If you didn't know, the most expensive garments in retail are those that are made with organic material - AKA material made from animals. That could be genuine leather, sheeps skin, animal fur and feathers. They're also the most delicate to clean, and extra care and attention needs to be taken when cleaning these garments.

In this blog post, we will be focusing on how to clean items that contain feathers and down.

A Huge part of the market

Feathered items are increasingly popular year on year. It's a market that's predicted to be worth $8.6 bn in 2024.

Some of the most popular items containing feathers and down include duvets, pillows and jackets. You may have heard of the highly popular brand of parka jackets from Canada goose - made of feather and duck down.

These particular jackets can be worth a surplus of £900+, so to ensure your feathered items are in tip top shape, we have created some tips to give it long geverty.

Should you risk cleaning it at home?

if you want to make sure your feathered goods keep from spoiling we always recommend taking it to a professional cleaner.

You would be shocked to find that some of the care labels on these items suggest to clean at home. You may be able to do this if you have a machine big enough to fit your jacket or duvet, however not cleaning at the correct temperature and not drying properly can lead to damage of the outer lining and clumping of the feathers inside which may resulting in a displeasing after smell and an uneven finish on your item.

So if you don't value your item we suggest cleaning at home, but if you want to make sure your feathered goods keep from spoiling we always recommend taking it to a professional cleaner.

Preparing your feathered item before cleaning

1. Check for any wholes and torn seams
This seems obvious, but many people attempt to clean a feathered items with a small tear on the inner lining, or with a tiny rip on the sleeve, thinking it won't make much difference. If you want your jacket to come back with no feathers then don't tell us about any rips in your jacket. Feathers are small and light, and can seep out of the tiniest rips in massive quantities. Make sure to check for any holes prior to cleaning.


2. Check for any stains
A good dry cleaner will be able to remove the majority of stains depending on the age and type of stain. If you know what the stain is, let the dry cleaner know. We will always do our best to remove it.


3. Drop off and pick up
We at Five Elms Dry Cleaners offer a drop off and delivery service for customers within the nearby area. If you think you qualify give us a call. If you're not in the nearby area, we also offer free pick up and delivery for orders over £30. Get in touch today and see if we can pick up in your area!