How to properly wash a feather pillow at home. How to wash a feather pillow: stages of hand and machine washing Washing a feather pillow at home

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Not only you, but also many household members who care about cleanliness and order in the house are interested in question of this nature: Is it possible to wash a down pillow in a washing machine?

Answer: yes, you can. But there are nuances that must be observed so that the down product does not lose its original appearance after washing. Let's start with this.

Features of washing down and feathers

Before you start, you need to prepare the down and feathers for washing. If the pillow is small, it can be washed entirely in the machine, using only the additional pillowcase attached to it.

If it is large (does not fit into the washing machine), then you need to remove the filler and wash it in parts:

Open the pillow top one seam at a time and place all the filling in a dry container (for example, a basin).
Use bags and fill them with fluff, then sew them tightly. You can use whole old pillowcases as bags. Be sure to check the tightness of the seam, since a bag that ruptures inside a working machine will pour fluff into the drum, and this can lead to dire consequences.

Advice! The less fluff there is in the bag, the better it will clean. Also, to knock down fluff during washing, some people put tennis balls along with the pillow or filling bags.

How to wash a down pillow?

If everything is ready, you can load the down pillow into the washing machine:

It is advisable to add to a down pillow or down bags special balls or tennis balls.
Use only washing powder.
Set the mode to "delicate wash", "hand wash" or "duvet".
Water temperature 30-40 degrees.
If you set your washing settings, then select a temperature of 30 degrees, spin 400 revolutions (if not 400, then without spin, then manually), rinse 2 times (or intense).

Advice! When washing several down pillowcases, be they bags or small pillows, add 2-3 of them. In this situation, the load on the washable filler is divided evenly, and this in turn prevents the formation of large lumps.

What about drying?

After the down has been washed, it must be dried thoroughly. It will take about 2 days for the filler to dry in good weather, so be patient. The main thing to remember:

Dry the down in a well-ventilated room, with plenty of sunlight to prevent mold from forming.
Small pads or bags can be dried on a clothesline right outside.
Every 3-5 hours, break the formed lumps with your hands, do not let the fluff cake. If the fluff is removed from the pillow, do not forget to stir it.
To prevent fluff from being blown away by the wind, use a light cloth or gauze to cover the filling.
If the washing took place in winter, take the washed down pillow outside. Fresh frosty air will kill many germs.
If you live in an apartment and washed your pillow during... heating season, you can dry it on the radiator. Just remember to knock it down so it doesn't cake.

Advice! Did you know what? And if everything is done correctly, then after washing they will be the same as when they were purchased.

When the down and feather are dry, transfer it to a clean bedsheet and sew it with a double stitch. If in two days feather pillow not dry, the filler may begin to rot. To avoid this, you need to rinse it again. Remember, the less filler you dry on one unit of area, the faster it will dry!

Soft and comfortable pillows Manufacturers recommend washing down feathers at least twice a year. This is due to the high hygroscopicity of the filler (absorption of sweat) and dust settling. This is why cleaning feather pillows is so necessary. I will share three washing methods depending on the size, filling and age of the pillow.

Which feather products can be washed?

The fluffs do not fit tightly into the product, absorb moisture perfectly, but thereby create favorable conditions for microscopic mites that cause allergic rhinitis and dermatitis. Therefore, regular is necessary for any natural filler pillows

The label indicates the type of bird feathers:

From waterfowl individuals (ducks, swans or geese), the feather filling will not deteriorate from moisture.
Chicken Feathers and down are deformed from washing - they crumble into fibers, and also take a long time to dry. The loss of filler is up to 30%.

Chicken feathers: dry wash only

You can make bedding with chicken feathers at home:

knock out carpet beater;
vacuum nozzle for upholstered furniture;
fry under the sun or iron without steaming;
freeze in winter on the street (balcony).

But only dry cleaning of feather pillows guarantees a high-quality result.

Typically, dry cleaning uses ultraviolet light and air. The filler removed from the fabric is placed in a machine where it is blown through. This type of cleaning of feather pillows - blowing will remove dust and restore the volume of the feather. And ultraviolet light will destroy microorganisms.

Preparing for washing

Pillows can be done by machine or by hand. But first you need to prepare:

laundry bags;
aromatic agent(essential oil);
liquid detergent or laundry soap.

