PLEASE NOTE: It is very important that these care instructions are followed carefully and correctly. The St Genève warranty does not cover damage caused by poor care.

PRO-TIP!
The most important thing you can do to take care of your down product is to always use a clean duvet cover, clean pillowcase and clean pillow protector. This is the most effective way to protect your pillows and duvets from damage, and to protect you from allergens. It's important to note that down and feather allergies have been proven to be very uncommon and only occur in some extremely rare cases. What most people mistake as down allergies are actually dust mite allergies. Dust mites are attracted to dead skin cells and moisture, so it is immensely important to wash your duvet covers and pillow covers frequently. We recommend washing them at least 2-4 times per month.

Caring for your down pillow

DAILY CARE

The first step in caring for your down pillow is to make sure you are using both a pillowcase and a pillow protector. Launder your case and protector frequently – we suggest weekly. Doing this makes your pillow a low maintenance piece of bedding that will last for years; it will only need to be washed if it appears to be soiled.

Fluff your pillow daily. When your pillow loses firmness it may be time to wash it. To see if it's time to wash your pillow, fold it in half. If it stays folded or opens slowly it's time to clean it. As your pillow ages it will get softer. If you find your pillow is no longer comfortable even after washing, it's likely time to replace it.

St.Genève pillows are machine washable and come with the Superwash Certification. If you are washing a pillow from another brand, be sure to check the care instructions before laundering.

WASHING YOUR PILLOW

Before washing your pillows, be sure to check them for any tears that may allow the down to spill out. If you find a rip, have the pillow repaired before washing.

Use a mild detergent. We recommend Tide Free and Gentle, which is hypoallergenic and without dyes or perfumes. Wash your pillows in a front-loading washing machine. If you do not have one, head to a laundromat or a friend’s house. In a top-loading machine, pillows will float to the top and will not be washed thoroughly. Second, the agitator may damage the pillows.

Wash two pillows at a time for better balance in your machine. Use a delicate cycle with warm water. Warm water will wash away any allergens.

Run an extra rinse and spin cycle; this will help to make sure that any residues from your detergent are rinsed out and to expel any excess water. Residues from detergents can cause deterioration to the fabric and can ‘gunk up’ the fibers in your down.

If you have any doubts, we recommend taking your pillows to a professional cleaner who understands the fine points of washing down products.

Do not use fabric softener, bleach, or detergents with bleach, whiteners, or alkaline detergents.

DRYING YOUR PILLOW

Squish out excess water using a towel; do not wring or twist your pillows. Dry them on the delicate cycle, low or medium heat. Because of how thick pillows are, you may need two or three cycles. Add dryer balls or clean tennis balls to help fluff the pillow as it dries. In between cycles, pull out the pillow and feel it. If you find that any large clumps are forming, you can shake it or use your fingers to break up the clumps. Be sure to dry completely before use. If you feel any damp spots (they may register as cool spots in the pillow), your pillow is not dry. Using a damp pillow could lead to mildew and shorten the life of your pillow.

Washing your Eider Luxe pillow

Unzip and remove the outside Eider envelope. Wash the envelope by itself on gentle at medium temperature using a mild detergent. Do not bleach, or use detergents that contain bleach. We find that "Tide Free" is the best detergent to use. You must use a front loading machine. Use an extra rinse cycle to make sure the soap has been thoroughly removed.

Dry on medium. It may take several cycles to dry and we recommend using dryer balls. Check after each cycle for any damp clumps and re-distribute the down in the pillow before starting the next cycle. Turn the envelope inside-out between cycles. The pillow is finished when there are no damp spots or clumps anywhere. Do not over-dry or the down can become brittle.

To re-insert the inner pillow, fold it in half down the length of it. Grasping the two corners together, insert it in the center of the envelope working it all the way down to the end. Take your time to spread the inner pillow out inside the envelope with your hands. Ensure the edges and corners of the inner pillow fit closely to the inner limits of the envelope.

Caring for your down duvet

DAILY CARE

When you first unpack your St Genève duvet, it may seem a bit flat. Give it a couple of days and it will puff up and stay lofty for years. Refrain from sitting on your duvet or leaving anything heavy on top of it. If you wish to store it, pack it loosely and use a fabric bag.

Protect your duvet by always using it with a duvet cover – the duvet cover should be laundered about twice a month. This will keep your duvet clean, and it will only need to be washed if it has been soiled. Rotate your duvet when you change your duvet cover to ensure even wear.

You can wash your duvet at home, however you first should ensure that your washer and dryer are large enough to accommodate the duvet. Front-loading machines are recommended. Note: Duvets are delicate and we encourage you to wash them as little as possible, as washing too often can cause down to drift. You should eliminate the need to wash your duvet by using a clean duvet cover at all times.

Drying, in particular, can be cumbersome and inconvenient and we recommend taking your duvet to the dry cleaner for ease.

Note: If you have silk ticking on your duvet, it can only be dry cleaned. Eiderdown should not be washed too often, and we recommend protecting your investment with a high quality duvet protector.

WASHING YOUR DUVET

Before washing your duvet, be sure to check it for any tears that may allow the down to spill out. If you find a rip, have it repaired before washing. Use a mild detergent. We recommend Tide Free and Gentle, which is hypoallergenic and without dyes or perfumes.

In a Front Loading Machine (Preferred Method)

If you do not have one, head to a laundromat or a friend’s house. There are two reasons for this: in a top-loading machine, the duvet may get air bubbles and float to the top, preventing a thorough washing. Second, the agitator may damage your comforter.

Wash on a delicate cycle with warm water. Warm water will wash away any allergens.

Run an extra rinse cycle; this will help to make sure that any residues from your detergent are rinsed out and to expel any excess water. Residues from detergents can cause deterioration to the fabric and can ‘gunk up’ the fibers in your down.

Do not use fabric softener, bleach, or detergents with bleach, whiteners, or alkaline detergents.

Using a Top Loading Machine is strongly discouraged. In a top-loading machine, the duvet will float to the top and will not be washed thoroughly. Second, the agitator may damage the baffles.

DRYING YOUR DUVET

Make sure that your dryer can accommodate the dry size of your duvet. Remember a duvet is larger when dry than when wet. Dry it on the delicate cycle, low or medium heat. Because of how large duvets are, this may take several hours. Add dryer balls or clean tennis balls to help fluff the duvet as it dries. In between cycles, pull out the duvet and feel it. If you find that any large clumps are forming, you can shake it or use your fingers to break up the clumps. Be sure to dry completely before use. After your duvet is cool check if you feel any damp spots (they may register as cool spots in the filling), if so, your duvet is not dry. Using a damp duvet could lead to mildew and shorten the life of your duvet.

If you have any doubts, we recommend taking your duvet to a professional cleaner who understands the fine points of washing duvets.

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