Breaking up the clumps.....

[Chesapeake]

So after a spring and summer of pretty regular , almost every night use either inside or outside in the sometimes oppressive humidity where I live, I decided it was time to give my CDT TQ a wash. I followed standard down TQ washer protocol and washed it on the delicate cycle w/ a very mild detergent. After the washer, I placed it in a poly knit laundry bag ( the kind that you find at the Dollar store w/ all the holes in it) , and began to dry it on low heat with my Snugpak and Thermarest pillows that also got washed and get used every night. I placed 5 of my daughters t-balls in with them to aid in braking up the clumps of down like normal. After about 30 mins, I took the TQ out and began trying to break some of the larger clumps up manually. The fabric was 90% dry at this point and some of the down had started to separate on its own and began to fluff up. Here's my question... What's the best/safest way to break up those larger clumps? Rubbing them between your fingers? Flattening them between your palms? Pulling them apart? Its a CDT so no baffles to worry about but I wanna make sure I don't rip the down while breaking up the clumps right? Can the down be damaged in the de-clumpping process? I use this TQ quite a bit so I don't wanna ruin it somehow , even though its inexpensive.

[DannyII]

I just washed mine. YMMV, but I just threw mine in the dryer on low heat with the tennis balls. Super fluffy after!

[Chesapeake]

It came out OK. Had to do 2 1/2 cycles but all the clumps are gone now.

[Peter_pan]

Having washed plenty of down quilts I find 2 hours for a summer quilt, 2.5 hours for a three season quilt and 3 full hours for a winter quilt with two-three tennis balls will get the job done... Be sure to set the dryer on low and use timed dry, not sensor dry.

Pan

added... Since many JRB quilts have been around for a decade or longer, it is not unusual for us to get inquiries about "Refreshing" old quilts or opening and adding down... In every case we walk folks thru washing and drying and in every case they have been successful and avoided "refreshing" or repurchasing...

Washing instructions here... http://www.jacksrbetter.com/care-and-cleaning/

[DannyII]

I wash mine, then hang them outside (or in the garage if weather is not good) to dry for about 2-3 hours. Then I fluff on low heat for just 30 minutes with the 3 tennis balls.