I was actually going to just throw it out - I took it out of the duvet and there are feathers flying everywhere! So I got a little freaked thinking there must be dust mites galore in it!
We've had it about 6 years. It's spent the last 3 years in my cedar chest never having been taken out and the cedar chest is never opened.
I read that you really should only clean them once every 1-5 years.
Is your down comforter quilted? Meaning does it have stitching that keeps the feathers in certain areas or does it all fall to the bottom?
I did mine at home in the summer and have also taken it to the dry cleaners. We have one from Holland and it is very nice. I have yet to find one like it here.
If you do it at home then I would wait till summer.
you can wash it - but mine tends not to do so well in the dryer so i hang it over a clothes line to dry, then once it is dry give it a really good shake to fluff it up again.
also, i think this is more european tradition, when we change the sheets (once or twice a week) we open the bedroom windows wide to let a lot of fresh air in the room and when the cover is off the duvet we give it a real big shake and then let it hang about halfway out the window for about 30-60 minutes before putting a clean cover on.
we do this all year round, regardless of temp, unless it is actually snowing or raining at the time
real down (duck/goose feather) duvets tend to gather dust and can smell musty - this is a big help.
