HELOISE: Cleaning ‘musty’ down pillows

Dear Heloise: I have some goose-down pillows that smell “musty,” and I would like to know how to clean them. A friend said that years ago, she sent some to a place to be cleaned and put in new coverings, but can’t recall where! Dry-clean? Wash? They are too expensive to just throw away. Do you have a suggestion for me? Thank you very much — love your columns.

Eloise W. Smith, Hutchinson Island, Fla.

Yes, I do, and most can be washed at home (unless the care label states otherwise) if you have a machine without an agitator (front loading). Most manufacturers suggest using a larger commercial front-loading machine. Before adding pillows to the machine, check that the pillow ticking is in good shape, because if not, feathers will be everywhere!

Wash only a couple of pillows at a time, and run them through the rinse cycle at least two times, possibly even three.

Next, the pillows can be dried in a dryer, but you will need to take the pillows out every so often and fluff them so the down doesn’t stay clumped together, dries well and gets fluffed out. It takes about two to three hours or longer to dry two pillows. If you remove them and find clumps, then they need more drying time!

You may be able to find a dry cleaner that will wash feather pillows. They usually will remove the ticking, clean or replace the down, if necessary, and put on new ticking. This can be an expensive choice, and you may have to call around to find a dry cleaner that will clean the pillows.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have searched for months for replacement cuffs for my son’s sports jacket. I have tried the Internet and every fabric store in the city, to no avail. I was standing at the checkout in a fabric store, and there was one of the usual displays. I thought, “Oh, yippee — cuffs!” Alas, it was headbands/sweatbands, but they were ribbed. I picked up two packages in case one would not make two cuffs, and they worked! I now have one left to replace the collar if it goes out. Since there are many fleece jackets being made, I just can’t understand why fabric stores no longer carry cuffs.

Shirley F., Omaha, Neb.

Dear Heloise: Our favorite Chinese restaurant provides long, plastic, red chopsticks with dinner. Since we don’t use them, I always bring them home in case they come in handy for projects, like stirring the paint in the cans.

Doris in Ohio

Dear Heloise: I love houseplants and have two large ferns, which shed lots of plant material onto the floor. Every week when I vacuum, I give the ferns a vigorous shake to remove any loose material. This keeps the areas around my ferns neat between vacuumings.

Sharon Haney, Ottawa, Kan.

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate