Down and its Care

Down is a popular garment for many people. It is lightweight, while providing plenty of warmth.

When purchasing down garments, look for these tips:

•	Seams well sewn to prevent feather leaking
•	Well quilted, approximately 8 inches apart, to prevent down shifting
•	Each square or rectangle should be full of down, for the greatest insulating properties
•	The outer shell should be of tightly woven material, nylon or cotton blends are best
•	Insure a proper fit, too tight will actually cause loss of insulation factors
•	Sewn-through seams cause cold spots, if understuffed, but sewn-through quilting is necessary

A true down garment must contain 80% down and the rest feathers. Eiderdown is considered to be superior to other forms of down, but the supply is limited, driving up the cost of the product.
      Cleaning of down depends on the outer fabric and the quilting. Washing of down causes the feathers to mat and will affect insulation qualities. Dry cleaning allows the feathers to move freely because there is no water involved in the dry cleaning process. Tears should be noted so they can be repaired before cleaning, eliminating the loss of feathers. Anderson Cleaners has great success in cleaning your down comforters. For maximum comfort and extended life, the down in your comforters should be evenly distributed, not lumpy, which is a result of laundering. Garments should be cleaned, once during the wearing season and then before storing the garment for the summer. Storage of down garments should be in a loose bag. Proper care can extend the life of a down garment.