Feather mattresses and feather mattress toppers are laundered differently.
Throughout history, people filled mattresses with whatever they had: grasses, straw or feathers. Synthetic or natural products fill modern mattresses. Modern feather beds are luxury items due to their price and care level. Feather mattresses and feather mattress toppers are similar but different due to size and weight. Lighter feather beds that top another mattress can go in the washing machine, but heavy toppers may not be machine washable. Antique or modern feather mattresses can only be spot cleaned or laundered by professional services.
Instructions
Feather Mattresses
1. Move the feather mattress to a flat, outdoor location on a dry, sunny day. Leave the mattress in the sun for about six hours to air out stale odors. A 1974 article in "Bittersweet" magazine on the care of antique mattresses recommends airing out feather mattresses about four times a year.
2. Spot clean the mattress liner while the mattress is outside in the sun. Spray any laundry stain remover onto stains. Scrub the stain with a damp, soapy sponge to clean the stain remover and spotted area from the mattress fabric. Avoid using a lot of water to protect the inside feathers from excess moisture, which could lead to mildew. For an antique mattress, the "Bittersweet" article suggests making a new mattress cover, or ticking, to cover it.
3. Return the feather mattress to the box springs, flipping the mattress to the opposite side from when you originally removed it from the bed. Flip and rotate a feather mattress once every six months to maintain the loft in the mattress.
4. Use your palm to work the inside feather clumps through the mattress fabric to the desired location. Run a horizontal broom handle over the top of the mattress to smooth the top surface.
5. Cover an antique or modern feather mattress with a separate, washable cover. Regularly remove the cover, wash it in a washing machine and dry it in a clothes dryer. Seek professional laundering of the feather mattress every four years. Place a fitted sheet over the mattress cover.
Feather Toppers
6. Wash lightweight feather beds that top a mattress in a washing machine in a warm water wash. Use a mild clothes detergent, one recommended for delicates. Check the care label of the feather bed before washing. If the label on your topper warns against full water immersion, follow the instructions for spot cleaning a feather mattress.
7. Dry the feather bed in the clothes dryer on a low heat setting with fabric softener sheets. To reduce feather clumping, the Cuddledown website suggests placing a tennis ball into the dryer with the topper.
8. Remove the topper from the dryer. Check its feathers through the topper fabric to make sure there are no damp or wet spots or feathers. The topper must be completely dry to avoid mildew or decomposition of the inside feathers.
9. Return the feather topper to your mattress. Some toppers feature elastic straps on each corner that stretch beneath the corners of your mattress.
10. Use your hands and arms to distribute the feathers into the corners and other areas within the liner so the topper is even.
11. Cover the feather bed with a fitted sheet or cover that you can launder on a regular basis.
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