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Make It Easy:  Cleaning feathers??  |
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Karen Marie
Farmgirl at Heart
3 Posts
Michigan
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 01 2008 : 08:50:38 AM
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Hi
I am not sure if this is right area to post this question, feel free to move it if need be, just let me know where ya put it LOL
My dh is a duck/goose hunter and I am a lover of feather pillows........question.....does anyone know how to clean and prepare the feathers for use in pillows??
I have searched the internet and haven't found much, I thought maybe you girls may ideas or a site I could check out.
TIA
~*Karen Marie*~ Mom to 3 Darling Ducklings ~Sarah, Meghan and Kevin~and wife to "Sparky" |
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Shirley
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Shirley
Olympia
Wa
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2008 : 12:15:37 AM
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I used to clean feather with soap and water to put on my wall hangings, and also for Indian ceremonies. when they are still wet and clean, just run your fingers up the feather to staighten and let dry.
With a bunch I would just put them in a sink of sudsy water and swish them around and them lay them on a towel and let them dry, you could use a blow dryer, but sont know where they would end up :) |
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mrsmorgen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
morgen
coudersport
pa
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2008 : 1:27:18 PM
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I dont know a thing myself but as i was reading about chickens and ducks last night ,I read about cleaning the feathers in Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living. You should be able to find a copy of it at the library or borrow it from a farm girl friend. Or I think it is worth the investment!
Morgen
I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all..
laura ingalls wilder |
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frannie
True Blue Farmgirl
2246 Posts
fran
bonham
texas
USA
2246 Posts |
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frannie
True Blue Farmgirl
2246 Posts
fran
bonham
texas
USA
2246 Posts |
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frannie
True Blue Farmgirl
2246 Posts
fran
bonham
texas
USA
2246 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2008 : 3:45:32 PM
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(funny musac playing in the background)....okay, i'm back.
according to carla emery, duck and goose feathers are not generally subject to the kind of feather parasites that afflict chickens, which is why you wash them, to remove dirt, but also because of the feather parasites. she implies then that you do wash the duck feathers but dont have to be as vigilant because they dont usually have the feather parasites.
now here is what she says about the washing of feathers.
"pick out rocks, straw, sticks and any obvious and major globs of stuff by hand. ......if there are no signs of bugs then proceed on with washing. put all the feathers into a bag, like a cheesecloth bag or a bag made from old curtains. (old scrim curtains)
put the whole thing in the washing machine, or wash by hand.you can use a soap suitable for wool and even some bleach and warm , but not boiling hot water.
if you have a dryer, put your washed stack of feathers inside a pillowcase for extra coverage, then just go ahead and dry them on a very low heat setting. if not, hang the feathers inside a very loosely woven bag in the shade on your clothesline or some place where it can get lots of air. give the bag an occasional shake. the main thing is to get them dry as quickly as possible without exposing them to direct sunshine.
when you use the feathers they must be absolutely dry.
she also adds" the first time you make feather pillows fill them fuller than you think you want,because they will gadually pack/.use regular ticking, and double stitch the seams.
okay, i think thats it.
she differentiates between the down feathers and the small feathers and says you can use a mix of them. she doesnt recommend using large feathers unless you plan on stripping them.
hope that helps.
love
frannie in texas
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/)
(http://abunnystale.blogspot.com/) |
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Make It Easy: Cleaning feathers?? |
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Cleaning feathers??
