Laundry tips
How to wash a comforter at a laundromat
Most home washers are too small for a comforter. Cram one in and it comes out half clean and still damp in the middle. A big laundromat washer fixes that in about an hour. Here's how to do it right.
1. Check the care tag
Most comforters, including most down and down-alternative ones, are machine washable. If the tag says "dry clean only," take it to a cleaner instead. If it's torn or has loose seams, fix those first so the filling doesn't escape in the wash.
2. Pick a washer with room to spare
A comforter needs space to move around, or the soap and water never reach the middle. When in doubt, go one size up.
| Washer | Good for |
|---|---|
| 40 lb | One queen or king comforter |
| 60 lb | A thick down comforter, or a comforter plus its sheets and pillowcases |
| 80 lb | Several comforters, sleeping bags or a whole bed's worth of bedding at once |
3. Use less detergent than you think
Our washers are high-efficiency, so 1–2 tablespoons of liquid detergent is plenty. Too much soap leaves residue that makes the filling clump. For down, a mild or down-specific wash works best, and skip the fabric softener.
Bring your ownPack your detergent and a couple of dryer balls (or clean tennis balls) before you head out.
4. Wash warm or cold
Warm water is a good default for most comforters. Use cold for down, dark colors or anything that might shrink. Load the comforter loosely, spread it around the drum, and start the machine.
5. Dry it low and slow, all the way through
Move it to a 50 lb dryer so it can tumble freely, and use low or medium heat. High heat can scorch the fabric and clump the filling.
- Toss in 2–3 dryer balls to keep the filling fluffed and spread out.
- Every 20–30 minutes, pull the comforter out, shake it, and flip it around so wet spots don't hide in a fold.
- Expect about an hour for a synthetic comforter and longer for down.
- Squeeze the thickest parts before you leave. Any dampness left inside can turn musty, so give it one more round if you're not sure.
Quick checklist
- Check the tag.
- Pick a 40 lb washer or bigger.
- Use 1–2 tablespoons of detergent.
- Wash warm, or cold for down.
- Dry on low or medium with dryer balls, fluffing as you go.
Bring it to Flex Wash
Both of our laundromats, on SE Stark in Portland and NE Halsey in Fairview, have 20 to 80 lb washers and 30 and 50 lb dryers. We're open 6 am to 10 pm every day, holidays included. Pay with quarters or the PayRange app.