Can You Tumble Dry A Feather Duvet? (what it’ll do)

The experts all agree that feather duvets should be dried in a tumble dryer. 

You should still consult the care label before washing or drying your feather duvet to be sure it remains in good condition. But in most cases, it is OK to tumble dry feather duvets.

The feather duvet should be washed on its own at a low temperature (no higher than 40 C). It should then be dried in a tumble dryer on a low heat setting until it is completely dry.

As feathers are a delicate organic product, they can be damaged if they are subjected to too much heat. Which is why a feather duvet should only be dried in a tumble dryer on a low heat setting.

You should add a few tennis balls or dryer balls to help prevent the feathers from clumping together during the drying process.

It can take anywhere between 2-4 hours to dry a feather duvet in a tumble dryer at low heat and you should remove the duvet every 20-30 minutes and gently remove any clumps of feathers by massaging them by hand.

What The Tumble Dryer Symbols Mean On A Feather Duvet

The care label on your feather duvet will have symbols which signify washing and drying instructions. Your feather duvet will almost certainly have the symbol for drying on the low heat setting. But for your information we have included all symbols pertaining to tumble dryers. Which are;

Square With White Circle

This is the universal symbol for this item can be tumble dried.

Square With White Circle, One Black Dot In Circle

This symbol indicates that the item can be tumble dried on low heat. This is the most likely symbol you’ll find on your feather duvet.

Square With White Circle, Two Black Dots In Circle

This symbol is used to indicate that the item can be tumble dried on a medium heat setting.

Square With White Circle, Three Black Dots In Circle

This is the symbol that is used to indicate the item can be tumble dried on the high heat setting.

Square With Black Circle

This symbol indicates that the item can be tumble dried with no heat. This could be found on some feather duvets.

Square With White Circle And A Black X On Top

This is the universal symbol for do not tumble dry. If your feather duvet has this symbol, it means it cannot be dried in a tumble dryer at all.

How To Dry A Feather Duvet Without A Tumble Dryer

Feathers will rot if they remain wet which is why drying in a tumble dryer is the perfect choice for feather duvets. 

However, if you don’t own a tumble dryer, it is possible to dry your feather duvet by alternative means. These include;

Drying Your Feather Duvet On A Clothesline

If you decide to air dry your feather duvet outdoors on a clothesline it should be supported in such a way as to not damage it. This can mean using numerous pegs and taking extra care.

Air drying your feather duvet on a washing line will take upwards of 12-24 hours depending on the climatic conditions.

You will need to regularly check for clumping and encourage the feather clumps to disperse using a gentle massaging technique. This should be done regularly, at least every hour.

Using A Dehumidifier To Speed Up The Drying Process Indoors

Dehumidifiers work by removing moisture from the air which is a great way to decrease drying times for your feather duvet. The dryer the air is, the faster the duvet will exude moisture and that means the quicker it will dry.

Any of the indoor methods found below for drying your feather duvet will benefit from using a dehumidifier.

SEE ALSO: The Best Dehumidifiers For Drying Feather Duvets

Using An Airer To Dry Your Feather Duvet

Plastic coated metal racks, which are known as airers or clothes horses, are a good way to ensure even drying of your feather duvet without using a tumble dryer.

The duvet should be laid flat on the airer and allowed to dry either naturally or in front of a radiator set to medium heat.

Drying flat is the recommended method of drying feather duvets which makes an airer one of the best alternatives to tumble drying.

Using A Heated Airer To Dry Your Feather Duvet

Heated airers look exactly like standard airers except for the electric cable which is plugged into a socket to allow the airer to heat up. 

Using a heated airer could cut drying times down drastically and help ensure the feather filling is completely dry.

Using A Retractable Clothesline To Dry Your Feather Duvet

If you want the drying capability of an outside clothesline indoors, a retractable clothesline might just be the thing you need. They consist of a box which is mounted on the wall. Inside this box is a braided nylon line which can be extended across the room.

The feather duvet is then draped over the line until dry. As with outdoor drying you will need to remove clumps regularly.

Once the duvet is dry, the line is simply retracted into the box until it is needed again.

SEE ALSO: Good Retractable Washing Lines

Adding An Electric Fan To Help Decrease Drying Times Indoors

By simulating a gentle breeze around the feather duvet with the aid of an electric fan, you can speed up the drying time. Always ensure there is an open window to allow excess moisture to leave the room when using a fan.

Using a dehumidifier as well as an electric fan can decrease drying times even more.

Drying Your Feather Duvet In An Airing Cupboard

Due to the bulk of a feather duvet, drying it in an airing cupboard is a great way to ensure it is fully dry.

The problem with feather filled duvets is that the feathers can rot if not completely dry. Drying it in an airing cupboard helps to get it thoroughly dry.

Why You Should Always Read The Wash Care Label On A Feather Duvet

It’s important that you always take notice of the care label on all of your clothes and bedding. The care label will advise you on how to wash your feather duvet, how to dry it and whether it can be ironed or not.

If you don’t heed the advice on the care label you could;

Cause Heat Damage

Subjecting your feather duvet to too much heat could seriously damage the feathers. They could get burnt if you use a setting on your tumble dryer that is too high.

If the care label says that you should use no heat, it would probably be best to air dry your duvet.

If the care label indicates that the duvet should not be ironed it is because heat could damage either the cover or the filling. In either case it’s best to not subject the duvet to any heat at all.

Damage Your Washing machine

The care label will also usually advise you of the recommended spin speed for your feather duvet. 

As the duvet fills with water its weight will increase substantially which could damage the drum of your washing machine if you use too fast a spin speed.

Cause The Feathers To Rot

Insufficient drying can cause the feathers inside your feather duvet to rot. 

This is more likely if you do not tumble dry your feather duvet but it can also happen if the duvet is not completely dry.

Frequently Asked Questions