Most people own a large comforter for their bed, which keeps temperatures warm and cozy during colder weather.
However, washing such a big item, particularly if it’s a king comforter, can be difficult if the washer and dryer aren’t large enough.
If you own a king comforter, you’ll probably want to make sure it’ll fit in any dryers you’re thinking about purchasing.
How big is a king comforter?
King comforters are usually 102 inches wide and between 86 and 88 inches long.
More importantly, when it’s bunched up, a king comforter is usually about 4 cubic feet in size.
What size dryer do I need for a king comforter?
If a king comforter is 4 cubic feet in size, it stands to reason that you’ll need a dryer with an internal size of at least 4 cubic feet.
An internal space of 4.2 cubic feet is generally considered to be the minimum size for a dryer that can fit a king comforter.
However, having a dryer with a slightly larger capacity is often a better idea.
A larger dryer will allow the comforter to expand as it dries, which will allow air to pass through and around it.
This can help to speed up the drying process.
When purchasing a dryer, it’s important to check the actual cubic foot capacity the dryer offers.
Some dryers will say that they have a large or super capacity, but what this actually means can vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Dryers with larger capacities are generally larger on the outside as well, and this means that they take up more space in the laundry room.
Large washers and dryers aren’t convenient for every home, particularly for smaller areas.
Opting for a stackable, front-loading washer and dryer, however, can often help to free up space in the laundry room while still offering a dryer that’s big enough for a king-size comforter.
Settings for Drying Comforters
Once you’ve found a dryer that can fit your king comforter, it’s important to choose the correct dryer settings.
Dryer settings can impact how efficiently a comforter dries.
Although it seems like setting the dryer to the hottest setting would make sense, using the coolest setting is actually a much better choice.
High heat can damage the materials inside the comforter that make it fluffy.
This is especially true for down comforters.
The filling inside the comforter can clump together when it’s exposed to high heat, and instead of tumbling, drying, and becoming fluffy, it can become lumpy and compacted.
Using a lower heat encourages more even, albeit slower, drying, and often ensures that comforters are fluffier.
If the comforter isn’t coming out as fluffy as you’d like, even on a low heat setting, you can place two to three tennis balls in the dryer with the comforter.
As the balls move around in the rotating dryer, they help to fluff the comforter.
Dryer tumbling balls made of rubber or wool are also available.
Remember to always put the comforter in the dryer by itself.
If you’re washing sheets, pillowcases, or other textiles, leave them out so the comforter can dry alone.
Stuffing other items into the dryer with the comforter can impede drying, causing the comforter to bunch up, which can leave damp spots.
It’s very important to always check the care instructions listed on the comforter’s tag before putting the comforter in either the washer or dryer.
These instructions will give details about which washing and drying settings are best for the material the comforter is made out of.
If it’s made of special materials or features intricate decorations, the instructions may point you towards hand washing and line drying.
High heat can damage materials inside the comforter.
Ensuring the Comforter is Dry
Whether you use a maximum dry or timed dry setting, a large comforter often requires two or three drying cycles before it’s completely dry.
It’s usually best to stop the dryer in the middle and at the end of each drying cycle.
During this pause, you can take out the comforter, turning it around so that different areas are more exposed to the dryer’s heat.
This also gives you a chance to gauge how wet or dry the comforter is so you can determine how much more time it needs before it’s completely dried.
Other Drying Options
If you don’t have the room for a washer and dryer large enough to fit a king comforter, there are still other options for washing the large comforter.
You can hand wash the comforter and then place it outside, either on a clothesline or draped over chairs or patio furniture, to let it dry.
If you’re drying the comforter outside, make sure that it’s not lying flat anywhere.
Lifting the comforter up so that air can pass underneath it will aid in drying.
Laying or hanging the comforter in the sun can speed up drying, but sunlight can also fade fabrics, so be sure to only place light-colored fabric in the sun.