Keeping your house as clean and organized as possible can feel daunting. Do you have a couch that won't stop shedding feathers into your living room and have no idea how to stop it? Well, we've done plenty of digging and have a few suggestions to share. Let's check them out below.
There are some ways to stop this from happening for those with a feather-shedding couch or sofa. First, we recommend switching your feather/down stuffing for something different to prevent further shedding.
Second, you can try to use a ticking fabric for a down-proof cover on your couch. This will trap loose feathers from escaping onto the floor or nearby furniture.
Lastly, you can put all of the stuffing for your couch into a bag, place it back into your sofa, and see if that works.
As we begin, we will cover all things feather couches and discuss how to stop shedding from happening. Whether you're new to this type of furniture or struggle with loose feathers regularly, we're here to assist. With that said, let's dive right into this post!
Why Is My Couch Shedding Feathers?
If you start to notice feathers coming out of your sofa, this happens more than you'd think. Typically, as a down/feather-filled couch ages, more feathers make their way out onto the floor.
This can happen because of openings in your seat cushions or how a piece of furniture is made. Down sofas will often experience a bit of shedding if you use them frequently.
Like a feather-filled jacket or pillow, it's not impossible or unlikely for smaller feathers to escape through tiny holes in your sofa. Let's say there is a zipper towards the back or side of your cushions.
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That small opening where the zipper meets the track's end is sometimes the perfect escape zone for flyaways. Furthermore, your sofa may have a back-end opening where the stuffing is located, often having a small crack for feathers to escape.
Luckily, there are many ways to stop this from occurring. You can try finding a new stuffing for the sofa, using a couch cover, or placing the existing feathers into a sealed bag inside your cushions.
The key here is to seal the sofa as best as possible, which should stop any other feathers/stuffing from leaving your furniture.
How To Stop Feathers From Coming Out Of A Sofa
Now that you know why this happens, it's essential to form a game plan. Generally, one of the easiest ways to stop feathers from escaping a couch is to remove or replace them.
Especially for those with bad allergies, having feathers inside your furniture can irritate your sinuses and be messy on your living room floors.
Additionally, you can try removing the feathers from your sofa, placing them in a sealed bag, and putting them back into the cushions of your piece.
Although this will take time and patience, it saves you the hassle of replacing the stuffing entirely. We recommend using a garbage bag or one that you can secure.
It's also a great idea to purchase a ticking fabric for a down-proof cover. This is a tightly knit cover for your feather-filled sofa, which will trap feathers inside.
With that said, this isn't always aesthetically pleasing, so if you like how your furniture looks "as-is," you may want to choose one of the other ideas.
How Do I Know If My Couch Has Feathers?
The easiest way to tell if a couch has feather stuffing is to look at its cushions. Generally, you can find a zipper on the backside of a sofa seat, which will be filled with some filling.
Although most new couches don't have feathers/down inside them, that's not always true. For example, if you notice tiny feathers or feather-like hairs around your furniture, they could be inside the cushions.
To test this, remove one or all of the seats from your sofa. Next, you want to locate the zipper and gently pull it. Remember, if there are feathers inside, this can be messy: so be careful.
Once you have the cushion opened, you will be able to see what's inside. As we said, you can choose to replace the feathers for soft seat filler instead, but expect to fill a few garbage bags.
Moreover, you might be able to seal the cushions if you can find a way to close the zipper permanently, but that requires some tinkering.
Another way to test if a couch has feathers is to jump on its cushions. If feathers blow out, you have your final answer.
What Feathers Are Used In Sofas?
Most brands will use duck or chicken feathers for sofas. However, down filling is the more expensive, luxury option, so if your piece is pricey, that could be why.
Duck feathers are typically quite small, which can explain why they escape from inside your cushions onto the nearby flooring. They are also naturally curly, acting as a spring for your seats.
On the other hand, chicken feathers can be a bit bigger and don't have as much curl. Between the two, duck feathers have a more premium feel, although they are about the same level of messiness.
Adding to that, down feathers (the plush underbellies of geese) will be the softest filling. Like a down-filled coat or pillow, this material feels like a cloud and won't shed quite as bad.
Again, that's not to say a feathered stuffing, regardless of material, won't be mess-free, but the nicer it is, the lower chances of shedding.
You also want to consider the environmental and social impact of purchasing a feather-stuffed sofa, as they can be made using abusive practices.
How Do You Clean A Feather-Filled Couch?
If you think it's time to clean a feather cushion, this can be tricky. Usually, your sofa will come with care instructions, which cover whether it's safe to machine wash any of the pieces.
Many experts recommend filling a bathtub with warm soapy water and dipping the seat cushions in there, although if your washer is big enough, you can try that as well.
Regardless, you want to read the instructions/material tag on your couch before making any decisions. The last thing anyone wants is to destroy their sofa while trying to clean it.
Moreover, if you have a front-loading washing machine, we recommend loading one cushion inside and turning on the gentlest setting. Don't try to shove too many pieces into your washer, as this can hurt them and your expensive appliance.
If you have seat cushions with the stuffing in a separate bag, cleaning becomes easier. In this case, you can remove the filling bag from your seat, wash it gently, and place it back into the cushion without getting everything wet.
Why Does My Feather Couch Smell?
One of the main reasons a feather-stuffed sofa will start to smell is the conditions around it. Typically, the more moist and warm a space is, the more likely your feathers are to smell funky.
There could also be leftover oils from the filling/feather cleaning process, which you can try removing with a good washing.
According to DownLite Bedding, duck fill is more likely to emit odors, as those feathers have a higher oil content. Although that sounds horrifying, you can usually spray them with a fabric freshener, which should do the trick.
Again, every sofa is different, so this could take some trial and error.
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How Long Do Feather Sofas Last?
Although this will vary for everyone, you can typically expect a feather-stuffed sofa to last between seven and 15 years. Of course, this depends on how often you use a couch and what upkeep it has, so everyone will be slightly different.
Considering that feather cushions tend to be made well, you shouldn't run into premature aging/damage. As we covered above, the more expensive down-filled sofas will be the best quality, meaning they should last longer.
It's also important to consider the upkeep of a feather couch. For example, the feathers' oils may start to emit an odor, which you should clean immediately.
In addition, your sofa may also start to "leak" feathers, which you should fix by following one of the recommendations we gave earlier.
Although the stuff inside your seat cushion feels endless, losing too many feathers isn't good. Furthermore, you may even need to replace the feather filling in your sofa after five or ten years, so that's something else to consider.
Are Feather Stuffed Couches Bad For The Environment?
Feather couches aren't as bad as you'd think regarding their environmental impact. First, the feathers inside of a couch cushion won't degrade as fast as foam/other materials.
That means less landfill waste over time. Additionally, many manufacturers have switched to greener, cleaner processes for obtaining the feathers and related sofa-making materials.
However, that's not to say a feather couch is cruelty-free, so if that bothers you, we don't recommend purchasing one. In general, it's better for the animal's sake to find a vegan/synthetic sofa, although those aren't entirely "green" either.
It's hard to find a perfect option in today's world, so you may have to sacrifice certain aspects.
To Wrap Things Up
Whether you need a new idea for your sofa or want to keep feathers from flying, there are ways to do this. From what we found, you can try replacing the feather stuffing inside a couch if they bother you, use a separate filling bag, or purchase a tightly knit cover.
It's also possible to permanently seal the zipper on your seat cushions, which should ease the amount of feather shedding. Regardless, find a high-quality option and keep an eye out for cruelty-free and sustainably made furniture.
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