How to Stop Comforters Going Crunchy After Drying

A cosy comforter can provide warmth and snuggliness on a cold winter night. But what do you do when your comforter turns crunchy after drying it?

You may fear that your comforter is bound for the bin. But don’t jump too far ahead just yet. You can rescue your comforter from its crunchy end by following the steps below.

By bedtime, you’ll be lounging under a snug comforter and watching a film. And the only crunchy thing you’ll need to concern yourself with is your Crunchie chocolate bar!

 

Why Do Comforters Go Crunchy After Drying?

A comforter goes crunchy or stiff for a number of reasons. The most common ones relate to the drying process and what the comforter is made of, but a few other factors can also contribute to the issue. Keep on reading to find out more. 

Overheating

Exposing your comforter to high dryer temperatures can cause the filling inside the comforter to overheat.

As the fibres (often down or synthetic) heat up, they start to melt and clump together, hence why the comforter feels stiff and lumpy instead of soft and snuggly.

In addition, the fibres may also lose their smooth fluffiness during the overheating process, making the comforter feel pretty tough.

 

Incorrect drying setting chosen

Before you dry any garment or item, you must read the care label to find out how to care for the piece.

If you don’t bother reading the advice on the tag, you’ll use the wrong drying temperature and cycle to dry your comforter. This can make the comforter crunchy because it’s been dried in the wrong way!

 

Uneven drying

A comforter can be cumbersome, so you need to make sure you use a big enough dryer to dry it.

If you use a dryer that is too small, you’ll end up with an unevenly dried comforter by the end of a cycle.

Naturally, due to the lack of space in the drum, the comforter won’t be able to move around enough, so some parts of the material will have dried more than others.

Consequently, some areas may be overdried and will go crunchy, and others will remain soggy.

 

Poor maintenance

Over a period of time, a comforter is exposed to all kinds of dirt. This can be anything from body oils, sweat, urine and food.

If you don’t clean these off the comforter during the washing process, they will accumulate and impact the feel of the comforter when it is dry.

In short, the comforter may feel crunchy rather than clean and cwtchy.

 

Insufficient fluffing

To ensure your comforter stays fluffy, you need to make sure that it has enough room in a tumble dryer to move around freely and that you manually fluff it. If you fall short on either of these factors, you’ll end up with a clumpy comforter!

 

Low-quality materials

Lower-quality comforters aren’t always filled with the best-quality materials. Unfortunately, when these materials are exposed to a cleaning and drying process, they don’t react well.

Instead of the comforters coming out of the washing machine/dryer clean and soft, they come out lumpy and stiff.

Similarly, low-quality comforters aren’t always made with the best care and attention in the world.

So, when they go through the washing and drying process, they don’t fare well and usually end up riddled with lumps and feeling crunchy!

Now you know the main causes, read on to find out how to fix a crunchy comforter.

 

How to Fix a Crunchy Comforter

Here are some steps you can take to make your comforter crunch-free.

Follow the care label instructions

Before you take any additional steps, you must read your comforter’s care label to find out how to maintain the piece. On the tag, you’ll find washing and drying instructions that you must adhere to to keep your comforter smooth, lump-free and comfortable.

 

Shake it out

Grab your comforter at one end, and give it a good shake! Shake the comforter vigorously for a few minutes so that you redistribute the filling material. This small action will get rid of any clumps and lumps in the comforter that form during the drying phase.

 

Fluff it up

Pop your comforter back inside a large tumble dryer, but this time, add a few dryer balls/tennis balls to the drum as well.

Select an appropriate cycle that uses the correct temperature for the comforter. Ideally, this will be a low temperature so you don’t overheat the fibres inside the comforter.

It’s imperative that you check the comforter periodically throughout this drying process because you don’t want the piece get too dry.

The tennis/dryer balls will help fluff up and stop clumps from forming inside the comforter during the drying cycle.

Air it out

If it’s a bright sunny day where you are, try placing your comforter on the line and allow the gentle breeze and sunlight to soften up your comforter.

 

Mist it up

Sometimes, your comforter will need a little extra help to loosen up. So, fill a clean spray bottle with tap water, then spray a fine mist of water over your comforter, but don’t soak the comforter!

Once you’ve done this, stick your comforter back inside a large tumble dryer, add a few dryer balls to the machine and start a short, low-heat cycle.

As the comforter dries, the dryer balls will move around and help loosen any clumps in the filling.

