Can you dye a down duvet?

[ILoveAFullFridge]

I was given a fabulous down duvet dressing-gown several years ago, but I have never worn it because it is pure white and I am a dirt-magnet.

Last night I was sooo cold that I put it on. OMG sooo cosy!

It is pure cotton, except of course for the down and a ghastly pink polyester trim. Can I dye it a rich dark colour (something like purple, because obviously the pink polyester trim won't take the dye) or will dying it harm the down filling?

[ILoveAFullFridge]

Bumping for the craft-divas - someone must know!

[ILoveAFullFridge]

Freezing cold again, got the duvet-gown out again. And it's still scarily white (I'm staying out of the kitchen!).

Anyone know about dyeing a duvet?

[DontCallMeDaughter]

Can you wash it?? If so, I suspect you can probably dye it, though I'd go for a cold water dye... If you can't wash it, then I wouldn't dye it....

[ILoveAFullFridge]

Down is machine-washable with the right soap, just like wool. But I don't know whether the dye chemicals would harm the down, the way using detergent instead of soap can harm some wools and silks.

[NoComet]

Dyed craft feathers are still fluffy and due doesn't bother buttons or elastic bands used for tie dying, so I guess it would be OK.

Down is likely to soak up a lot of dye so you may have a slightly pale result.

[ILoveAFullFridge]

Yes, there is that. And while I could easily do the wet part of the job in my washing machine, I'm not sure it could handle the tumble-drying part.

I wonder whether I could get it done professionally (who? Where? How much?)

[APartridgeAmongThePigeons]

I was going to recommend seein if you can get it done professionally at a dry cleaners or somewhere like that

[JamNan]

Is it similar to this Land's End Lands' End one?

If so they say it is machine washable. As yours is cotton I don;t see why it won't take the dye. The only problem could be that if it's bulky it might not dye evenly and you might have a problem drying it.

I have a down filled gilet (with polyester shell) and I machine washed it but couldn't get the filling to dry in my tumble dryer and the feathers all mushed up in the corners of the quilted pockets. Then it started smelling a bit like a damp chicken! boak. My local dry cleaner who is a bit of a heroine at rescuing things put it through her big industrial washing machine and dryer and it's as good as new. So you could get a dry cleaner to dry it for you if needs be.