Cleaning Eiderdowns

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 27, 18 January 1929, Page 12

Cleaning Eiderdowns

HAVE you an eiderdown which looks soiled? If so, don’t imagine that the only means of restoring its freshness is to have it cleaned or re-covered; but just try washing it at home. Few people realise how simple and satisfactory this method is if a little care is used in handling the quilt. Choose a windy, dry day, if possible, so that it can be hung out of doors, as the quicker it dries the better. You .2ed plenty of warm water and good soap which makes plenty of lather. Dip the quilt right into the water and wash it by gently squeezing and kneading. Don’t rub, it hard with the hands or on a board, or you will tear the cover. Bringing Up the Down. Rinse thoroughly in several lots of warm water, and put it through a rubber wringer for preference, If you only have a mangle with wooden rollers, do not serew them too tightly or you will damage the quilt.

By this time the eiderdown looks ruine. for ever, but you need not worry. Hang it on a li e out of doors, fastened with plenty of pegs. The drying process will take some time, and the quilt must be shaken frequently to loosen the down, which clogs together when it is damp. When thoroughly dry, beat it gently with a thin cane to bring up the down. It must be well aired in a warm room or in front of a fire. If you think the cover looks creased and crumpled, a warm iron run lightly over it before it is quite dry will soo put it right. This treatmen: will make your grubby eiderdown look as goou as new, and can be repeated again and again.