How Long Does it Take to Dry Clean a Comforter?

Before washing your comforter, check the care tag. There’s a good chance that your comforter is dry clean only. Dry cleaning may be a better option than washing by machine or hand. Some comforters can’t hold up against a wash cycle, even on the delicate setting, and could lose their shape. Dry cleaning gently removes stains without the risk of damage.

What is Dry Cleaning?

Dry cleaning uses chemical solvents instead of harsh chemicals to clean bedding. Laundry detergent, even mild detergent, contains chemicals found in paint. These chemicals can damage your comforter.

For example, chemicals from laundry detergent can strip feathers of their natural coating. This coating keeps the feathers soft and fluffy. Without this coating, your down comforter will become flat.

Some materials, like wool, silk, or cashmere, should never be soaked in water. Water may damage the material. Also, placing these fabrics in a washing machine could distort their shape or cause dark colors to fade.

Unlike using a washing machine, dry cleaning your comforter effectively removes dirt without damaging it.

The Dry Cleaning Process

Usually, when you drop things off at your local dry cleaners, you let them know what items need to be cleaned, the number of items, and any special instructions (i.e., hemming, minor repairs). After you pay the fee, the clerk hands you a paper receipt with your order number and pick up time. It may take a couple of days or up to a week depending on the urgency or volume of items that need to be cleaned.

When you return to the dry cleaners, you give the clerk your receipt, and they bring out your items on individual hangers wrapped in a plastic covering. But what happens during the actual dry cleaning process and how long does it take to dry clean a comforter?

It may take a few days before you can pick up your comforter, but the actual dry cleaning process takes 3 to 4 hours. This process is divided into five steps: inspection, pre-treatment, dry cleaning, drying, finishing touches, and pressing.

Inspection

A dry cleaning professional inspects your comforter for stains and tears. You may have already shown the clerk the stains you’ve noticed. However, professionals still examine the whole comforter, keeping an eye out for additional stains and holes. Next, dry cleaning professionals look at the care labels. Special instructions to the dry cleaners are found on these labels and give directions for the right cleaning method.

Pre-Treatment

Any stains found during the inspection step are treated with special cleaners. Spot cleaning lift stains out of the fabric before washing. The stains may not come out as well if immediately washed first without treatment.

Dry Cleaning

Your comforter is placed inside a special drum filled with a solvent. Solvents remove dust mites and bacteria without harsh chemicals or water. As previously mentioned, laundry detergents and water may damage your comforter.

Drying

Your comforter is dried at a specific temperature, depending on the care instructions. Drying temperatures range between 77 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is too hot, it could damage your comforter. If the temperature is too cool, the comforter may come out with more wrinkles.

Finishing Touches

Once clean and dry, dry cleaner specialists examine your comforter again for small holes and tears. Tears left unfixed could become worse during regular use and cause filling to leak out.

Next, your comforter is pressed or ironed to remove wrinkles. Your comforter is neatly folded, hung over a hanger, and covered with plastic. Depending on the size of your comforter, the dry cleaners may fold your comforter and wrap it in plastic. Your comforter size may be too big for the hanger.

FAQs

How much does it cost to dry clean a comforter?

The cost for dry cleaning your comforter depends on the dry cleaning company and the type of materials your comforter contains and its size. Comforters with down feathers require delicate handling, which may drive the cost up. Also, the price will go up based on your comforter’s size—the bigger the size, the higher the cost. Generally, dry cleaning a comforter costs between $20 to $50.

How often should you dry clean your comforter?

For best practices, you should dry clean your comforter two to three times a year, as long as you use a top sheet. The top sheet prevents direct contact with your comforter, so it’s less likely to get dirty from bodily fluids. However, if you don’t use a top sheet, you may need to clean your comforter every week to remove allergens and bacteria.

Is it better to dry clean or wash a comforter?

It all depends on what the care label says. Some comforters can be machine washed, while others need to be dry cleaned. Care labels give step-by-step instructions on how to best care for your comforter, including cycle and temperature settings. Following these guidelines enable you to enjoy your cozy comforter for a long time.

Where can I take my comforter to be washed?

If you don’t have a washer or dryer, or if your comforter is too big for your washing machine, take your comforter to a local laundromat to be washed. They have large, front-loading machines perfect for your comforter.

Local laundromats also have extra-large dryers. When drying your comforter, add clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls. While your comforter is rotating, the balls ensure your comforter dries evenly and prevents the filling from bunching.

Can you dry clean a comforter at home?

If you’re on a tight budget, you may be able to dry clean your comforter at home. In the laundry section of most stores, you may find a home dry cleaning kit. These kits contain special dry cleaning cloths and a disposable bag.

Keep in mind that these kits are not meant to handle heavily-stained comforters. For these cases, taking your comforter to the local dry cleaners may be necessary.

Conclusion

It takes roughly 3 to 4 hours to dry clean your comforter. Professional dry cleaners remove any stains during this process, clean and dry your comforter, remove wrinkles, and sew up any holes. The cleaning process may take time, but it may ensure your comforter lasts longer.

Even though dry cleaning your comforter may cost money, it’s better to follow the instructions on the care label instead of placing the comforter into the washing machine to save yourself a few bucks. Not following the recommended cleaning instructions could end up costing you more—if not properly cared for, your comforter could get damaged and need to be replaced.