Down quilts can be washed either by water or dry cleaned. The key point is that they must be thoroughly clean after washing. If dust adheres to the fine filaments or the dry-cleaning solvent is dirty, the down will not fluff properly. Therefore, maintaining a down quilt is not costly, and you don’t necessarily have to send it to a professional for dry cleaning. Hand washing is also acceptable: just use a neutral detergent, gently brush dirty areas with a soft brush, and never wring it by hand. Simply lay it flat to dry in a cool, ventilated place.
Note that down quilts should not be washed too often — once every 1–2 years is sufficient. Keep it clean after washing, and air it out on sunny days to better preserve its quality.
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