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down pillow

Posted by petalpatsy TN7a (My Page) on
Sat, May 16, 09 at 22:07

Let me just say, the amount of down inside a pillow boggles the mind. I did try to wash the vomit out, but the down clumped up and the smell just wasn't anything a person could ever sleep on again. I cut it open and put the contents on my compost pile, and forked it around to mix it in. It seems the more I forked, the more down I had! My pile is small right now, kind of a new one, just about 3x3x1.

Has anyone else ever composted a down pillow? I'm wondering, if the down is a 'green', should I add some shredded junkmail to balance and avoid a stinky pile? Or does it decay so slowly I can just watch the temperature and see what happens?


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: down pillow

"I did try to wash the vomit out"

I have nothing constructive to add to this topic.


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RE: down pillow

The down is a green, but it is such a slow release form of nitrogen that I don't think you'll need to add any browns to offset it.


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RE: down pillow

Many fertilizers have feather meal as one of the ingredients, should be a good source of N.


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RE: down pillow

The feathers may take a long time to decompose depending on the type of fowl. You may be left with a lot of the spines of the feathers when finished.


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RE: down pillow

I've composted several feather pillows over the years including the cotton ticking. Usually I haven't even bothered to cut them open. Just stuck them in the pile and waited. They've all disappeared in the end. My method is cold and slow but as I have several piles it doesn't matter how long they take.


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RE: down pillow

Thanks! And yeah, Lisa--the glory of children never ends! LOL!


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RE: down pillow

Depends if its a synthetic down if its green. It will feel kind wierder then normal.. more silky. I never heard of someone placing it in a compos. I will just say that if you ever been to a farm where white goose are... down is everywhere since it has no quills. In the future I would honestly recommend ebay for your used pillow material.. some people can make crafts out of the stuffing. We get calls all the time asking for pillow inserts of 95% feather 5% down.. if your mixture is better then that maybe a better price... by a few dollars.. as you know ebay shoppers are.

Geez... I gotta write another article in my bedroom blog now... LOL.

Here is a link that might be useful: AA Best Comfort


 
 

 

 


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