To wash a comforter, check the care label, treat any stains, then wash it on its own in a large-capacity washer on the gentle or bulky cycle with cold or warm water and an extra rinse. Dry it on low heat with a few wool dryer balls, stopping now and then to fluff it, until the filling is completely dry.
You can wash a comforter at home without any special equipment. It picks up dust, allergens, bacteria and body oils over time, and a regular wash keeps it clean and feeling fresh for years. You'll need a washer, a stain remover, some wool dryer balls and a gentle laundry detergent that still cleans properly.
How often to wash a comforter
Most guides suggest washing a comforter every 2 to 3 months if you sleep under it without a cover. If it lives in a duvet cover that you wash with your sheets, a few times a year is usually enough.
Wash it sooner if anyone in the house has allergies, if a pet sleeps on the bed, or after an illness. Every so often, lay it out flat and look for stains, a stale smell or filling that has gone flat and clumpy. Any of those means it's due, and while you're at it you can wash your pillows too.
Washer size by comforter size
A comforter needs room to move in the water, or the middle of it never gets clean or rinsed. Use this as a rough guide, and look up your washer's capacity in the manual or on the inside of the lid.
| Comforter size | Washer capacity | Where to wash it |
|---|---|---|
| Twin or full | About 3.5 cubic feet or more | Most standard home washers |
| Queen | About 4.5 cubic feet or more | A large-capacity home washer |
| King or California king | About 5 cubic feet or more | An extra-large home washer, or a large front-loader at a laundromat |
If you have to push to get the door closed, the drum is too small. Front-loaders and top-loaders without a center agitator are the gentlest on a comforter. An agitator can twist and tear a bulky comforter, and if that's the machine you've got, take it to a laundromat. Our guide to doing laundry at a laundromat has tips if you've never used one.
What you'll need
- A mild detergent. We'd suggest our laundry detergent sheets. They're pre-measured, which makes it hard to overdo the detergent on a bulky load.
- A stain remover for pretreating.
- A large-capacity washer and dryer.
- Three or four wool dryer balls (or clean tennis balls) to fluff the filling in the dryer.
- Some clear floor or bed space to inspect it before washing and check it after drying.
How to wash a comforter in a washing machine
Step 1: Read the care label
Check what the filling is. Down, feather, polyester (down alternative) and cotton comforters can usually go in the machine. Wool and silk often can't, and some comforters say dry clean only. Look at the comforter's care label for any specific washing or care instructions. They're the manufacturer's recommendations, and they win over anything else, this guide included. If the tag is all pictures, our laundry symbols guide decodes them.
Step 2: Check it over and treat stains
Lay the comforter flat and look for loose seams or small holes. Stitch them up first. The wash makes holes bigger and you'll lose filling through them.
Then the stains. For coffee or tea, dab the stain with cold water, work in a little dish soap with a soft toothbrush and leave it for five minutes before washing. For makeup, apply stain remover or a pea-sized amount of detergent mixed with water, work it in gently and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. Blot with a damp cloth and repeat until most of it has lifted.
For pet urine, soak the area with stain remover or a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Then dab it with laundry detergent and let it sit for 15 minutes before it goes in the washer.
Step 3: Choose the settings
Pick the gentle, delicate or bulky cycle. Use cold or lukewarm water for down and feather comforters, and cold or warm for polyester and cotton. Never use hot unless the label says so. Add an extra rinse, since a thick comforter holds on to detergent. A medium or high spin gets more water out, and the comforter comes out lighter and quicker to dry.
Step 4: Load it evenly
Wash the comforter on its own. Fold it loosely and spread it around the drum to keep the weight even. If it's all on one side, the washer may stop mid-spin to rebalance.
Step 5: Add the detergent and start the wash
Lay 3 HeySunday sheets on top of the comforter in the drum, since a comforter counts as a large load, or 2 for a lightly used twin. Anything more than the load needs just ends up as residue in the filling. Each of our detergent sheets is a pre-portioned dose, and they're safe on most fabrics, from clothes to comforters. If the care label asks for a specific down wash, use that instead.
Step 6: Dry it on low heat
Move the comforter to the dryer with your wool dryer balls. They bounce around and break up clumps of filling. Dry on low heat. A comforter can take two to three hours or more. Every 30 minutes or so, stop the dryer, pull the comforter out, shake it and turn it over to help it dry evenly.
