Everyone should know how to wash a duvet. Avoid this chore and before long your comforter will be looking pretty gross even if it’s protected with a protector. Yellow sweat stains show up wherever your body makes contact and encourage bacterial growth. This can affect both the smell and feel of your linens, not to mention that they’re not particularly attractive to look at either. Sooner or later it will have to be washed.
These spots are a result of the sweat and oils we secrete at night – considering how hot we get, it’s no wonder they show up so quickly. That’s why we need to know too how to wash a pillow. The good news is that washing a comforter at home is entirely possible and it doesn’t have to be that troublesome. Of course, care should be taken, otherwise you risk damaging the duvet, as well as even the best washing machines. want a guide How to wash a duvet.
How to wash a duvet
what you will need
washing machine
clothes dryer
laundry detergent
Stain remover (optional)
Clothes line/rack (optional)
1. Check the care label — First you need to determine the filling of your duvet and the washing instructions. Check the care label to confirm this. You’ll likely be dealing with either a down or synthetic-filled duvet, although alternative fillings exist. Most types are machine washable, but down needs a gentler treatment to protect the filling.
2. Pre-Treat Stains — If you’ve spilled something on your duvet, you should take care of it before it goes into the washing machine. Use a special stain remover such as B. Tide Laundry Stain Remover ($16.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)) and follow the instructions on the packaging. Depending on whether the stain has seeped through, you may want to turn the comforter over and work the stain remover in from the other side as well. Make sure you let it sit as long as needed before putting it in the washing machine.
3. Prepare your washing machine – If you’ve never done this before, you should know that cleaning your duvet is quite a time-consuming process. It’s also a large, bulky item that will take up most, if not all, of the available space in your washing machine. Because of this, you need to plan ahead to ensure your usual laundry day isn’t disrupted. We recommend keeping a second duvet on hand in case your first one takes more than a day to dry. If you plan on hanging your duvet outside to dry, choose a clear, sunny day to help the drying process as well.
It’s also a good idea to check how the duvet fits in your washing machine. If it fills the drum, then that’s fine. However, if you overload the machine, you’d better take it to the laundromat to get a more suitable sized machine. If you’re washing a smaller duvet and it doesn’t quite fill the drum, you’ll need to cushion the load with a couple of towels. It’s important that you do this, otherwise the load can become unbalanced, which can vibrate and potentially damage the washing machine as it tries to turn. For more information, see how to fix a wobbly washing machine.
4. Choose your detergent — Before you wash your duvet, you should first make sure you are using the right detergent. This may vary depending on your circumstances and the filling of the duvet. If you are dealing with a heavily soiled synthetic duvet and want to give it a thorough clean, an organic liquid detergent is best. However, if you have sensitive skin, stick with a non-organic cleanser. If your comforter is down-filled, opt for a specially made down wash detergent like the Grangers Down Wash Kit ($32.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)). Use less detergent than usual to avoid excessive foaming.
We recommend not using fabric softener, as it is not particularly environmentally friendly. For more information on why fabric softener is bad news for you and your washing machine, read here. Instead, add ½ cup distilled white vinegar to the final rinse. This creates the same effect but without the smell.
5. Wash Your Duvet – Now you can follow the care label instructions that you checked out earlier. Adjust the temperature and spin of your washing machine accordingly and make sure that the rinse cycle is sufficient to remove all detergent residue. You can always add an extra rinse to ensure this. In general, you should use an appropriate gentle cycle, e.g. B. delicates or bed linen.
If your duvet comes out soaking wet, unfortunately it hasn’t thrown itself out. You must try to balance the load by adding a few wet towels to the mix. Once you have done this, try the spin cycle again.
6. Dry Your Duvet – Now that your comforter is washed, you should start drying it immediately. Most are suitable for drying in the best tumble dryers, although you should always refer to the care label to confirm this and follow the guides here for the settings. You’ll also need to make sure your tumble dryer is the right size for your comforter – if it doesn’t fit, you’ll need to follow the instructions below to air dry it. Otherwise, you can generally tumble dry on low heat accompanied by a few dryer balls to declump your comforter. Make sure you check it often by pausing the program every 20 minutes – you’ll want to remove the duvet and fluff it up before reloading and starting the cycle again. Let cool to room temperature to check how dry it is when done. It probably won’t dry completely in a tumble dryer, so hang dry for the finishing touch.
If you don’t have a tumble dryer, you can dry your comforter instead, although this may take some time. You can hang it outside to dry when the weather is nice, or put it on a drying rack inside. Either way, be sure to fluff it up every few hours as it dries to avoid clumping, and make sure the room is well ventilated. A heated clothes dryer can help speed up the process, such as B. the Tonchean Tumble Dryer ($128.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)). Make sure your comforter is completely dry before putting it on your bed. Otherwise you will promote mold and mildew stains.
Your duvet should now be clean and fresh. If stains persist, you can always repeat, but it might be time to upgrade to a new one. For instructions on how to do this, see our list of best duvets.
Tips to keep your duvet clean
- Use a protector – Invest in a duvet protector, like the National Allergy Premium 100% Cotton Duvet Comforter Protector ($71.30, Amazon (opens in new tab)). This adds an extra layer of protection to your duvet, meaning spills and stains don’t reach them as easily.
- Lower your temperature – Sweat stains can be reduced by lowering your temperature at night. Cooling bedding is one way to do this. For example, you can get a pillow with cooling properties, like the Casper Sleep Snow Foam Pillow ($125.10, Amazon (opens in new tab)). This is one of ours best pillows.
- Opt for a thinner duvet – To lower the temperature further, you could reduce the thickness of your duvet. Some are designed for summer and are therefore naturally more breathable.
- Air your bed in the morning – It is important that you pull back the sheets first thing in the morning so that the bed can be aired. Otherwise moisture remains trapped in the bedding and cannot escape. See, You made your bed all wrong for more details.
How Often Should You Wash Your Duvet?
You should wash your duvet as often as necessary. If there is a sudden spill or someone is sick, it is best to wash the bedding as soon as possible. In general, you should wash your duvet every four months. This is the same schedule we recommend for pillows, as they too can become stained with sweat all too quickly. However, you may need to wash your duvet more frequently depending on how hot you get at night and how much you sweat. So check them regularly.
Have you ever wondered What happens to your body when you sleep on your side?? If so, you may need one of the Best mattress for side sleepers or maybe check out one of the best memory foam mattress For comfort.
Or do you have trouble sleeping? Try these 5 tips for better sleepor look at these 5 Plants That Might Help You Sleep Better. Also check out our best mattresses.
