When investing in a premium goose down comforter, the last thing you expect is an unpleasant surprise smell after unboxing your luxurious bedding. But the question “do goose down comforters smell” is a common one. With proper care, these cozy covers should emit a fresh, clean scent for years. However this smell-free outcome depends on selecting the right fill power, thread count, and cleaning routine for your climate and needs.
This beginner’s guide will examine common causes of odor in down bedding and simple tips to keep your comforter fresh for the long haul. Discover what creates that musty or earthy smell and prevent it before bothering with costly specialty cleaning.
What Exactly Is Down?
Before addressing scent, it helps to understand what defines down insulation. Feather down refers to the soft, fluffy cluster of fibers found underneath the exterior feathers of ducks and geese. This specialized plumage keeps birds warm, buoyant, and able to float and fly.
Down cluster: the fluffy, feather filaments used as insulation in bedding and coats.
Differences Between Duck and Goose Down
While both waterfowl produce down, goose fill offers superior performance and longevity:
- Goose down– Larger clusters, higher fill power potential, more resilience and durability
- Duck down– Smaller clusters, lower fill power, cheaper price point but less warmth
When buying a down comforter, opt for goose down fill which will be less odorous over time than duck.
What Is Fill Power?
Fill power measures the loft and quality of down clusters:
- Higher numbers like 600-900+ fp mean larger, more mature feathery filaments
- This higher fill power down is more resilient, durable, and less odorous
- Lower fill powers around 500-550 fp use small, immature down more prone to smells
Ideally choose a comforter with a fill power over 600 fp.
Outer Shell Fabric Matters Too
The exterior fabric encasing the down also impacts smells permeability:
- Thread count refers to threads per square inch of fabric
- Higher thread counts of 600-900 have a tighter weave to contain odors
- Choose a shell with a thread count over 600 tc to limit scent escape
Common Sources of Odors in Down Bedding
Even with high quality materials, ambient smells can develop in your down comforter over time if not properly maintained.
Most common sources of scent in down comforters:
- Musty, mildew – Excess moisture leading to fungal smell
- Sweat, body oils – Trapped human perspiration and skin cell odors
- Stale, earthy – Barnyard-esque smell of lower grade duck down
Next we’ll explore the root causes of these unpleasant odors and how to eliminate them.
Factors Creating Down Comforter Odors
Multiple interconnected elements contribute to smells in your down bedding. The main considerations include:
Storage and Environment
Humidity promotes the growth of mold, mildew leading to musty stench. Storing in a dry area is essential.
Compression tightly packs insulation allowing smells to accumulate rather than dissipate.
Fill Power and Materials
Low grade down like duck emits more noticeable barnyard type odors.
Older, damaged feathers release dust and debris that trap unpleasant scents.
Poor thread count shell allows smells to escape and ambient odors to enter.
Care and Cleaning
Moisture from bodily oils, humidity, leaks causes funky odors. Proper drying prevents.
Infrequent washing allows smells to accumulate over time rather thanflushing them away.
Harsh detergents can degrade materials leading to accelerated odor.
By understanding what environmental and human factors generate scent, you can take steps to inhibit them. Next we’ll explore odor prevention tactics.
6 Pro Tips to Keep Down Comforters Smelling Fresh
While down insulation emits a subtle natural aroma, you can easily control unwanted odors between washes through smart maintenance:
- Air out routinely – Letting your comforter breathe prevents moisture and smell buildup. Open windows and allow the down to loft and circulate air.
- Use duvet covers – Adding a removable barrier protects your pricey comforter from body oils and spills while only washing the cover.
- Dry thoroughly – Inadequate drying breeds mildew leading to stubborn funky odors. Completely air dry down after any washing.
- Store properly – Fold loosely rather than compress so air can flow. Keep in cool, dry environment to inhibit moisture and mugginess.
- Wash 2-4 times annually – Launder bedding every 3-6 months to flush away odors from sweat and oils before they accumulate.
- Sun bathe – The UV sanitizing effects of direct sunlight naturally neutralize odors and freshen down.
Following these basic down comforter care rules will nip any smelly issues in the bud. But if funk still arises, extra remedies can tackle stubborn scents.
