How to Wash a Duvet

There is no better feeling than crawling under a clean, cosy duvet at night. It just feels so good! However, a duvet can be intimidating to clean. They are so big and bulky and often have specific washing needs. This guide will tell you exactly how to wash your duvet, making it easy to get that nice, fresh feeling you crave when you get into bed. 

Remove the Duvet Cover

Before you think about washing your duvet, remove your duvet cover. Most duvets are kept in a decorative cover that can easily be unzipped, unbuttoned or simply pulled off. Duvet covers are often machine washable and, once the duvet is out, the covers are quite small. Check the tag on your cover and see how to wash it.
We also recommend washing your duvet cover as often as you wash your sheets and pillowcases. The cover of the duvet is the part that touches you the most and has the most contact with potentially dirty objects. It’s a good thing they are easy to wash!
Steps for Washing a Machine Washable Duvet
1.	Check the Tag on Your Duvet
Many duvets are machine washable. Smaller-sized duvets may even be able to fit right into your washing machine at home! If your duvet is too big for your personal machine, you can bring it to a local laundromat to use the extra-large washing machines. 
2.	Spot Clean Your Duvet
Use a small amount of detergent to spot clean your duvet. Rub a tablespoon of your laundry detergent on any spots or stains. Rub the fabric together to scrub the stain and loosen the dirt. This is also a good time to check for any rips in your duvet. Sew any holes or tears before washing to prevent the filling from the duvet from escaping during the wash. 
3.	Set Your Washing Machine 
Set your washing machine to the gentle cycle and also for an extra-large wash. Duvets will do well in warm or hot water. Hotter water will help kill any bacteria and get your duvet super sanitized. Add your regular laundry detergent to the machine and then turn it on! 
4.	Rinse Your Duvet
Once your wash cycle is complete, run a rinse cycle using no detergent. This will help ensure that there is no leftover soap on your duvet. Since duvets are so large, the soap sometimes remains on parts of the blanket. An extra rinse helps it get extra clean and soap free!
5.	Dry Your Duvet
Set your duvet outside to air dry in the sun or, if your dryer is large enough, place it in the dryer. Add two to three tennis balls to the dryer as well which will help fluff the duvet as it spins around. Turn your dryer on to delicate mode or use the low heat setting. 

Some duvets are quite large and may require more than one round in the dryer. If your duvet still feels wet after the full cycle, remove it from the dryer, fluff it a little bit and then place it back in the machine for another round. 
How to Hand Wash a Duvet
Some washing machines are just not big enough for a full duvet. Here is how to wash your duvet by hand, getting it nice and clean without a machine. 
1.	Spot Clean
If your duvet is not very dirty, consider spot cleaning it. A mild mix of soap and water rubbed onto specific spots may be all that you need. 
2.	Warm, Soapy Water
Fill a large tub or your bathtub with warm water. Fill it only halfway as the water level will rise when you add the duvet. Add half the amount of laundry detergent to the bathtub as you would use to run a washing machine cycle. Mix the detergent well.
3.	Wash the Duvet
Place the duvet in the warm soapy water and use your hands to rub and agitate the duvet. Pretend you are a washing machine! Rub any areas that are particularly dirty.
4.	Rinse the Duvet
Drain the dirty water from the tub and then rinse the duvet with clean water. Continue to rinse until there are no more bubbles which will indicate that the detergent is gone. 
5.	Dry
Air dry your duvet or follow the steps in the section above to dry the duvet in your home dryer.
Tip: Always be sure to read the tag on your duvet. Some duvets that are made of down or feathers may need to be dry-cleaned. If this is the case, simply drop your duvet off at your local dry cleaner! Easy enough.

Try to wash your duvet at least annually. Wash your duvet cover more regularly to keep your bedding clean and the duvet inside protected. Try washing your duvet more often to help keep allergies at bay. Dust, dirt and sweat can build up in your duvet over time but with these washing tips, you can fight all of them!

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