There’s a reason you see down everywhere…it’s one of the best insulators around. Especially at this chilly time of year, you can’t beat down comforters, sleeping bags or fashion coats. Plus, the fabric is simple to clean. Just bring all your down items to the friendly experts at Door To Door Cleaners and we’ll help keep them looking new.

Mother Nature's Product
Down is the soft, fluffy cluster of filaments that grows under the feathers of ducks, geese and other waterfowl. Like wool, it is a protein product. Down products contain hundreds of thousands of fluffy filaments that form air pockets to trap body heat and keep the cold out. Most down garments and items contain 80 percent down and 20 percent feathers or feather fibers.

The Problems of Down
Feathers Can Poke Through: As down and feathers are so fine, they can actually penetrate through the surface of the shell fabric. To help prevent this, manufacturers apply "down proofing," or an inner coating which aids in resistance and water repellency. However, some of the "down proof" coatings are solvent-soluble and may dissolve when the item is dry cleaned. This type of damage can’t be prevented or repaired.

Oil Can Show Up : Another problem with down-filled items is dark, shaded areas on the shell fabric after cleaning. This staining is often from excess oil coming from the down itself. In many cases, the oil can be removed by re-cleaning the item, but it may take several cleanings to remedy the problem.

What to Look for In the Stores
Cleaning down items is easy. However, a garment with poor construction and insufficient quilting can make the down shift, lose shape or become matted. That’s why it’s important to inspect the garment’s construction before purchasing, for example:

• See that the garment is well quilted. The stitches should run both vertically and horizontally, with the lines about eight to ten inches apart.
• Examine the strength of the garment’s stitching. Loose stitching will allow the down to shift.
• Check for fullness of the quilted area. Thicker filling provides more insulation.

Easy Care Tips
It’s easy to enjoy the majestic feel and look of down. Just follow these simple steps:

• Usually, down responds well to both washing and dry cleaning. However, the cleaning procedure depends on the shell fabric fiber.
• Follow the care label. When in doubt, bring your items to the professionals at Door To Door Cleaners.
• If you machine wash down items, wash separately in warm water on a short cycle with high water levels and a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly. Residual detergent may result in the loss of water repellency or discolorations on the shell fabric.
• Larger items, like comforters and sleeping bags, should be brought to Door To Door Cleaners. The items are generally too big for home washing machines.
• Air drying won’t dry down garments completely. For best results, tumble dry and place a few clean tennis balls in the dryer to help fluff up the down.
• Store down items in a loose storage area. Never keep in plastic bags.
• Store seasonal garments in a dark, dry area to help prevent fading, moisture, mildew and rusting.