How to Care for a Down Mattress Topper

Care for a down mattress topper properly to keep it fluffy and clean.

If you do not care for a down mattress topper properly, the down feathers can develop mildew, which would create an unhealthy sleeping environment. Read the care instructions accompanying your mattress topper to learn what cleaning process the manufacturer recommends.

1. Place the mattress topper in a large washing machine. Measure a small amount of gentle laundry soap and pour it into the washing machine. Set the water temperature to cold and the wash cycle to gentle and start the machine.

2. Allow the machine to progress through the entire cycle and then reset the washing machine to perform an extra rinse.

3. Reset the washing machine twice to spin the mattress topper three times in total. This will ensure that you remove as much water from the down as possible.

4. Transfer the mattress topper from the washing machine to the dryer. Set the dryer to warm and start the machine. Reset the dryer as many times as necessary to ensure the down inside the topper is completely dry. If you do not ensure that the down dries completely, mildew will form in the feathers.

5. Remove the topper from the dryer and place it on your mattress.

Tip

Consider taking the mattress topper to a laundromat to use an extra-large capacity washing machine and drier. Larger machines will prevent the feathers from compressing during the washing and drying process. Consider line drying your mattress topper outside on a clothesline in addition to machine drying it. Hang the mattress topper from the clothesline for several hours after machine drying it to ensure the down dries completely. Add one or two tennis balls to the dryer to fluff the down during the drying process. Wash the mattress topper once a month to keep it fluffy and clean.