Feathers may be cleaned by washing them in clean water, using a soft cloth, and then absorbing the water with dry plaster-of-Paris. Another method is to wash them in soap and water, followed by clean water, and then by plaster. Or benzoline may be used, finishing with plaster if desired. In extreme cases, use hot water (steam is better), follow with turpentine, then with benzoline, using plaster last. When quite clean, the feathers may be curled by any of the following methods.

(a) Place under one of the barbs a blunt knife (a table-or paper-knife), the thumb being on the top to regulate the pressure, and draw from the shaft outwards. Each of the barbs should be treated in this manner. This method, though slow and tedious, is the best, (b) Damp the feathers and place them in hair-curling pins for a couple of days. Then carefully comb out. (c) Slightly warm a goffering-or curling-iron, and curl the barbs in batches. Shake well, (d) If merely damp and out of curl, placing the feathers in front of a tire to dry will in many cases re-curl them, (e) Black (dyed) feathers can be curled by holding them for a few seconds in the smoke of a fire. No special tools are necessary, but the work requires care and patience.