Can you wash a duvet at home
Short answer: Often yes, if your washing machine is large enough and the duvet's care label allows it. Many single duvets can be washed at home, while large double duvets and heavy down duvets often need a bigger machine, for example at a launderette.
Check the care label first
Duvets come with many different fillings, such as down, feathers, wool and synthetic fibres, and they have different needs. The care label tells you whether the duvet can be washed, at what temperature and whether it can go in a tumble dryer. Some duvets can only be professionally cleaned. Always follow the label, as the wrong wash can make the filling clump or break down. If the label is missing, ask the retailer or let a laundry service assess it.
Is the machine big enough
A duvet needs room to move in the drum, otherwise it will not get properly cleaned and rinsed. As a rule of thumb, the drum should hold the duvet without it being crammed in. A standard 7 to 8 kilo machine can often manage a single duvet, while double duvets need more space. If the machine is too small, it can be overloaded, and the duvet will come out with soap and moisture trapped in the middle.
How to wash it
Choose a duvet programme or a gentle cycle at the temperature on the label. Use a small amount of mild detergent, and for down ideally a special down wash. Select an extra rinse so all residue comes out. Do not use fabric softener, as it can make the filling clump. Wash the cover separately and more often than the duvet itself, for example together with the rest of your bamboo bedding.
Drying is the most important part
A duvet must be completely dry right through the middle before it is used again. Moisture in the filling can lead to smells and mould. If the duvet can be tumble dried, use low heat and add a couple of clean tennis balls or dryer balls to spread the filling. It can take several hours. If it cannot be tumbled, hang it outside in good weather, shake it often and turn it several times. Always check the middle before putting it back on the bed.
How often should a duvet be washed
Most duvets do not need washing often. If the cover is clean and changed regularly, washing the duvet itself once or twice a year is usually enough. Air it in between, for example on a dry and breezy day. Sheets and covers are washed far more often. This also applies to bamboo split sheets for adjustable beds, which are washed according to the label just like ordinary sheets.
Nightwear counts too
The cleaner you go to bed, the longer your duvet and bedding stay fresh. Sweat and skin oils from the body end up in the bedding and, over time, in the duvet. Clean, light nightwear can help. Many people sleep in soft shorts, and bamboo inner shorts are light enough that some wear them to sleep in during summer. Wash nightwear regularly so it does not bring extra sweat into the bed.
Frequently asked questions
Can all duvets be washed in a standard machine
No. It depends on the duvet's size, filling and care label. Large duvets often need a bigger machine.
How often should you wash a duvet
For most people once or twice a year is enough, as long as the cover is washed regularly.
How do you know the duvet is dry
Feel the middle and the corners. If there is any damp or clumping, it needs to dry for longer.
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