 

Use a professional cleaning service

If your comforter is still crunchy after you’ve tried the above, it’s time to ask a pro for help.

Professional dry cleaners have access to different tools and products that can help restore the softness to your comforter.

You can find a suitable professional by doing an online search. Just make sure you pick someone with experience handling crunchy comforters.

 

Preventing Future Crunchy Comforter Mishaps

A crunchy comforter can be bothersome. However, with the proper care and attention, you can prevent it from getting into a crunchy state to begin with. Follow the steps below:

Follow the care label on your comforter

Always stick to the advice on the care tag on your comforter! The instructions are on the tag for a reason, and that is to ensure you care and maintain your comforter correctly – so don’t skip over them.

Otherwise, you’ll end up with a damaged, crunchy, stiff, lump-filled comforter that you won’t want to snuggle up to at night.

 

Use a big enough tumble dryer

Comforters can be oversized, so ensure you use a big enough tumble dryer to dry them. If you squeeze a comforter into a small capacity dryer, the item will be pushed for space and end up unevenly dried.

In the end, you’ll have a somewhat crunchy but somewhat damp comforter – not exactly the type of thing you want to fall asleep with.

So, make sure the dryer you use is big enough! And if you don’t have a big enough dryer, ask another family member or use a launderette service.

 

Regularly maintain your comforter

Don’t allow grime to build up on your comforter because the muck will strip the comfort of its softness.

Keep on top of the washing, drying and fluffing so that you get plenty of use out of your comforter and to ensure it gives you plenty of comfort on cold winter nights.

 

Avoid using high temperatures to dry your comforter

As mentioned, always read the care label on your comforter to see how it should be dried before you dry it.

The care tag will typically state that the comforter needs to be dried on a low-heat setting, so stick to this advice.

Double-check the program and temperature you’ve selected before you run a drying cycle. Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of overheating and damaging your comforter!

 

How to Fix a Toy Comforter After Drying

For young kids, a toy comforter is more than just a toy; it’s a trusted companion that offers great comfort and security.

However, after washing and drying said toy, you may face a common dilemma – the comforter has gone crunchy and is no longer cuddly.

Don’t worry about this, though. It is, as noted, a common problem that occurs with toys and can usually be rectified quickly.

Why do toy comforters go crunchy after drying?

There are several reasons why a toy comforter goes crunchy after drying. These include:

• The toy has been subjected to too much heat during the drying cycle, and its fibres have started to melt or clump together.
• The toy hasn’t been fluffed properly, so the material inside the toy has gone lumpy.
• The toy hasn’t been made from the best materials nor crafted with the greatest care in the world. Subpar materials and manufacturing processes can make some toys more prone to getting clumpier than others during the washing/drying processes.
• You may have used the wrong type of cleaner to maintain the toy. For example, you’ve used a harsh detergent instead of a mild one.

Now you know why the toy is crunchy, follow the steps below to fix the issue.

 

How to fix a crunchy toy comforter

Here’s how you fix a toy comforter that’s gone crunchy:

• Make sure you wash the toy on a gentle cycle or clean it by hand.
• Ensure you use the correct water temperature for the toy – not too hot!
• Make sure you pick a suitable detergent for the material – nothing too harsh.
• Opt for air drying over tumble drying. Hang the toy on the clothesline or lay it out on a flat, towelled surface to dry.
• Manually fluff and redistribute the stuffing inside the toy to make sure it’s clump-free and smooth.
• If you dry the toy comforter in a tumble dryer, add some dryer balls to the drum to ensure adequate fluffing during the drying process.
• Ensure you don’t overload the washing machine or the tumble dryer with toys. Wash a few toys at once so there’s enough room in the drums for the toys to move about.

 

Tips to consider for the future

Here are a handful of points to keep in mind when maintaining your child’s comforter:

• Read the care label on the toy comforter to find out how it needs to be cleaned and dried. Then, stick to the instructions you’ve been given.
• Steer clear of the harsh detergents. Stick to using mild cleaners that won’t affect the toy, its fluffing, or your child.
• Clean your child’s comforter often to ensure it’s free from grime and bacteria. Regular cleaning will also help keep the toy in good condition and soft.

A child’s toy comforter is more than just a plaything to them. It has a special, deep-rooted place in their heart.

The comforter offers them endless comfort and cuddles and can be a crutch at bedtime or when in a new environment. So, it is imperative to keep their favourite toy, a best friend even, soft and crunch-free!