This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Amber Crain has been a member of wikiHow’s writing staff for the last six years. She graduated from the University of Houston where she majored in Classical Studies and minored in Painting. Before coming to wikiHow, she worked in a variety of industries including marketing, education, and music journalism. She's been a radio DJ for 10+ years and currently DJs a biweekly music program on the award-winning internet radio station DKFM. Her work at wikiHow supports her lifelong passion for learning and her belief that knowledge belongs to anyone who desires to seek it.
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Whether you’re a collector or using them in crafts, it’s important to wash any feathers that you pick up outdoors. Mothballs will kill possible parasites. Sanitize feathers with an alcohol and hydrogen peroxide solution. To remove dirt and grit from the feathers, swish them gently through a mild soap solution. Use a blow dryer on its lowest setting to dry them completely or allow them to air dry.
Steps
Sanitizing Feathers
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1Kill parasites with mothballs before bringing feathers inside. If you picked up your feathers outside, they may be carrying parasites. Place a handful of mothballs in a zip-lock baggie or Tupperware container. Add your feathers and seal the container. Keep the container outside and give the mothballs at least 24 hours to kill any possible parasites on the feathers.[1] X Research source Go to source
- To be effective, make sure you use mothballs that list paradichlorobenzene as an ingredient.
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Use rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria. Bird feathers may be carrying bacteria and viruses. Once you’ve taken care of possible mites, the feathers need to be sanitized to kill bacteria. Create a mixture that is half rubbing alcohol and half hydrogen peroxide. Soak the feathers in this solution for at least half an hour.[2] X Research source Go to source
- The higher the concentration of peroxide and alcohol, the better.
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Use boiling water to sanitize quills. If the quills look dirty or have a foreign substance on them, they should be sanitized. Bring a shallow pot of water to a boil on your stove. Place the quills into the water. Hold them there for a few minutes, which will kill any germs present.
- Lay them out flat on paper towels to dry.
- If boiling loosened up any unidentifiable gunk on the quills, wipe them gently with a soft cloth to remove it.
Using Soap and Water
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Create a cleaning solution with warm water and mild soap.[3] X Research source Go to source Fill a bucket, tub or sink with warm water. Squeeze a small amount of mild dish detergent (like Dawn) or mild laundry detergent (like Woolite) into the bucket. Use your hand or a spoon to agitate the water and mix the ingredients together.
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Swish the feathers through the solution. Add your feathers to the bucket of solution and gently swish them through the water. Avoid any kind of scrubbing, which will damage the feathers. Continue to swish until the feathers appear clean.[4] X Research source Go to source
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Rinse the feathers in clean water. Fill a new bucket with clean water. Take the feathers out of the cleaning solution, one at a time, and swish them gently through the clean water to rinse away the soap residue. If you’re rinsing a lot of feathers, you may need to dump the bucket and refill it with fresh water once or twice.[5] X Research source Go to source
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4Use a blow dryer on the low setting to dry the feathers. Once rinsed, place the clean feathers out flat on paper towels. Set a regular hair dryer to its lowest setting. Pick up one or two of the feathers at a time. Hold them by the quills and gently blow air on them until they are completely dry.[6] X Research source Go to source
- Don’t hold the feather right up to the blow dryer’s stream. Hold them a few inches back so you won’t warp their natural shape.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat percentage of hydrogen peroxide do I need?Community AnswerIt doesn't really matter, as long as it's for medical use, it should be fine. Just make sure it's for medical use and not lab use, as the latter has a much higher percentage.
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QuestionWhat are some parasites that ducks carry?Community AnswerDucks usually carry mites and lice. Mites are kinda like spiders as they are eight legged and kind of jump, lice are itchy and like to hop into other fabric or hair.
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QuestionDo I have to use mothballs if I use the peroxide and rubbing alcohol for a long time and then wash the feather with soap and water?Community AnswerProbably not, as most things can't survive in alcohol and peroxide for long. However, I would leave the feather in the solution for longer to be certain.
Video
Tips
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Go light on the heat or you'll scorch the feather.
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You could also lay the feathers on a towel to air dry.
References
- ↑ https://daragallery.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/sanitizing-feathers-for-crafts/
- ↑ https://daragallery.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/sanitizing-feathers-for-crafts/
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/12/how-to-clean-sequins-fur-feathers
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/12/how-to-clean-sequins-fur-feathers
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/12/how-to-clean-sequins-fur-feathers
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/12/how-to-clean-sequins-fur-feathers
About This Article
If you find an interesting feather outside, it’s important to sanitize it and remove possible parasites. Put a handful of mothballs in a zip-top bag, then place the feather in the bag and seal it. Leave the feather in the bag for at least 24 hours. Next, take the feather out of the bag and soak it in a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide for at least half an hour. This will kill bacteria and viruses on the feather. You can also kill germs and loosen stubborn grime by putting the feather in boiling water for a few minutes. Lay it out on a paper towel to dry when you’re done. To learn how to dry your feather with a hairdryer, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
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"I learned how to clean real bird feathers for my dream catcher and for crafts. It also gave me the idea of using peroxide to get the tiny bit of blood off the tips of the quills. (My vet/friend told me to use peroxide to clean blood from my pet cat's paw. I think it may work for this, too). "
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"I needed some feathers for my GCSE textile project, so I went for a walk to find some. We were not allowed to bring them to school unless they were clean, so this was really helpful! I used the soap and water method, and it worked wonders. Thanks."
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"Thank you! I have close to 75 chickens, ducks, royal palm turkeys, ring neck pheasants and an African grey parrot. I have sold my African grey feathers on eBay, but not the turkey feathers, which are so beautiful, but many were really dirty! "
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"Wow! I am so glad I learned how to clean real feathers now. Thanks for the info. My 3 cats bring the majority of birds in my yard or in my home if the door is open lol. Well worth the read."
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"The article helped me learn how to wash some of the feathers I found and now I can take them to school. Also, I made a pair of earrings with the feathers after they dried."
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"I found a hawk's feather and I wanted to make something with it. This helped me make sure that I didn't bring something into my household that is unwanted."
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"The wife stopped me from putting dead hawk feathers (for my hats) in our microwave, so thanks for the tips, I can still live here."
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"The mothball tip was very helpful because I know some things can survive just washing and I didn't know it could be used that way."
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"Just great to know how to do it without damaging the feathers because they are such beautiful creations of nature!"
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"Cleaning southwest decor (feathers) on hanging ornaments, without ruining other parts of the item..."
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"The most helpful tip was to use a hairdryer to dry feathers to keep their shape."
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"I was looking to properly clean some feathers I found and this really helped!"
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"I have learned the correct way to clean the feathers and why they need it."
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"Thanks, this is a concise, helpful, and easy-to-understand guide!"