How to Dry Clean a Comforter at Home

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If your comforter is marked as “dry clean only” but you don’t want to spend the money on a professional dry cleaner, you have a few options for home dry cleaning. There are home dry cleaning kits on the market that use specially formulated cloths to clean your fabrics in the dryer. Steam cleaning is another good option when you want to avoid the washing machine. For badly soiled comforters, taking them to a professional dry cleaner is your best option.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Home Dry Clean Cloths

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  1. Look in the laundry section of your grocery or big-box store for a home dry cleaning kit. It should include the specially designed dry cleaning cloths, as well as a bag to put the items in. Some kits include stain pre-treating spray. Dryel, Bounce, and Woolite sell home dry cleaning kits. [1]
    • This type of dry cleaning is used for freshening fabric and will not clean heavily soiled fabrics. If your comforter is in need of a thorough washing, you’ll need to do more than home dry cleaning.
  2. Most dry cleaning kits are not made to wash away bad stains. Treat bad stains with a basic enzyme cleaner, like Shout or Spray-N-Wash, or use another stain treatment option, like vinegar or meat tenderizer. If the dry cleaning kit provides a stain treater, use it.
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  3. Open up the dry cleaning bag that came with the kit. Stuff the comforter into the bag, making sure it is not folded up. If the comforter seems to fit too tightly in the bag, put the comforter directly into the dryer and clean it without the bag.
  4. Take one of the cleaning cloths out of the box and put it into the bag with the comforter. Use two sheets if you put the comforter directly into the dryer. Since the cloths are designed to be used with the bag, you’ll need the strength of two without the bag. [2]
  5. When the comforter and the cloth are in the bag, zip it shut and place it into the dryer. If your home dryer is not big enough to fit the comforter, take the bag to the laundromat to use the larger dryers available there.
  6. Set the dryer to medium heat. If your dryer has a timed setting, set it for 30 minutes. If your dryer does not have a timed setting, be sure to watch the clock or set a timer to ensure the comforter doesn’t dry for too long. [4]
  7. When the the dryer cycle has finished, remove the bag from the dryer and take the comforter out of the bag. If you put the comforter directly into the dryer, remove the comforter from it.
  8. After the cycle in the dryer, your comforter will most likely be damp from the cleaning. Hang the comforter on a clothesline, a railing, a shower curtain, or lay it on a couple of chairs so that it can air dry completely. [5] [6]
  9. Home dry cleaning cloths can only be used once, so throw them away in your trash. The bag is reusable, so store it with your other laundry supplies, and the box of unused cleaning cloths, for further use.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Trying Other Cleaning Options

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  1. Mix 1 cup (236.6 ml) warm water, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) borax, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) oxygen bleach and 3 drops lavender essential oil (optional, or use any other scent) in a bowl. Soak a washcloth in the mixture. Put the comforter and the wet washcloth into your dryer and dry for about 30 minutes. [8]
    • This method does not “clean” a comforter, but gives a freshening effect similar to home dry cleaning kits.
  2. If your comforter is starting to get musty, treat it with a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners for clothes are filled with distilled water, which heats to steam. Run the steaming wand over the surface of the comforter to release bad odors and refresh the fabric. [9]
  3. If your dry clean only comforter is heavily soiled, a professional dry cleaner is your best option. Your other option is to wash it in the washing machine as you would any other garment or linen and hope that the comforter holds up to washing. Use cold water and low heat if you wash it at home.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you wash a dry clean only comforter at home?
    Safir Ali
    Professional Dry Cleaner
    Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.
    Safir Ali
    Professional Dry Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    It depends on the inside material of the comforter. Generally, when you put the comforter into the washing machine, be sure it comfortably fits. Wash in cold or lukewarm water (never hot!) and don't use bleach unless you have a stain. Be sure to air-dry the comforter so its quality doesn't deteriorate—otherwise it may clump up or knot up on the inside.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://nymag.com/guides/everything/at-home-dry-cleaning-2012-10/
      2. ↑ https://homesteady.com/12347284/how-to-dry-clean-a-bed-comforter
      3. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgmXRgpX5so&feature=youtu.be&t=54s
      5. ↑ https://homesteady.com/12347284/how-to-dry-clean-a-bed-comforter
      6. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      7. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      8. ↑ https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/09/how-to-make-your-own-dryel-cleaning-cloths.html
      9. ↑ https://bestcarpetcleanerreview.net/6-things-you-can-clean-with-your-carpet-cleaner-you-might-not-know-about/

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