Select a detergent

Means	Product qualities and washing features
	Delicate wash gel: Eco-friendly and safe for natural materials. Without smell. Carefully and efficiently washes even fluff. Liquid wool solution rinses better than the corresponding laundry detergent.
	Gel for washing children's clothes- high quality product: The gel formula dissolves quickly. Does not cause allergies. Completely rinsed out. Effectively removes old stains.
	A time-tested product - laundry soap made from soap glue(fatty acids 72%, a large number of alkali): It has antibacterial properties and is harmful to ticks! Ecological product without synthetic additives. Does not cause allergic reactions. Thorough rinsing is required. Application: dissolve grated laundry soap in water.
	Special detergent for washing down jackets: Preserves hygroscopicity and air exchange of feathers. Effectively cleanses dirt. Easily washed out.

I have listed the most acceptable means in the table. Washing with a regular liquid detergent solution or synthetic powder is also effective - they will cope with dirt, but can cause allergies.

Prepare bags and filling

The bags can be replaced with old pillowcases or sewn from thick curtains or cotton fabric. However, even 2 layers of gauze can break through, because it is fragile. And the entire gauze shell will become clogged with fluff, reducing the amount of soft filler.

The width of the bag should correspond to the width of the pillow, but the length should be 2 times greater. This makes it easier to wash and dry the contents faster. It’s better to prepare two such bags for one pillow.

Preparation feathers for washing:

The pillow needs to be ripped apart- make an incision on one side of the napkin;
Carefully transfer the filler into the bags. To prevent the fluff from scattering across the floor, it must be placed on a damp cotton sheet: it is easier to collect from it and all the weightless feathers will linger on its surface. In addition, cotton is not electrified.
Tie the bags tightly(ZIP up).

At this point, the preparation is complete, and you can proceed to washing.

Hand washing methods

Do-it-yourself washing involves the following steps:

long soaking;
directly wash;
multiple rinses.

Fill the bathroom with warm (30-40 degrees) water. From a hotter jet it will appear bad smell, which can no longer be removed!

Soaking bags filled with down for two hours will dissolve absolutely all the dirt in this feather material. And the features of the washing itself depend on whether the pillow is new or old.

Method 1: if the pillow is new

Here's how to wash feather pillow new.

Soak a pillow in the bath.
Take the feathers out of the pillowcase.
Rinse in a colander in parts, squeezing.
Wash the empty diaper, dry.
Sort out the wet feathers, freeing from litter.
Rinse again in a colander.
Soak in a basin with aromatic additives: natural lavender, orange, pine or cypress essential oil(2 drops per 2 liters of water). Synthetic fragrances sometimes provoke headache or allergies!

Drying pens at home:

Pressed feathers(water does not drip) must be transferred to prepared bags.
It's better to hang the bags in the fresh air so that the wind blows them, otherwise it will appear musty smell.
Should be shaken periodically and knead the feathers.

Now you need to cover the floor with a sheet (only dry), fill the bedsheet with clean, dried feathers and sew it up. Moreover, make the seam tight so that the fluff does not penetrate outward between the threads.

Method 2: if the pillow is old

Washing sequence:

Washing and drying pens are produced directly in the cases.
In detergent It is worth adding ammonia (a spoon in 5 liters of water) or vinegar to eliminate the old smell.
Squeeze out water should be done carefully.
Old confidant Also washable and dryable. If it is frayed, then there is no use in darning it - it will definitely fall apart. We need to sew a new one, preferably from thick satin.
Air circulation- of course, when drying wet feathers it should be maximum. In the summer heat and constant shaking, they will dry out in 2 days.
After the return of the fluff in the bedclothes and carefully sewing up the pillow, you need to vacuum the room.

Method 3: Machine wash

Now I’ll tell you how to wash feather pillows in a washing machine.

Only reliable cases! Be sure to use dense bags for feathers that will definitely not burst in the drum.

A small new pillow can be washed without even removing the feathers from it and putting it in its cover. But the old lining is fragile, it can burst in the drum and damage the machine.

Distribute the load evenly on the drum. It is not advisable to put feathers in only one case into the machine. Then the equipment will vibrate too much from the uneven load. Therefore, a drum with one bag must be balanced with at least a towel.