Step 7: Make sure it's completely dry
Pat the comforter all over and squeeze the thickest parts. Damp spots feel cool and heavy, and clumped filling means there's still water inside. A comforter that goes back on the bed damp can grow mildew. If you're unsure, give it another 30 minutes in the dryer, or hang it out to air dry in the sunlight or in front of a fan.
Down, synthetic, cotton and wool comforters
Down comforters, and any other feather comforter, are lovely to sleep under but delicate because of the filling. Wash them cold or lukewarm. Skip harsh chemicals, bleach and fabric softener, which can damage the feathers or leave a filmy residue. Air drying is the best way to dry down if you have the space and a few dry days. Otherwise dry it low and slow with dryer balls. Down takes the longest to dry, and it's the one most likely to smell if it isn't fully dry. Store it in a breathable cotton bag rather than plastic.
Synthetic (down alternative) comforters handle frequent washing best. Tumble dry them on low with dryer balls to keep the filling from clumping, and keep them out of strong sun or the cover can fade.
Cotton-filled comforters can usually take warmer water and higher dryer heat, but check the label first. Cotton wrinkles easily. Take it out of the dryer as soon as it's done and shake it out, and iron it on a low setting if the wrinkles stay.
Most wool comforters shouldn't go in a washing machine. Agitation and heat felt and shrink the wool. Wool naturally resists dirt and odor, so air them out often, spot clean spills and have them professionally cleaned when needed. Store them somewhere cool and dry, ideally with cedar to keep moths away.
Washing a king size comforter at home
A king comforter needs a drum of about 5 cubic feet or more. If yours is big enough, wash it on its own on the bulky cycle and make sure it isn't packed tight. When the door only just closes, the comforter can't move and the middle won't get clean.
The dryer is often the bigger problem. A king comforter in a standard dryer stays damp in the middle for hours. Many people wash it at home and take it to a laundromat's large dryer, or wash and dry it there in one trip.
How to hand wash a comforter
If it won't fit in your washer, use the bathtub. Fill the tub with cool or lukewarm water, dissolve your detergent in it (1 or 2 sheets), then push the comforter under and work the water through it with your hands for a few minutes. Let it soak for 15 minutes.
Drain the tub and press the water out without wringing. Refill with clean water and rinse it the same way, at least twice, until no suds come out. Squeeze out as much water as you can, then dry it in a large dryer or lay it flat over a drying rack and turn it often.
Between washes
A duvet cover takes the body oils, spills and dust, and it goes in the wash with your sheets. Give the comforter a quick shake when you make the bed to keep the filling spread out, and spot clean spills before they set.
Once a month, air out your comforter in indirect sunlight to freshen it up and eliminate odors. In a humid room, do it more often to stop moisture building up inside.
The bottom line
Whatever your comforter is filled with, a standard-size washer or the big machine at your local laundromat will get out the stains, dust mites, odors and allergens, and you'll sleep better under it.
For the detergent, pick one that's gentle and allergen-friendly and cleans properly. HeySunday laundry detergent sheets dissolve in any water temperature and leave no residue in the fabric you sleep under. Your first order ships free and comes with a money-back guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wash a comforter in a washing machine?
Yes, most comforters can go in a washing machine if the drum is big enough. A wet comforter weighs several times what it does dry. That weight strains a small drum or wraps round an agitator, and a front-loader or an agitator-free top-loader handles it better.
What temperature should you wash a comforter on?
Cold or lukewarm, unless the care label says otherwise. Killing dust mites takes water of about 130°F, which most comforter labels don't allow. For allergies, a duvet cover washed hot every week or two does more than washing the comforter hot.
What washer setting is best for a comforter?
Choose the bulky, bedding, gentle or delicate cycle and add an extra rinse. Avoid the heavy-duty cycle. Its long, fast agitation can tear the stitching that keeps the filling in its pockets, and the filling then bunches up at one end.
How do you wash a king size comforter in a home washing machine?
You need a washer of about 5 cubic feet or more to wash a king size comforter at home. If yours is smaller, look for a double or triple-load front-loader at a laundromat. They're built for bedding, and their big dryers dry a king comforter far faster than most home dryers.
How long does a comforter take to dry?
Two to three hours or more in a dryer on low heat, and down takes the longest. If you use tennis balls in place of wool dryer balls, put each one in a clean sock. The fuzz can leave color on a white comforter, and the rubber can smell when it gets hot.
