Washing feather pillows?

[ClosedForCleaning]

I know in theory you can put them in the machine, but have never done it. Do they tend to come out okay (after a good tumble-dry) or would I be better to pile on the extra pillowcases and hope no-one looks underneath?

[lovemyshoes]

I was my feather pillows every six months. I've found the trick is to put them in a duvet cycle (if your washer has one) and then put them in the tumble dryer on the highest heat possible. DON'T put them on the line or this will ruin them.

[TheProvincialLady]

I do the same as lovemyshoes but be prepared for the MOST vile smell you will ever smell in your whole life. Hot feathers smell rank.

[fishnet]

I did mine a month or so ago. They were all decent £50 pillows and were all ruined even though I tumble dried them the feathers all stuck together. I now have two in each pillow case!

[ClosedForCleaning]

Wow - quick responses.

Thank you. Perhaps that's why we always pluck the goose before cooking Provincial.

I have silk and wool machine wash - is that a good choice? Or regular detergent?

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

My mil always puts her feather pillows on the washing line to dry.

She uses the same pillows that she got when she was married - 37 years ago [shudder]

[TheProvincialLady]

I wash mine at 60 because DH has asthma and it kills dust mites apparently. I use ordinary powder but the silk and wool stuff smells nicer!

Bad luck fishnet - £50 pillows Mine were from M&S and were only about £20 I think but they have been washed loads of times and always bounce back.

[EachPeachPearMum]

Can you dry them in a washer/dryer (condenser drier) or does it really need to be a proper dryer with a condensation outlet?
Just wondering whether to actually take them to the launderette to be safe?

[mogs0]

I washed mine and the smell was awful!! Tumble dried them for ages, then gave up and binned them because the smell was so bad. I now have cheap Primark ones that wash and dry just fine!!

Good luck!!

[Anna8888]

Feather pillows are a pain.

Synthetic ones wash beautifully, as do down pillows. Feather ones smell horrid when they are washed and the cycle tends to break up the feathers into little bits.

Motto: don't buy feather pillows - their life span is too short.