Best Methods to Remove Existing Down Comforter Odors
Sometimes despite your best efforts, unpleasant odors still manifest and require corrective action. Here are the most effective approaches to deodorize a smelly down comforter based on the stain severity:
| Odor Severity | Best Removal Method |
|---|---|
| Mild | Home washing with vinegar |
| Moderate | Dry cleaner sanitizing service |
| Severe | Professional laundering |
For Mild Scents – Home Wash with Vinegar
If you notice a subtle barnyard aroma in your down comforter, first attempt to remedy this using white vinegar during home laundering:
- Add 1-2 cups of distilled white vinegar along with mild detergent into a bathtub filled with lukewarm water
- Gently wash by soaking and pushing (not agitating) the down comforter in the tub
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water
- Air dry completely in direct sunlight
The vinegar’s acidic properties help break down and neutralize the odorous organic particles trapped in the down. Sunlight adds extra anti-microbial benefits.
Between this bath and ongoing airing out, light musty or sweat smells should dissipate.
For Moderate Odors – Dry Cleaner Sanitation
If home washing fails to eliminate funky odors, often a dry cleaning sanitation service will do the trick. Take your down comforter to a specialty laundry and ask that they perform an anti-microbial sanitize cycle including:
- Sanitizing washer-extractor machines
- Multi-step cleaning process with specialized detergents
- Additional rinses to flush all residue
- Commercial drying equipment
This intensive process treats moderate odors that require heavy duty chemicals to annihilate. Expect to invest $100-200 for a king size comforter sanitization.
For Severe Odors – Professional Down Cleaning Service
Got a pre-owned comforter with years of mucky odors baked in? Or have you discovered a horrendous mold infestation inside your bedding? This calls for the industrial guns – a full professional down cleaning service.
These experts utilize intense commercial washers, dryers, and cleaning solutions to deep clean every feather cluster. Cost runs $200-500 depending on size.
Look for services that promise to completely restore loft and aroma. You’ll pay more than standard laundry but will #receive like-new revitalized down# free of any lingering stench.
At What Point Should You Replace a Smelly Comforter?
When debating between continuing to salvage a swampy smelling comforter or starting fresh, consider:
Factors to Keep Old Down Comforter:
- Heirloom quality piece with sentimental value
- Recently expensive purchase
- Issue caused by storage or environment rather than construction
Signs It’s Time To Upgrade Your Comforter:
- Severe deeply embedded odors that professional cleaning can’t fix
- Visible mold, feathers degraded beyond salvage
- Duck down with lower warmth and durability potential
- Low thread count shell allowing smells to leak
- Multiple failed attempts at deodorizing
Evaluate your specific down comforter independently accounting for these variables. In many cases intense cleaning rescues even severely smelly bedding. But if washing fails to revive the aroma, upgrading the fill, shell, or entire comforter may be your best long term, low maintenance solution.
Your Action Plan for Odor-Free Down Comforters
Follow these key guidelines moving forward to nip any smelly issues before they start:
✔️ Select goose down with a fill power over 600 fp
✔️ Choose a shell with tight thread count over 600 tc
✔️ Allow down to fully loft and air out routinely
✔️ Wash using gentle vinegar bath every 6 months
✔️ Always completely air or machine dry after washing
✔️ Store in breathable, dry environment
✔️ Use protective duvet cover barrier
✔️ Dry clean sanitize or professional wash if severe smells arise
Stick to quality materials, routine maintenance, and proper storage and your comforter will emit a light, clean scent for over a decade rather than unpleasant odors.
And remember – subtle barnyard aroma comes standard with natural down products. But unacceptable ammonia, mildew and sweat smells are preventable with the above pro tips.
Frequently Asked Questions About Down Bedding Odors
Still seek answers to other common questions about smells and your down comforter? Discover more below:
Do down alternative comforters like polyester smell?
Yes, synthetic fills can hold odors just like natural down. Follow the same washing focus and airflow exposure to prevent unpleasant smells.
Why does my new down comforter smell after first opening?
That initial ammonia-esque off gassing comes from compressed packaging and lack of airflow. Simply air out for 48 hours and smell will dissipate.
Is scent a sign my comforter has mold inside?
Possibly. Musty, mildewy odor usually results from moisture allowing mold or bacteria. But confirm visual signs rather than relying solely on smell to identify mold.
Should I use scented fabric softener when washing down?
No. Fabric softeners leave residue that clusters on feathers compromising insulation capacity and loft recovery. Instead use distilled white vinegar.
