How to Wash A Down Pillow | St.Genève

Wondering how to wash your down pillow safely, to keep it fluffy and comfortable? St.Genève's Creative Director, Nikki Renshaw, interviews Down Product Expert, Jo-Anne Christmas.
Head to our website for more information on caring for your bedding and down products: www.stgeneve.com/Care

[@willt.9654]

Jo-Anne Christmas is a *fantastic* name

[@Pepsi_Please]

San Francisco 30+ yrs ago during my lunch hour, I stumbled across a bedding boutique. Down pillows. $200.00 each. They'd comp the 6th if I bought 5. My friend said I was mad and put in a padded cell. I said, If it's padded in THESE pillows, I'd go happily. 😂 Fast forward.... I'm still snuggling those same pillows every night. I wash them every six mons, and rotate. They're as wonderful as they were on day one. Worth every penny. Ahhhh...... Good quality pillows are an investment. With care, they will last forever

[@eileenrussell1550]

If you only have a top loader machine put the pillow in vertical and squash it down several times until it is full of water. Put a towel 《or two) on the opposite side of the pillow to balance the machine when it spins.

[@calituchi1]

When to wash💢: When it's flat as a pancake. Do the fold test. Fold in half and squish. If slowly opens up, think about washing it. If it stays closed, clean it. *NOTES* Preferred use is side washer, and with another pillow for spin and Ballance. Tide free. Down sleeping bag. No fabric softener. Washing💦: Place pillows, quick wash with no soap. Then wash with detergent. Perm presh with extra rince. Then another wash with extra rince with no soap to make sure to get the soap out. Dry⚡: DO NOT HANG DRY Medium cycle. Push corners in Low cycle then check again. Storage♥️: in fabric bag. Put in pillow case or sheets. Not in plastic or vacuum storage. *NOTES* It will smell when it's wet, when completely dry it will not smell. Smell shall go away. **Quick notes for when I look back at this!!! Love the video!!

[@stgenevefinelinens]

This is awesome, I am sure some of our other viewers will appreciate it, too! (: We're so happy you enjoyed the video.

[@aojorel]

I did Ty

[@tkerce21]

This info was very helpful. Thank you for posting!

[@Uncle_Tom]

Loved this video. I love the presentation of the items in the background, and I also loved how considerate and straight to the point the information was. I’m off to do some washing!

[@Tommy_ZM]

Just bought the Eider Luxe! Much better than the embassy, thank you

[@brentperkins505]

Great information. Very useful. Thanks.

[@arianaaguilera8606]

Thank you so much much.....this was all very helpful ...I have so many of these pillows all over my house...my favorite..

[@stgenevefinelinens]

You are very welcome, Ariana! We are happy this was helpful to you!

[@lexiferrer9184]

I watched the whole video to find out what I needed! Lol thanks. I'm not worried about the wet dog smell now!

[@homebodyheaven6114]

Excellent. Just what I needed. Bought a used throw pillow and want it clean before use!

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Absolutely! Glad it was helpful!

[@leandromarley53]

instablaster.

[@thallo76]

Excellent and informative video. Thanks!

[@stgenevefinelinens]

You're welcome! We are happy you enjoyed it!

[@miriamfranco9400]

So helpful!

[@Alniemi]

Thanks for the tips, I sweat a lot when i sleep and I bet you two would be absolutely discoursed how my pillows look without the cover, HAHA. I am definitely going to try this method, luckily i have a front loader and two down pillows.

[@edward2198]

Great video! Thank you for making this 🙏 I just purchased two Maple creek pillows I’m excited to use them

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Beautiful choice! We love our beautiful hutterite down! Sleep well!

[@leighchang3360]

Very informative, thank you

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Thank you for watching, Leigh! Glad our video was helpful!

[@fouz7257]

Thank u ,very informative.

[@stgenevefinelinens]

So happy you found it helpful aziz! :)

[@homoerotic85]

I was surprised to hear that not washing a pillow can cause the fibers to degrade-I always figured that the pillow would degrade with each wash. So is basically the opposite, that's interesting. I have a tip that I like to do. In between washes I like to put the pillow in the dryer on no heat setting and add some lavender or geranium essential oil scented dryer balls. It keeps the nice and fluffy full. It's also easier than fluffing the pillow by hand, even though I do that a little each night. Nothing like a fluffy down pillow!