Set the washing mode correctly. Delicate mode in water up to +40 °C with a minimum spin speed, or even without it, double rinsing - that’s it optimal conditions machine washing. And having a program for washing down items makes things easier.

Dry your feather pillows correctly

The faster the filler dries, the better - a musty smell will not appear. Let it dry completely. Otherwise, fungus (mold) will appear, and such a damaged product should only be thrown away.

It is convenient to dry feathers outside, in the dryer or in the washing machine. But drying on a battery or on a special devices.

Drying outside

In summer and winter you can Dry the washed feather contents outside:

Gently squeeze in a terry towel filled case.
Knead the lumps by hand.
Hang it outside case with feather filling.
Shake and knead frequently(in summer), and in winter before that, bring it into the house - let the moisture in the feathers melt.

Frosty air quickly kills all microorganisms in the feather.

Drying on the battery

In winter, you can lay out the washed diaper with its contents on the radiator. Let there be few feathers in it, so fill several cases at once. To prevent the fluff from drying out, knead and beat it often, and turn the bags over.

Special devices

It is better to place a room floor dryer near the radiator, where you can place the bags of fluff. There is the best air circulation, which will speed up drying.

Special unit for drying clothes - perfect option for washed pillows.

His instructions guarantee that 4 hour cycles at +30 °C are sufficient for complete drying. 5 tennis balls in such a dryer will beat the fluff evenly and there will be no lumps. The balls can also be placed in a regular washing machine with a drying function.

Conclusion

You have become familiar with the methods available at home for cleaning down and feather bedding. It is recommended to wash your feather products twice a year, and now this is not a problem for you!

The video in this article will clearly demonstrate the steps. Use these recommendations and your pillows will always be clean and healthy. If you have any questions, ask in the comments!

In the era of technological progress, manufacturers offer a huge selection synthetic pillows, but every home still has feather products. Our grandmothers carefully stored them because they are soft, safe and have a long service life. But over time, the products become dirty and lose their original appearance.

Today, housewives can save themselves from the need to do unloved housework. Most often this concerns washing large and bulky items, such as pillows. Naturally, you can have them dry cleaned, but this procedure is quite expensive. Therefore, it is better to know how to wash a feather pillow at home in order to save money and be confident in the quality of the work done.

By hand or in the washing machine?

Feather pillows can be washed by machine or by hand. If the product has not been cleaned for more than three years, it is better to use detergent. You need to select it based on your preferences. Allergy sufferers should opt for laundry soap or hypoallergenic products.

When thinking about whether it is possible to wash a whole feather pillow and save time and effort, you need to remember that this is only possible if it is possible to dry it properly. It is better to do this in a special device or under the hot sun. You only need to put one item in the washing machine, and you need to wash it in a gentle cycle and in warm water.

If you decide to machine wash your feather pillow, it is better to sew up the feather bags. When washing by hand, they are soaked for 30-40 minutes.

How to prepare a pillow for washing?

Before you start washing, the product needs to be prepared. The pillows should be ripped apart and the feathers placed in bags. Washing in original feather washers is allowed if the product small sizes and there will be other things in the machine, for example, towels. This is necessary to ensure that the laundry is evenly distributed. If the pillow is washed alone, it should also be unstitched.

Wash by hand

After the feather bags have been soaked, they are washed in warm water with detergent ingredients. Experienced housewives It is recommended to cook them yourself. Finely chopped laundry soap should be mixed with several bottles ammonia. The covers are washed separately.

How to wash a feather pillow at home so that it smells fresh? To do this, you need to prepare a container of 20-30 liters. Soap should be dissolved in boiling water and added. Feathers from the bags are placed in small parts into a container with water and carefully sorted through with your hands. After this, it must be squeezed out and placed in a container for rinsing. You can add a little vinegar to the water that will be used for these purposes. It will improve the condition of the feathers. After rinsing several times cold water, you need to squeeze them out and put them in bags. It is better to wring out the packaged pen in washing machine to reduce drying time.

Knowing how to wash a feather pillow at home is necessary for a good housewife, because the product gets dirty quite quickly. This is due to the fact that the feather absorbs sweat and oils that are secreted by the scalp. In addition, the filler clumps together, which interferes with proper sleep and comfort. Feathers impregnated with foreign components may cause allergies.

