Originally Posted by
yngldy
I wash my down pillows all the time. Are the cases good or are the feathers coming through? If so, get pillow ticking and make a new case for them and put the pillow inside it. You don't have to take it apart unless you want to. Then wash using something like woolite or Orvus soap, just a little. Wash then throw in dryer. It might take quite a few rounds before it is dry. Check the pillows once in a while and if there are large clumps, you can "fluff" or pull the clumps apart gently. Do not use any softner. Mild heat ending with air.
Grandma used to put two new tennis balls in the dryer with the pillows to fluff them as they dried. It makes some noise, but the pillows came out fluffy. While the pillows are wet, they really smell, but once they are dry, they are fine. Do not use a dryer sheet, it will gum up the feathers.