How to Make Your Comforter Fluffy – Down or Down Alternative

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You lie down in bed after a long day, ready for a long and relaxing sleep. The lights are off and you’re ready to doze off. But there’s just one problem, your comforter is flat.

It can be very frustrating when your cloud of a comforter turns flat or lumpy. You aren’t getting the proper warmth and the whole sleeping experience is simply uncomfortable.

How does someone return their comforter to its former fluffy glory?

First, always follow the care and cleaning instructions for your specific comforter, and after that, we have a few easy solutions you should consider.

Shake It Out

Comforters lose their loft and body when the down filling clumps up. People can prevent and combat this is by shaking out their comforter on a daily basis.

RELATED: Tips for Storing Your Comforter

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Hold the comforter by the edges and give it a hard whip. People will want to create a wave down the comforter, which separates the filling, evenly dispersing it throughout the comforter.

Separate the Clumps by Hand

Lay your comforter down flat and look for the sections with the most lumps (they should be easy to spot).

Gently massage the filling with your fingers, breaking apart the clumps. People can also use their palm or heel of their hand to push down into the lumpier areas.

tips for getting handBLACKDAY/Shutterstock

Hang It on the Line

On a windy or breezy day, hang your comforter out on the clothesline, as the fresh air moving through the bedding will naturally fluff your comforter as well as reduce odors.

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tips for getting clothesline

Mut Hardman/Shutterstock

Tennis Balls in the Dryer

Place the comforter in a commercial dryer along with three or four tennis balls. Make sure to put the tennis balls in clean, white socks or they may stain the comforter.

tips for getting tennis

Yuri Vydyborets/Shutterstock

It is important that people use a commercial dryer because their comforter will expand as it dries.

Run the machine on the Air Fluff Cycle, because the balls and spinning motion will help un-clump and fluff your comforter.

RELATED: How to Wash a Comforter

Overall

With these methods, you can recapture and maintain fluffiness in your comforter.  In the end, it is all about keeping the filling from clumping. Evenly dispersed filling means fluff, and fluff means warmth and comfort.

Featured Image: xieyuliang/Shutterstock

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Marten Carlson

Marten Carlson

Lead Mattress Reviewer

About Author

Marten has been writing about mattresses and sleep health for six years. He is the lead reviewer at Mattress Clarity where he tests mattresses, bedding, and sleep accessories.

In his role here, Marten’s reviewed over 500 mattresses and 150 sleep accessories (so you can rest assured that if he recommends a product, it’s been put through the wringer in our Austin studio). In addition, he has written more than 400 articles reviewing the quality of sleep and sleep products as well as sleep health. He’s especially interested in the correlation between sleep and mental health.

Marten’s also got a personal stake in sleep health. After writing dozens of pieces on the dangers of sleep apnea, he decided to get tested for the condition. Realizing he did, in fact, suffer from sleep apnea, he immediately started using a CPAP machine. He knows all too well the importance of a healthy night’s sleep and is passionate about helping others get the healthy, restorative sleep they deserve.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Film Production from Denison University and his master’s degree in Film Studies from Emory University.

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