A comforter is warm, durable, and helps keep your body temperature steady as you sleep. It’s usually made out of the fluffy feathers found under the exterior feathers of birds. The lightness and softness of comforters make them feel cloud-like and luxurious. But how exactly do you dry a comforter after washing it? Can you put a comforter in the dryer?
You can put a comforter in the dryer, as long as it fits inside! Always use the lowest possible heat setting, and add a few tennis balls to help keep the filling from clumping. Monitor the comforter as it dries; you may need to remove it from time to time to shake it out and undo lumps.
It’s always a good idea to read the care instructions provided on your product since different comforters require different types of care. But the instructions you find may not be very clear or extensive, so let’s take a look at some general tips and tricks to help you get started.
Can You Dry a Comforter in the Dryer?
Yes. You can machine dry most down comforters, but you should always confirm this on the care label before proceeding.
How to Dry a Comforter in the Dryer in 4 Easy Steps
Thankfully, this is a relatively easy process, and I’m going to share some simple steps you can follow to ensure you can dry your comforter correctly.
1. Choose a Dryer That Is Large Enough for the Job
Your bedding can easily be dried at home; however, many people don’t have a big enough dryer for items like comforters. You can make the drying process faster by heading to a laundromat to use a dryer with a very large capacity.
2. Set the Dryer to a Low-Heat Mode
Even in the case of a big dryer, heavy comforters can get stuck in one place for some time. When you set the dryer on low heat, it reduces the odds of the comforter getting burned.
3. Add a Few Tennis Balls to the Dryer
As the comforter dries, the tennis balls (on Amazon) will keep it fluffy and prevent the filling from getting clumped together. You can also achieve the same result by using a clean pair of canvas shoes, but don’t forget to take out the laces first.
4. Pause the Drying Cycle to Undo Any Lumps
Even when you add in some tennis balls or shoes, your comforter may still clump together. Then, remove the blanket from the dryer and shake it up a little to evenly distribute the fluffy down material and make the drying process faster.
How to Dry a Comforter Without a Dryer
If you don’t have access to a dryer that is quite large enough to dry your comforter, the next best option is to air dry it. You can achieve this in many ways, but you’ll have to get creative depending on your circumstances.
Make an Outdoor Clothesline to Dry Your Comforter
Drying your wash on a clothesline causes less damage to the material and is better for the environment. Dry, warm, and windy weather are ideal conditions for quick drying.
Get Yourself Some Solid Outdoor Drying Racks
If you cannot make a clothesline, you can set up two drying racks outside. Set them up a little distance from each other and spread your comforter evenly over both. Consider an adjustable stainless steel rack like this one from MRCTVG (on Amazon).
Another advantage of drying your comforter outdoors is that you can leave it to dry for as long as you like instead of having to monitor it at the laundromat.
Use an Indoor Drying Rack if Needed
In the absence of outdoor space, or if you live in an area that is prone to rain or humidity, you can dry your materials indoors. Drying indoors also has less of a negative effect on people who have seasonal outdoor allergies because it’s less likely that the blanket will come in contact with pollen or grass.
You can use a railing in your house or just find a sturdy piece of furniture as an alternative. If you have any concerns that the damp comforter can damage the material or finish on the furniture, you should find an alternative. After all, this option will take much longer to dry, so it’ll probably need to hang dry for at least a day.
How Long Does It Take to Dry a Comforter?
Generally, it’s best to use the lowest possible heat setting when drying your comforter. If the heat is set too high, the filling is at risk of getting clumped instead of evenly distributed, and the duvet’s filling or exterior can get scorched.
Use the lowest setting when drying and expect the drying process to take at least several hours. You need to be patient during the process; you may have to wait anywhere from 4 to 12 hours.
Drying indoors on a rack is usually the slowest of the methods listed, but you can make the process faster by placing a big fan near the wet comforter.
Conclusion
It can be a rather time-consuming process to clean and dry your down comforter, but luckily you only need to do this two times each year. And now that you’ve got all the best tips for drying a down comforter, you should be ready!