Machine wash

Many housewives wonder how to wash a feather pillow in a machine. You cannot put it there entirely, as the quality of the product will greatly deteriorate. The feather must be removed and placed in bags. They need to be placed in the machine and turned on the delicate wash program. You should use a detergent that is suitable for woolen items. It must be poured into the machine and an additional rinse program must be installed.

How to dry the product?

So that the result of the entire procedure is top level, you need to know not only how to wash a feather pillow at home, but also how to dry it properly. It is best to do this on a hot sunny day on the balcony, as ultraviolet light disinfects the product. The bags need to be hung so that they are blown from all sides by the wind. Once every few hours they need to be shaken, then the feathers will not bunch up. Depending on the temperature, the bags will take several days to dry. When the feathers become dry, they need to be put back into the feather bag and sewn up.

If it is not possible to hang the bags, you need to lay out the feathers on cardboard or fabric, which is folded several times. To ensure they dry evenly, you should constantly stir and turn them over. When the pen is half dry, you need to take it out to Fresh air, preferably in direct sunlight. To prevent feathers from flying away from the wind, you need to cover them with gauze or other light fabric. For quick and uniform drying, you need to stir them regularly. After the feather has completely dried, it can be put back into the feather box.

When the pillow is drying, you should put several tennis balls in the machine so that they beat the filling.

Housewives who like to add fragrances to water should remember that they do not need to use those that smell very strongly. It is better to add natural ingredients in small quantities. It is more advisable to buy lavender, orange or cypress oil, as they repel linen mites.

Now you know how to wash a feather pillow at home. If you follow all the recommendations, it will last quite a long time. A clean product should smell pleasantly fresh. If there is a heavy smell of dampness, you need to wash the pillow again, following all the rules.

Our great-grandmothers were absolutely sure that there was no point in looking for best filler for a pillow than a feather. But no! In the era of technological progress, it has many competitors of synthetic origin. But many of us are in no hurry to part with a soft, comfortable, and most importantly, durable feather pillow. Thanks to our choice, the problem of how to wash a feather pillow at home still remains relevant.

In this article:

Preparatory stage

Worry in advance about where you will pour the washed and dried filling - into an old but clean bedsheet, or is it better to sew a new one? Fortunately, now in stores there is a wide selection of teak - dense fabric for making bedsteads.
To properly wash and dry your feathers at home, prepare a cover made of loose material. An old pillowcase will also work well. You can sew a bag from a thick tulle curtain. It is not recommended to do this with gauze: the fluff will come out! It’s especially not worth using two layers of gauze, because the feathers will get stuck between the layers, and after washing your gauze will turn into the skin of a strange animal.
So, we have decided on the material for the case, and now we still need to choose correct sizes. Make the width of the cover the same as the width of the pillow, and make the length twice as long. This is necessary in order to properly wash and dry the filling. Don’t be lazy to sew two bags, because the smaller the contents, the better it will be cleaned.

You can wash pillows at home using the old-fashioned method, or you can take advantage of the achievements of technological progress.

Washing a pen in an automatic machine

Carefully pour the contents of the pillow into the prepared laundry bags. To do this, spread out one of its edges, baste the cover so that the fluff does not fly throughout the house. After you pour everything in, be sure to sew the cover up, not tie it.

If you decide to wash everything in one bag, throw it in the drum washing machine some other things so that the load on the drum during washing is distributed evenly.

Wash with liquid detergent or down detergent.

You can wash the small pillow in the washing machine without putting it in the cover. But put several small towels along with it, again to evenly distribute things in the drum. Effective washing of feather pillow filling occurs at a water temperature of no more than 30°C. If your machine has a mode for washing down products, choose it without hesitation. Otherwise, put it on a delicate wash with an additional rinse. It is recommended to choose the maximum spin.

How to dry a feather pillow

Pull the covers out of the drum. Use your hands to knead all the lumps and distribute the contents evenly throughout the bag. Place it on an old towel or sheet and roll it into a tight roll: the more moisture you remove, the faster it will dry. If you fail to dry the feather filling within 2 days, the feather will begin to mold.
The pillow can be dried in the dryer. Set the temperature to 30°C, do not forget to fluff the feathers in their cases from time to time. To be effective, throw a few tennis balls into the drum. Can be dried on a radiator, in the open air in a suspended state. Very useful for feather stuffing sunbathing: Ultraviolet light disinfects it. Make sure that the pillow is blown by the wind from all sides.
When the feather is completely dry, carefully pour it into a clean napkin and carefully sew it with a double stitch (for security).