[@trs1481]

Such helpful advice - Thank you so much. I don't have a tumble dryer. Do you think if I spin at the highest speed on my washing machine - 1400 rpm and shake them around a lot in an airy room, that would be okay or do you think I might risk mould forming?

[@blazingstar9638]

Awesome

[@foxybuddy]

Just realized that my pillows had very good condition when I put them in washing machine, which was not necessary at all. it's a headache to manage them in uploaded washing machine. They puffed up and floating around, so had to do one pillow at the time, when finished one take it out and put another one in. In the end put two pillow in before spin starts, what a bloody hard job. In the future any unwanted feather pillows will be put into compost bin

[@10--50]

I was wondering why my pillow smelled like a wet dog after I washed it

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Wet goose, actually! ;)

[@rauljimenez4321]

I have a washer dryer combo machine that uses a condenser drying. Would this be safe to use to wash and dry pillows?

[@adamhuntniles1987]

How do you dry memory foam pillows

[@jacob5005]

If my down pillow says dry clean only, should it only be taken to the dry cleaners to be cleaned?

[@annieyoung4606]

Which brand down pillows can be machine wash? All the pillows says spot clean.

[@riazwalji3417]

What about using laundry straps or putting into a smaller mesh sleeve to compress it. This is the recommendation from Miele laundry care.

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi Riaz! Unfortunately, we are not familiar with the method recommended by Miele so we can't comment on whether or not it is a safe and effective method for washing your pillows. Thanks for reaching out!

[@ChristinDanae]

Can I use a little bit of bleach to brighten up my white pillow? Or is bleach too damaging to the down? Thank you!

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi! We don't recommend it for down or feather pillows because it can be damaging, but we understand that sometimes you may NEED to! We really recommend everyone use a pillow protector under their pillowcase - it will help prevent you needing bleach in the future! :)

[@lunizzima]

I have some down throw pillows and did the fold test . They puff right back out and are fluffy , but have a smelly "old wet rag" scent . Should I wash them anyway? How can I get rid of the smell?

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Is it a mildewy smell? Isthere a possibility they are getting damp? If they got damp and mildewed it might be a challenge! However, if your ticking looks strong you can try a wash. (We can’t vouch for the washability of another companies ticking though.) For smell we recommend using a little bit of bleach, lots of soap and 3 rinses…. And be sure it’s COMPLETELY dry or you might just end up with a smelly pillow again. This may take several cycles, and we recommend you pull it out and break up any clumps in between dry cycles.

[@patwagner9308]

A plant-based laundry soap won't leave residue. Tide does. EWG gives Tide a bad score. I recommend watching Patric Richardson aka Laundry Guy. I have done laundry for many decades but I've learned so much from the Laundry Guy.

[@micasa6744]

Sounds like it is easier for me to buy a new pillow than it is to upgrade my washing machine with all the do's & don'ts 🤔 No top load, no normal detergent, set it for an "extra" rinse cycle etc. All the things my washing machine isn't or can't do...

[@queenie_the_virgo]

I’m sure she was washing pillows before front loaders

[@AmazonEstherIbia]

I hope you reply to this. I don't own a dryer and my washing machine only has the rinse & spin option as the closest. How do I get all the moisture out of my pillows? I'd like to wash my pillow. How many spins do I need? Thank you

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi! We highly recommend taking your pillow to a laundromat for drying it. You can save some time by washing at home and giving it an extra spin or two, but you can't air dry. Because pillows are so thick, it almost always results in mildew which can be both unpleasant and potentially unhealthy. Another person in the comments here had tried to air dry on her balcony and now her pillow is stinky - so please believe us that this is too important to skip! 🙏

[@BBBinJAX]

I bought a large euro sized throw pillow at a thrift store and did not realize it was down filled, until after it came out of the front load washer at a laundromat. I brought it home to dry, and I lost count of how many drying cycles I used to get it dry. It now needs to be laundered again, so I may at least partially dry it at the laundromat.

[@xr94st3qj71]

and dry at which temperature?

