While most people keep their bedroom clean and tidy by washing their sheets and covers regularly, a lot of us forget about our beloved down duvets. While they definitely don’t get dirty as quickly as their covers, they do need the occasional cleaning. So how do you do that? Here you’ll see all the needed information to get your down duvet as clean as new!
Before We Start…
Make sure you only wash your duvet when needed, we recommend washing it every 3-5 years. Cleaning it too often might reduce the quality of the product because of the natural structure of the down filling. Ideally, if you wash your sheets weekly you will keep your duvet clean for a longer time.
If there are just a few small spots, there is no need to wash your entire duvet. Instead, clean the stains gently with water and spot remover or mild soap.
Make sure you read the provided care label and washing instructions carefully if you decide to wash it. The most important phase when cleaning your duvet is the drying. We suggest weighing your duvet before washing and after drying then compare both weights to ensure it’s completely dry.
Some duvets might recommend professional cleaning but taking care of them at home is also possible if you have everything required.
So, what is required?
What You Need to Wash Your Duvet
- Washing Machine (8kg Drum Capacity)
- Tumble Dryer (8kg Drum Capacity)
- Detergent for Down or Delicate Fabrics
- 2-3 Clean Tennis or Dryer Balls in White Socks
Recommended Washing Program
Some washing machines have a program for down-washing, nonetheless, if yours doesn’t you can use one for delciate fabrics. At Nordic Paradise, we advise using a gentle program at 40°C. Most often it is also possible to wash your duvet at 60°C, this effectively eliminates any dust mites that might remain on it. However, if you decide to use 60°C, read the label with instructions carefully beforehand.
Include extra rinse and spin cycles if possible. Use as little as a quarter of your regular detergent dose, or if that proves too little- a third. You need to make sure there is no soap residue after the wash. Do not add softener or bleach as it can reduce the quality of the down and its fluffiness.
How to Dry your Down Duvet
Before taking out your duvet from the washer, make sure there is no leftover soap residue. Once thoroughly rinsed you can remove it but be careful as wet down can get quite heavy. Once taken out, you can dry it in a sufficiently large tumble dryer (8kg drum capacity at least).
We strongly advise against using a drying rack, because this will cause the down to clump together and will damage its quality. Moreover, the duvet may not dry completely which can lead to mildew.
Check the care label to see if using a tumble dryer is advised and whether there are any special requirements for your duvet. We recommend not exceeding a temperature of 60°C and using low or air-dry settings.
Add 2-3 tennis or drying balls to ensure the down spreads evenly. Iit is also recommended to occasionally stop the dryer and shake your duvet to to open up the down inside.
The drying process can take quite a while but you need to make sure the duvet is completely dry before using it. Dry duvets feel light and with an evenly spread filling. If you have any doubts whether your duvet is completely dry it’s best to dry it for a bit longer. Even slightly wet duvets are at risk of mildew and odor, which we surely want to avoid. To make sure your duvet is completely dry, we advise you to weigh it before washing and after drying.
Ready for another night of pleasant sleep?
Once thoroughly cleaned and fully dried, your duvets will be as good as new and ready to be used. Put back the cover and you are good to go. If your duvet is quite old and washing isn’t enough, maybe it is time for a new one. You can check our collection of down duvets on our website as well as our cotton sateen bed sheets that compliment them.
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