-feather fill in a soft cotton weave. The same basic principles apply to all — with a few important differences that we sort out below.

Before you start: always read the item's own care instructions

The most important advice of all: always follow the specific care instructions on your particular product. The symbols on the seam determine wash temperature, spin and whether the item can take a tumble dryer — and they take precedence over every general piece of advice you read online, including this guide. The advice here consists of general guidelines for down and feather. If they do not match your label, the label is what counts.

Also check that the fabric is intact before washing. Small holes in the weave can let feathers through when the textile becomes wet and heavy. Close any buttons and zips, and choose a machine large enough — down and feather need plenty of room in the drum to be rinsed clean and move freely.

How to wash a down duvet

A down duvet rarely needs washing often. With a duvet cover as protection, one to two washes a year is usually enough. In between, you keep the duvet fresh by airing and shaking it.

Step by step

• Choose the right machine. The duvet should fit with room to spare. If the home machine is too small, use a larger machine at a launderette.
• Wash cool and gently. For down, a delicate or gentle programme at a relatively low temperature is generally recommended. Many down sources state 30–60°C depending on the product — but always let your own label decide the exact temperature and programme.
• Use a mild detergent, ideally a special down detergent. Dose sparingly. Skip fabric softener — it settles as a film around the feather quills and reduces the loft.
• Rinse an extra time. Detergent residue weighs the down down, so an extra rinse cycle helps the fill regain its volume.
• Spin gently. Natural fill does best at a gentle spin speed so the feather's shaft does not break.

How to wash a down pillow and feather pillow

Pillows lie closer to skin and hair and may therefore be washed somewhat more often than the duvet. A down pillow is softer and airier, while a feather inner pillow is firmer and more shape-stable — but the washing principle is the same.

Keep this in mind

• Wash two pillows at once where possible, so the drum is evenly balanced.
• Use the same cool, gentle programme and mild dosing as for the duvet.
• Rinse generously — pillows easily hold on to detergent deep inside the fill.
• Be careful with the drying. A pillow has dense fill and needs plenty of time to dry completely all the way through.

If you want to delve into the difference between down and feather and how to choose the right one, read our guide down and feather – choosing a duvet and pillow. You will find more models in the range under duvets and pillows.

How to care for a feather mattress topper

A feather mattress topper is large and holds a great deal of duck feather, which makes it heavier and more demanding to wash at home. Many mattress toppers are best cared for with regular airing, shaking and a protective bottom sheet rather than frequent machine washing.

Daily and weekly care

• Shake and plump the mattress topper often so the feathers are evenly distributed and do not pack into one end.
• Air it regularly in cool, dry air to keep it fresh between washes.
• Use a bottom sheet as protection — it greatly reduces the need to wash.

If the mattress topper does need washing, read the label extra carefully. If it is too large for your machine, a larger machine or professional cleaning is often the safest choice. If you want to put the whole bed together in the best way, we have gathered our thoughts in build the perfect bed layer by layer.

Drying is everything – always dry completely

This is where the result is decided. Damp down clumps together, loses its insulating airiness and can start to smell musty or grow mould. Expect drying to take longer than you think — and never stop too early.

How to dry down and feather

• Tumble dry on low heat if the label allows it. A low temperature is gentler on the feathers than high heat.
• Add drying balls – wool or tennis balls that bounce around the drum, break up clumps and fluff up the fill.
• Stop and shake. Pause at regular intervals, take out the textile, shake it thoroughly and loosen any clumps by hand before continuing.
• Run several cycles. Large duvets and mattress toppers may need several drying cycles with cooling breaks in between.
• Check that everything is dry all the way through before you make up the bed — the slightest moisture inside the fill is enough to cause problems.

If you lack a tumble dryer, you can air-dry the item lying flat on a level, airy surface, but then you must fluff and turn it often and reckon on a couple of days. Always finish by shaking and airing so the fill regains its full volume. You will find more advice on long-term care in our bedding care guide.

Between washes: air and shake

The best care is the small, regular kind. Shake the duvet and pillows every morning when you make the bed, so the down is evenly distributed and the fill keeps its loft. Air the bedding in cool, dry air now and then — ideally without direct, strong sun for longer stretches. That habit keeps your down and feather products fresh for longer and means you need to machine wash far less often. With the right wash and careful drying, down and feather keep their airy fullness for many years — it is the care, not the age, that decides.

Frequently asked questions

How often should you wash a down duvet?

Usually one to two times a year is enough if you use a duvet cover. Shake and air the duvet in between. Always follow the item's own care instructions for the exact recommendation.

What temperature should I wash down at?

Wash down cool and gently. General advice often states 30–60°C depending on the product, but the only temperature that counts is the one on your own care label — read it first.

Do you have to use drying balls when drying down?

They are strongly recommended. Wool or tennis balls break up clumps and fluff up the fill during drying, giving an airier and more even result. They are not, however, absolutely necessary if you instead shake the textile often.

Why does my down clump after washing?

Almost always because it has not been fully dried. Damp down sticks together. Dry in several cycles, shake in between, and make sure the fill is completely dry all the way through before you make up the bed.

Can I wash a feather mattress topper at home?

Sometimes, but it is large and heavy. Check the label and that it fits with room to spare in the machine. If it is too large, a larger machine or professional cleaning is the safest choice. Otherwise, care for it with regular airing and shaking.