How to Wash Your Comforter in 5 Ridiculously Easy Steps

Most of us know we should wash our sheets and pillowcases on a weekly basis. But when it comes to comforters, we have a few more questions. For starters, how often should we wash them? There’s no way we need to cram those fluffy blankets in our washing machines every single week, right? And even more importantly, how are we supposed to wash our comforters? Can we pop them in the laundry with the rest of our bedding, or do they need extra care?

Like sheets, comforters can accumulate dirt, sweat, oil, and other debris over time. And that build-up can cause all kinds of problems (think: breakouts, inflamed allergies, and more). Odds are, you spend between 49–63 hours with your comforter every week. So of course you want it to be clean. And debris build-up aside, doesn’t a fresh fluffy comforter sound like the kind of thing you want to snuggle up with at night?

Well, we have good news and bad news. The good news: you probably only need to wash your comforter once per season. The bad news: you cannot throw your comforter in the washing machine with the rest of your bedding. 

How Often Should You Clean Your Comforter?

Since your comforter doesn’t touch your body directly, you don’t need to wash it as often as you wash your sheets. Plus—since your comforter is lined with filling—it may not hold up in the wash as well as your sheets do.

To keep your comforter in tip-top shape, you’ll probably want to wash it once a season. This should be often enough to keep your comforter clean—but not so often that your comforter will wear out unreasonably quickly. 

Of course, if your comforter gets dirtier than you expect it to, you can always pop it in the wash sooner. Try to combine your first-hand experience with this rule of thumb to find a wash frequency that works for you. 

Things You’ll Need: 

• Needle and thread (optional)
• High-capacity washing machine
• High-capacity dryer
• Mild detergent
• Dryer balls or tennis balls

How to Clean a Down Comforter

Step 1: Inspect Your Comforter for Tears

Putting a torn comforter in the washing machine is a recipe for disaster, so look for tears, holes, or fraying threads. And be sure to repair them before washing your comforter—you can likely use a needle and thread to get the job done.

Step 2: Gently Machine-Wash Your Comforter

Make sure your laundry machines are big enough to accommodate your comforter. You’ll need a high-capacity washing machine and a high-capacity dryer to wash your comforter at home. If your washer and dryer are up to par, gently place your comforter in your washing machine. And add a small amount of mild detergent.

Program your washing machine to run on a gentle cycle. And look at the care instructions for your specific comforter to determine water temperature. (If you can’t find them, cool or warm is usually a safe bet.)

Step 3: Thoroughly Rinse Your Comforter

Check your comforter to make sure it’s thoroughly rinsed. If it still feels soapy, run another rinse cycle.

Step 4: Tumble Dry Your Comforter With Dryer Balls

Once your comforter is clean, carefully move it to your high-capacity dryer. Then, add several dryer balls or tennis balls to the load. (These should help your filling move around, helping your comforter dry more quickly and keeping the filling from bunching up in one spot.) Then, run a low-heat dryer cycle.

Step 5: Tumble Dry Your Comforter Without Heat

If your comforter didn’t dry completely, leave it in the dryer. Flip on an air dry cycle (or tumble dry without heat), and keep repeating this step until your comforter is completely and thoroughly dry.

How to Clean a Down Alternative Comforter

Step 1: Inspect Your Comforter for Tears

Before washing your comforter, make sure it’s in tip-top shape. If you spot any tears, holes, or frayed threads, take care of them. (You can probably do this using a needle and thread.)

Step 2: Gently Machine-Wash Your Comforter

Once your comforter is ready to get washed, make sure your laundry machines are ready for it. Double-check to make sure you have a high-capacity washing machine and a high-capacity dryer. If you don’t, your machines may be too small to handle your comforter.

If your machines are big enough, gently place your comforter inside your washing machine. And add a small amount of mild detergent. Double-check the care instructions to figure out what cycle you should use to wash your comforter. Typically, running a gentle cycle with cool water should work.

Step 3: Thoroughly Rinse Your Comforter

Your comforter should be completely soap-free before it enters your dryer. So check to make sure it’s been thoroughly rinsed. If it hasn’t, run another rinse cycle.

Step 4: Tumble Dry Your Comforter Without Heat

To dry your comforter, gently place it in your dryer. And add a few dryer balls or tennis balls. (These should keep the filling in your comforter evenly dispersed and help your comforter dry more quickly.) Then, tumble-dry your comforter with no heat. (If you have an air-dry cycle, you can flip that on.)

It may take a few cycles before your comforter is completely dry. So keep drying it until it is.