Washing the pen by hand

Pour warm water into a large basin and dilute liquid detergent. The pillow can also be washed in laundry soap. It is especially good to use if someone in your household suffers from allergies. Grate the soap on a fine grater and thoroughly dissolve in warm water. The soap solution is ready.

Open the breastplate. Be prepared for small fluff to escape, so have a vacuum cleaner handy. Carefully transfer the contents into a washing container and leave it to soak for two hours so that all dirt, dust, and odors dissolve in the water. After soaking, drain off all the water. Use an old colander. Squeeze until most of the water is gone.

Rinse the feathers in a colander under the tap, pour them into a basin with fresh soapy water, and now you can wash them thoroughly. Drain the water again, rinse thoroughly and squeeze as much as possible. Add natural aromatic oils - lavender, cypress or orange - to the rinse water. They will add aroma and make for easy disinfection.

It is better not to use synthetic fragrances: their intrusive smell can cause headaches during sleep.

At this stage, a prepared fabric cover will come in handy. Place clean fluff into it and sew it up. And then dry it, not forgetting to knead the lumps and beat the filler. After each shaking it should visually increase.

Now put the clean pillow in the pillowcase and clean the house from fluff and feathers. Be proud of yourself: the hard work is done!

Feather pillows can be called classics of everyday life. They are used in almost every home. However, they have a significant drawback: the ability to absorb human sweat and household dust. In addition, feather and down, as natural raw materials, are an excellent environment for the proliferation of microorganisms (in particular mites) and the accumulation of their metabolic products. And these are allergens. This means that the products must be washed regularly.

Is it washable?

This question is insoluble for many. Down and feathers fall off during washing, drying the pillow will take a long time and tediously, there is a risk of clogging the drum and filter of the washing machine - these and similar arguments force housewives to limit themselves to simply beating and “frying” in the sun. But it still won’t replace washing. If you decide to do it yourself, you need to answer main question: Will it be washed by hand or machine?

But for any method you will need:

liquid detergent or laundry soap;
laundry bags;
flavorings;
vacuum cleaner.

First of all, prepare the bags. These could be, for example, old pillowcases. You can sew the bedsteads yourself - from thin fabric or old thick curtains. The width of such a bag can be equal to the width of the pillow, but the length is twice as long: this makes the feather easier to wash and dry. It is better to prepare two such bags for one product so that there is less filler in them.
The product must be freed from the top pillowcase and ripped apart.

Important! Do not sew bags from gauze, even in 2 layers: it is fragile and loose. This means that even if it doesn’t break through during the washing process (although the risk is great), it will definitely get clogged with fluff.

Manually

Washing and drying pillows, either by hand or by machine, is labor-intensive and requires patience and time. Prepare for a lot of soaking, washing, and repeated rinsing.

To begin, carefully place the feathers in bags and tie them tightly. Dry feathers are very volatile. No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to put them into bags without spilling them all over the room. Therefore, before you start “gutting”, spread a large sheet on the floor in the room and work on it.

IN large capacity divorce warm water with a liquid solution. If there are allergy sufferers in the family, you can use crushed laundry soap instead. Soak the bags for an hour or two to dissolve all the dirt.

Important! Do not soak the pen in hot water! 30–40°C is enough. Otherwise, there is a risk of “brewing” it - a persistent unpleasant odor will appear that will be impossible to get rid of.

After the bags are soaked, you can remove the sheet you worked on and vacuum the room.

New product

In this case, after soaking, remove the filling from the diaper (you can dry it for now), rinse, place in a colander, and squeeze out. Then manually remove all debris and debris. Soak the feathers in warm soapy water and wash thoroughly. Repeat rinsing using a colander and gently squeeze out the water.
Next, rinse them in a basin in water with the addition of natural aromatic oils: orange, cypress, lavender. Synthetic fragrances should not be used - they can cause allergies or headaches in the sleeper.

To dry, transfer the pressed feathers into dried bags and sew them up. It is better to dry on the balcony, hanging the bedclothes so that they are blown from all sides by the wind. Periodically, the filler needs to be kneaded and shaken. Drying should not take more than two days, otherwise a musty smell will appear.

