Bamboo Duvet Covers – What You Need to Know

Short answer: A duvet cover is the layer between the duvet and the body, which is why it is the fabric of the cover rather than the duvet that decides how the bed feels. Bamboo viscose is chosen for it for one reason: it moves moisture away instead of holding it.

What a cover has to do

It has to fit the duvet, close at the end, let moisture escape and take being washed weekly for years. That sounds simple, but those four things are what separate a good cover from one that sits unused in the cupboard.

The measurement matters most

Buy by the duvet's measurement, not the bed's. See bamboo bedding in 140x200 for the classic duvet and bamboo bedding in 140x220 for the long one, and measure seam to seam first.

The closure at the end

Buttons or a zip keep the duvet in place. A cover without a closure lets the duvet ride up into one corner during the night, and then it has to be shaken back every morning, which across a year adds up to real work.

How the fabric feels

Bamboo viscose has a smooth surface that feels cool for the first few minutes and warms up from the body afterwards. That is a different sensation from cotton, which feels neutral immediately and holds warmth and moisture slightly longer.

The density

A densely woven cover holds its shape and does not go see through over time. A loosely woven cover is lighter and cheaper, but it wears faster exactly where the duvet presses into the corners, and that is where holes appear first.

The colour

Dark colours fade if dried in the sun. Pale colours turn greyish from too much detergent. Both are avoided by drying indoors and using half the dose, and that applies whichever colour you have chosen.

How long it lasts

A good cover lasts eight to fifteen years with weekly washing if it is not tumble dried hot. What gives up first is the seams in the corners rather than the fabric in the middle, so the stitching is worth looking at when buying.

How many you need

Two covers per duvet. One on the bed and one in the cupboard. Buy them from the same series and they fade at the same rate, so the bed looks the same whichever one is on this week.

See the full range

Every size, colour and quality sits together under bamboo bedding. If you are buying for several beds, the same series throughout is simplest, so everything can be washed together regardless of colour. See also bamboo bedding versus percale cotton.