The latest generation washing machines have a special program for washing duvets, but you will have to make sure that it can support a load of at least 7 kg. So let's find out together how to wash a duvet, with or without a machine, clearly differentiating between all types of duvets.
Synthetic duvet, feather or cotton, there are different types on the market. Depending on the composition, you will have to carry out the washing differently.
How to wash a synthetic duvet?
These duvets are made of polyester which allows good breathability while maintaining a constant temperature. It's here ideal solution for those who are allergic to goose feathers . As well as having the advantage of being hypoallergenic, they are also lightweight compared to "old" woolen blankets but still offer good warmth.
To make the best choice of synthetic duvet, we recommend the Couette Douillette boutique, which offers a complete collection of floral duvet covers.
In addition, aspect not to be underestimated, they are also practical for changing the bed: the reduced weight makes it less difficult to carry out this daily task.
But if they are dirty, how to wash synthetic duvets?
A synthetic duvet can be washed in water, unless otherwise specified by the brand. Always read the label to understand at what temperature you can wash it and put it in the washing machine, if you have a large one.
The alternative is the bathtub but it is a really tiring solution, because the duvet will absorb water during washing becoming very heavy and difficult to rinse.
But if that's the only solution, get a small dryer and put it in the tub. Lay out the duvet as if it needs to dry and wash it with the showerhead.
If you have good water pressure or a "strong jet" mode, it will be better. This way you will avoid straining your back to rinse and lift the duvet and you can also let the water run directly into the tub. If your synthetic duvet has stubborn stains, you can pre-wash with baking soda.
Washing a cotton and natural fiber duvet
Are you the eco-friendly type and love natural fabrics? The vegetable fiber duvet such as cotton, hemp, kopar is the type that suits you best.
These duvets have an excellent quality and have nothing to envy to down ones: they are warm and soft, even if their cost is decidedly high. Have they been stained?
In order not to ruin them, it is recommended to wash natural fiber duvets by hand .
Follow these steps: fill the tub with warm water, add baking soda, soak the comforter, make sure it's completely covered in water, and let it soak overnight.
The next day, empty the tank and fill it again with water without adding biocarbonate. Rinse until all the soap is gone. For drying, do not expose it to direct sunlight, so as not to damage the padding. If the duvet was particularly delicate and you didn't have a tub, just take it to the laundromat.
Washing a double duvet: a modular solution
Do you want a versatile and economical solution? On the market you will also find matching duvets, one light and one medium weight, to combine for super warmth or to use individually by changing it according to the seasonal temperature. This solution offers the unequaled advantage of having two products with different uses depending on the season and your perception of cold. The washing instructions depend on the padding and must always be followed in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. Having 2 duvets available, you can change them more often and even wash them will be easier.
How to wash a duvet with goose or duck feathers
Do you like to wrap yourself in a warm and gentle embrace? Then a goose down duvet is for you. It's a "green" choice, but you can make sure your comforter comes from certified farms and that the animal, intended for food, was therefore deprived of the feathers only after the first phase of slaughter.
Among the aspects that could lead you to this choice, there is a very important one: when you sleep, the feather duvet collects in itself the humidity emitted by the body and, in the morning, when you air it, she frees her.
In addition, it has the advantage of maintaining the bed at a fixed and constant temperature. Goose or duck feathers may have been used to make your quilt. The quilt is a wad of feathers that come only from the goose's breast.
Another quality index is the origin of the animals: those that come from farms in cold countries, such as Siberia, Hungary, Poland or Canada, will give a more precious and sweeter product. The feather must be washed and sterilized, guaranteeing a hypoallergenic and anti-mite product, therefore also suitable for allergy sufferers.
If the duvet is stained, the easiest solution seems to be to dry clean it at a dry cleaners, but often this operation not only does not fully meet our expectations, but it can also cost you a lot of money.
The solution? Goose down duvets can be machine washed! Here's how. Only insert the blanket in the washing machine, without adding other items.
Use an appropriate detergent, without bleach, otherwise you will ruin the upholstery. Then run the program for delicate items, with a maximum temperature of 30 degrees.
To get rid of all the soap, schedule at least two rounds of rinsing. Then spin the duvet at least two or three times: this way the feathers won't retain too much water.
Once the washing is done, lay the duvet on a drying rack, let it dry in a cool, dry place, taking care to turn it over several times a day, to prevent the feathers from piling up. one side only. If you own a clothes dryere, set it to level minimum so as not to damage the duvet. Once dry, shake it well and put it back on the bed, or put it in a special box. If your washing machine isn't big enough, simply wash the duvet in the tub, following the same precautions as for synthetic duvets.
Washing an Eiderdown Duvet
It is the highest quality duvet and the most respectful for the animal world. Eider flakes are very soft and cohesive with each other, so quilts will be particularly hot .
The flakes do not come from farms, but are of wild origin. The eider duck is a large sea duck. The male eider duck is black and white, the female has brown plumage. When brooding, which takes place on the cliffs, is about to begin, the female spreads her breast feathers with her beak - they are softer and more mature - to stuff the nest and protect the chicks from the cold.
After the eggs are opened and the young are weaned, licensed gatherers take the flakes left in the nests, and often dispersed by the wind. The flakes, each weighing one thousandth of a gram, are then cleaned and sterilized. Washing is done by hand cold.
How to space out duvet washes?
If you have goose down, do not use the vacuum cleaner which could break the feathers.
Breathe the duvet every morning , waiting at least a quarter of an hour before making the bed: this will eliminate the humidity that it has absorbed during the night.
It is also advisable to change position shaking it once, better twice a week and washing the covers at regular intervals.
At the end of the season, wrap it in a cotton towel - do not use plastic bags! - to protect it from dust, while allowing the natural passage of air and store it in practical boxes. It will save you space. Remember, however, that the nib needs ventilation.
As for the synthetic or natural fiber duvet, you can use the vacuum cleaner to remove all traces of dust mites. In this case, you can certainly store it under vacuum, using the special bags for this use.