If the “native” confidant is in good condition, it also needs to be thoroughly washed and dried. If it is old and frayed, you should not darn it: the fabric will still unravel. It’s better to sew a new one from a dense, plain, light-colored fabric (teak or cotton satin will do).
Cover the room with sheets again. Fill the quilt with clean stuffing and sew securely. If the seam is not tight enough, dirt and dust will penetrate through it faster, which means you will have to wash the filler more often.

Old product

You need to be careful here, as a well-worn feather can be easily damaged. In this case, you need to use detergents and fragrances as described above. The difference lies in washing and drying: the stuffing does not need to be removed from the covers in which they were soaked, but carefully washed directly into them. Take out to dry without squeezing at all. Here you need to be sure to take care of the air circulation around the drying diapers: the water will drain longer, and the product will also take longer to dry. And you only have two days. Therefore, it is better to choose hot weather and beat the fluff during drying as often as possible.

Into the washing solution in this case You can add ammonia (1 spoon per 5 liters) or vinegar. This will help improve the condition of the feathers and fight off old odors.

In the washing machine

Don't want to spend a lot of time with hand washing? Use the typewriter. This process is much faster, but also has some subtleties: you need to evenly distribute the load on the drum, be sure that the liner in the drum of the machine will not break, set the correct mode, etc.

The bags must be washed on a delicate cycle, at a temperature of no more than 40 0C, with a minimum spin speed (or without it at all) and double rinsing. If the machine has a special mode, this eliminates all questions: choose it! Instead of powder, use liquid hair product. Add conditioner before the second rinse.

Important! If you are putting one bed sheet in, you need to put other things in the machine (for example, towels) so that the load on the drum is even and the machine does not dance due to vibration.

Someone may now ask a completely logical question: is it possible to wash the pillow in the machine directly in its “native” bedspread, so as not to bother with ripping and sewing? It is possible if it is small and fits in the drum. In addition, if it is new enough, then the napkin is durable and will not come apart in the process. Otherwise, the fluff will clog up wherever it can penetrate.
To wash the product without ripping, you can use the tips on choosing a washing mode and detergents which are given above. Just be sure to load the machine with other laundry.

The washing process itself in an automatic machine is simple. The process of further drying the napkins with their contents may cause some difficulties.

Drying

You can dry washed feathers different ways: on the street, on a radiator, on special devices, in a dryer or in the machine itself. These methods should be considered in more detail.

Dry outside. This method is best suited for summertime. After washing, you need to remove the diapers from the drum, wrap them in a terry towel, wringing them out if possible. excess moisture. Don't be too overzealous, otherwise you may damage the stuffing, especially if the pillows are old. Then you need to thoroughly knead all the lumps with your hands, take the bags outside and hang them up. Dry as described above, occasionally shaking and kneading the contents.
Drying on the battery. This method is suitable for those who do not know how to solve the problem at home in winter. Or more precisely, where and how to dry it later: outside in frosty or damp weather, the filler will definitely not dry out in two days. Therefore, after all the lumps have been crushed, you can lay out the bags on the radiators. But keep in mind that with this method the feather dries out; you need to beat it very often, periodically turning the bags over.
Drying on a device. If you have a floor-mounted room dryer, you can lay out the covers on it and place them near the radiator - this will ensure air circulation, which speeds up and simplifies the process.
Clothes dryer. The ideal way if this unit is available. Drying is fast - in just a few hours. 4-5 hour cycles at a temperature of 30 0C will be enough. To prevent the fluff from falling off during the drying process, several tennis balls are placed in the dryer along with the bags, which will evenly beat the contents of the pillowcases.
If your automatic machine is equipped additional function drying - it’s a sin not to take advantage of this. The principle is the same - we put the bags together with tennis balls.

After drying, you need to make sure that the feathers are 100% dry. If there is a minimum amount of moisture, the products will very soon begin to smell like mold. And this is already a fungus, which is much more difficult to get rid of than washing a pillow. It will be easier to buy a new one.

After the feathers have dried, proceed in the same way as when washing by hand: cover the room with a sheet, place the down in a bedsheet and sew it tightly. Then vacuum the room.

Washing should be done at least once every 1–1.5 years.

Video

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