advertisement Katrina asked: How do I clean and sanitize feathers found in the duck coop? I raise Pearl, White and Purple Guinea’s, Pekin Ducks and Sebastopol geese. They often drop beautiful feathers that get soiled by mud and/or droppings. I want to remove the visible soil and stains from the white feathers and sanitize them for use in my Native American crafts. I also find tons of turkey feathers on my property.

Feathers are delicate and require special care when cleaning. There are two types of feathers, contour and down. Contour feathers are the beautiful wing feathers that are collected for art projects and crafts. They are firm in structure, but delicate as they can easily lose their beautiful form to water and improper handling. The down feathers are soft and do not have the sturdiness of contour feathers. They are often used as filler for pillows, comforters, etc. Proper cleaning is crucial for keeping feathers looking good and keeping their form. Here are several methods for various types and colors of feathers. For down feathers, use the section “Cleaning Down Feathers” only. Any of the other methods can be used for decorative or craft feathers.

Cleaning Down Feathers

You Will Need:

Nikwax down wash or a similar detergent made specifically for down

Water

A bucket

A piece of screen

Steps to Clean the Down:

Down feathers are often very small and can easily get lost down a drain, so it is best (for both the feathers and the drain) not to use a sink for washing. Instead, a bucket can be used with a piece of screen for covering the top when pouring out the water. Put the feathers in the bucket. Fill the bucket with enough water to cover the feathers. Add as much down detergent as needed for the size of bucket used. Follow the instructions on the label of your selected product for measurements. Swirl your hand in the bucket to move the feathers around in the water for a couple minutes. Cover the bucket with the piece of screen (rigid screen material can simply be held in place or a porch screen material can be tied over the top with string or a rubber band if preferred.) Empty the water. Refill the bucket with clean water. Swirl your hand in the bucket for a couple minutes to rinse the feathers. Cover the bucket with the screen again and pour out the water. Allow the feathers to air dry. It is best to spread them out over a baking tray if possible. If you have a piece of screen that can fit over the tray, then it can be set out in the sun to aid in cleaning and the hasten drying time.

“Dry” Cleaning Method

You Will Need:

Corn meal

White flour

Powdered borax

Bag

Steps to Clean the Feathers:

Fill a bag with ½ cup flour, one cup corn meal, and three tablespoons borax. Place the feathers in the bag. Close the bag and shake the feathers around in the powdery mix to fully cover them. Let the powder sit on the feathers for about an hour. The powder will absrb the dirt and oils from the feathers. Remove the feathers from the bag and shake them to remove any excess powder. This method can be repeated as many times as needed to fully clean the feathers.

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Gasoline Method

You Will Need:

Gasoline

White flour (for white feathers)

Bucket

Steps to Clean the Feathers:

Fill a small bowl or bucket with gasoline. Dip the feathers into the gasoline. Rub the feathers in the direction of the tip. Shake off excess gasoline and dry. If the feathers are white, make a paste out of gasoline and flour. Rub the paste over the feather from the bottom to the tip. Continue rubbing until the feather is clean. Rinse in plain gasoline. Shake to remove any excess gasoline. Dry completely.

Soap and Water Method

Though it is not recommended to wash feathers in soap and water, some have had success. Here is a method that can be used if the feathers can tolerate it.

You Will Need:

Woolite

Water

Bucket or tub

Blow dryer

Steps to Clean the Feathers:

Fill the bucket or tub with warm water. Add a small amount of Woolite and agitate the water to mix. Swish the feathers around in the water. Do NOT scrub the feathers as this will damage them. Rinse by swishing in clean water. Reshape the feathers. Dry with a blow dryer on a low setting.

General Cleaning/Dusting

You Will Need:

Soft brush (ex: paint brush)

Steps to Clean the Feathers:

Cleaning feathers that have been removed from a bird for any length of time is a tricky action. It is best to avoid washing the feathers regularly, but rather, remove the dust and dirt in a gentle way. Rest the feather on your hand for support as you brush away the dust that has accumulated with a soft brush. Follow the natural direction of the plumage as you carefully brush the dirt away. Keep supporting the back of the feather and be careful not to apply too much pressure to the quill or it may break.

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