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi L A - You can start the drying at a high temperature for the first cycle and then turn it down to a medium temperature to finish. Thanks for the question!

[@eranden1383]

i only have top loading washing machine is there any solution to get pillow down?

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi! Great question! :) The agitator in the center of the washing machine can damage your pillow, so we really don't recommend it. We had a client who tried with a latex pillow and it broke clean in half! While down or feather pillows may fare a bit better, we'd still be hesitant to try...nobody wants to be cleaning a wet feather explosion! If you can, head to a landromat with a good book or your favourite youtube to keep you company! :)

[@AddPeewoow]

you can temporarily stop the machine and check if it's all soaked in water. if not, used ur hand to push it into the water

[@mykvass]

does this method work for a feather pillow ?

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Yes, it should! Thank you!

[@chloebisou]

Hi ! Great video. I have a cloud pillow that cannot go in the washing machine because it will cause the stuffing inside to condense into corners. How can I wash my cloud pillow please ? Thank you so much

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi Chloe! We are not familiar with the cloud pillow you're referring to. If your pillow states that it is not machine washable, we recommend taking it to a dry cleaner. And be sure to use both a pillow protector AND a pillow case to keep your pillow clean & reduce the number of trips to the cleaners. :D

[@kbranter]

What if you don’t have a front loader :( I have a great LG top loader

[@stgenevefinelinens]

We recommend taking it to a friend's house or the laundromat. Worst case, the agitator can tear your pillows open and, best case, good quality pillow can just end up floating on the top without getting clean!

[@CherylCold]

Can I use a Samsung washing machine?

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi Cheryl! Absolutely, a Samsung washing machine should be fine as long as it is large enough to accommodate your pillows and is a front-loader. The agitator in a top-loading machine can often damage the pillows.

[@TheCatnipCinema]

She didn't mention temperature of the water when washing it.

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Warm water is perfect, but you can do hot water wash every once in a while if you're worried about dust mites or allergies.

[@aliperrylima4545]

My pillows are soaking wet after the wash cycles. How do I get rid od teh water?

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi Ali! You can do an extra spin cycle to help, and then it will take several dryer cycles to dry fully. Thank you!

[@aliperrylima4545]

@@stgenevefinelinens Thank you.

[@xr94st3qj71]

wash at what temperature???

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi L A - we recommend washing on hot, but double check the care instructions on the brand of pillow you own! (:

[@pamelamiller6005]

How do you get stains off the down pillows

[@stgenevefinelinens]

You can soak the pillow in a water/detergent solution overnight and then wash it. If that doesn't work have the pillow recovered. Afterwards, we advise to use a pillow protector under the pillowcase to reduce the formation of discoloration.

[@flydazedator26]

Can I handwash it? We don't have washing machine

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Hi Flydaze - GREAT question! I wouldn't recommend washing by hand as the machine does a really good job moving the water through the whole pillow and rinsing it out. If you don't have a washing machine at home (or even if you only have a small washing machine at home, or a top-loader) we recommend popping by your local laundrette to wash your pillow. (:

[@flydazedator26]

@@stgenevefinelinens thank you for you suggestion! ❤. My mom told me to cut off the top part and remove the cotton of the pillow inside if I really want to wash it. Then put back the cotton back if the clothing is dried then stitch it up 😂😂

[@stgenevefinelinens]

@@flydazedator26 That could get a bit messy. If you just have a stain on the outside that you want to focus on, you can just wash that corner or section! (:

[@flydazedator26]

@@stgenevefinelinens thank u! ❤

[@jimscanoe]

*Down Pillow Washing* St. Genève - KZbin kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnW8ZYFqa5J0nq8 Protect your down pillow by using multiple layers between you and the pillow-use the St. Genève Lyocell/Tencel pillowcase that comes with the pillow under your double cotton pillowcases. Wash the pillow protector often to keep your pillow clean longer. It’s time to wash the actual pillow when it loses its puffiness-fold the pillow in half and if it doesn’t quickly spring back and puff up, it’s time to wash the pillow. The pillow is designed to be washed at home; St. Genève pillow fabric is designed to be washed regularly. It’s important to use a front-loading washing machine (the pillow will just float on the top of the water in a top-loading machine). It’s better if you wash two pillows at the same time to balance the load in the machine-this is especially important during the rinse cycle. Before you place the pillow in the washing machine, be sure there are no loose seams along the edges. Over time, if the pillow doesn’t get washed regularly, the fabric can weaken and the pillow can come apart at the seams in the wash. The recommended detergent to use is Unscented Tide Free & Gentle-do not use anything with fabric softener in it as this will coat the down and compromise loft. Start by placing your two pillows in the washing machine and doing a quick wash with no detergent just to get the pillows wet. Then put your detergent in and set the machine to a permanent-press cycle with an extra rinse. Finally, wash the pillows again with an extra rinse cycle using no detergent-this will get any remaining detergent residue out of the pillow. To dry the pillow, use an automatic dryer on a medium cycle (do not hang the pillow up as this will not dry the down quick enough)-the down needs the speed and agitation of an automatic dryer. Use dryer balls, if you have them, to promote quicker drying. After the initial drying cycle, take the pillow out of the dryer and push the corners of the pillow inward to dislodge any down clumps which have lodged in the corners. Also, press the down over the whole of the pillow to feel for any clumps of down that will need to be gently forced apart. Put the pillow back in the dryer on a low heat cycle before pulling the pillows out and checking them again. The pillows may have a bit more of an odor after it’s been dried-this will subside as the pillow completely dries with use. You can store a pillow in the fabric bag it came in or in a pillowcase-do not use plastic to store your pillow (if you use plastic, any moisture left in the pillow will promote mildew). Also, you do not want to vacuum-pack the pillow because that will crush the down and compromise the future loft of the pillow. Enjoy you fresh, clean St. Genève pillow : )

[@standarddeviation7963]

I'll just run out and buy a new washing machine just for my pillow

[@dixanella]

She didn’t say anything about tennis balls 🤔

[@stgenevefinelinens]

You can definitely add clean tennis balls or dryer balls in the dryer if you like - they will help with breaking up the clumps of wet down/feathers so you don't have to do as much manually! :) Great question!

[@danielrollins4315]

I asked for Joanne Christmas when I was a kid I think Santa must have kept her for himself 🤕

[@AddPeewoow]

my pillow really stinks! rewashing it again...

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Make sure it dries thoroughly and to really ensure any feather clumps get broken up and dried, or it can get mildewy and stinky!

[@AddPeewoow]

@@stgenevefinelinens if it became stinky, is there still hope after rewashing it? i rewashed mine and put it in the dryer and also left it on the balcony to dry..

[@stgenevefinelinens]

@@AddPeewoow it's worth trying! Definitely dry it all the way in the dryer, air drying is too slow for pillows because they have so much fill in them!

[@nina9346]

My pillow smells awful coming out of the dryer and I dried it twice :(

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Down has an odor when it is wet. You may need 3-4 cycles in the dryer to get it fully dry. Use dryer balls, feel the pillow for any clumps of down and massage / pull them apart in between cycles. When the pillow is quite wet, higher heat is okay, but as it becomes more and more dry you need to lower the heat to keep the down and fabric from burning.

[@dianakats7937]

Too much trouble and hassle not to mention wasting water and soap if it doesn’t work out,throw them out and buy new ones

[@firewomannz3628]

That short lady keeps rubbing the pillow and that's just weird... :-/

[@libbymurphy8465]

Just like petting a kitten ~ not weird to me…..

[@Tzippi]

Easier to buy new ones. Electricity is too expensive to keep them in the dryer for 25 hours.

[@Frip36]

These women will not use negative words. For them it would be like getting dirt in their mouths. Which would make their mouths, "not so wonderful".

[@robbarber7253]

I messed up my down pillow I think... It smells like a dirty chicken after washing

[@stgenevefinelinens]

Sometimes they do smell like 'wet duck' but it should go away once it's fully dry. Be sure to dry fully or you can get a mildew smell!

[@robbarber7253]

@@stgenevefinelinens Thank you!

[@marcilk7534]

@@stgenevefinelinens My down smells too after washing and drying. They might have still been slightly damp when I took it out, but dried soon. The smell hasn’t gone away. Should I just try washing and drying again?