To wash a duvet in the washing machine, read the care label first, then wash it on its own, on a delicate cycle, with a little detergent and no fabric softener, at the temperature shown (often 40 °C, sometimes 60 °C for synthetic or cotton duvets). The most important part comes next: drying it completely, on low heat or in the open air, shaking it often. A duvet that is not fully dry smells musty and goes lumpy.
In short
- How often? Once or twice a year if it has a cover, more often with allergies or a pet on the bed.
- Which machine? The drum must hold it without squashing: often 8 kg for a double duvet, sometimes more.
- Which temperature? The one on the label, never higher.
- The trap: putting it away while still damp.
Can you wash a duvet in the washing machine?
Yes, in most cases. Synthetic duvets (polyester, microfibre) and many cotton duvets can go in the machine. So can feather and down duvets, if the label allows it. Wool, silk and some very thick duvets, however, often need hand washing or a dry cleaner.
The symbol that matters is the tub on the label. A tub with a number (30, 40, 60) gives the maximum temperature. A tub with a hand means hand wash. A crossed-out tub: no washing in water. These symbols are standardised in Europe by the GINETEX association (ISO 3758). If the label is gone, look for the manufacturer's instructions before trying anything.
What size washing machine for a double duvet?
The duvet must be able to turn in the drum. If you have to push it in to close the door, water and detergent will not get through it and rinsing will be poor. As a guide:
| Duvet | Drum capacity often needed |
|---|
| Single (140 × 200 cm), light | 6 to 7 kg |
| Double (200 × 200 or 220 × 240 cm) | 8 kg |
| Large, warm double (240 × 260 cm) | 9 to 11 kg |
These are rules of thumb, not manufacturer rules. If your machine is too small, a launderette is the simplest option: its 15 to 20 kg machines wash and dry a large duvet in about an hour and a half.
How to wash a duvet in the washing machine: step by step
- Remove the cover and wash it separately, with the sheets.
- Check the seams. A small hole lets the filling escape during the spin. Sew it up first.
- Pre-treat stains with a little liquid detergent and leave for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Put the duvet in on its own, loosely rolled rather than tightly folded.
- Choose a delicate cycle, or a duvet programme if your machine has one, at the label temperature.
- Use little detergent, ideally liquid: too much stays in the filling. No fabric softener, which makes fibres and feathers stick together.
- Add an extra rinse if you can.
- Spin gently, at medium speed.
What temperature should you wash a duvet at?
A synthetic duvet is often washed at 40 °C, some at 60 °C. A feather or down duvet rather at 30 or 40 °C. For people allergic to dust mites, the French national health insurance (Assurance maladie) advises washing bedding often at 60 °C and using anti-mite covers: if this applies to you, choose a duvet that can take 60 °C.
How to dry a duvet without clumps
This is the step that makes the difference. A duvet can feel dry on the surface while the core is still damp. Stored like that, it can go mouldy and smell.
- In the tumble dryer (if the label allows): low heat, with two or three dryer balls or clean tennis balls. They break up clumps of filling. Take the duvet out every 30 minutes to shake it. A feather duvet often needs two to three hours.
- In the open air: laid flat or over two lines, in the shade and in a breeze, turning and patting it several times. Allow one to two days.
- The test: squeeze the centre of the duvet with your whole hand. If it still feels cold or damp, keep going.
If lumps remain, shake the duvet by the corners, as you would air a sheet, then knead the flattened areas between your hands.
Washing a feather or down duvet
Down copes with water, but not with haste. Use a gentle detergent, ideally one for wool or down, a delicate cycle and a moderate spin. Drying must be complete: down that stays damp smells like a farmyard. That is normal while it dries, not afterwards. The same applies to feather pillows; to give them back their loft, see how to fluff a feather pillow.
How often should you wash your duvet?
The Sleep Foundation, an American sleep information foundation, advises washing a duvet every 6 to 12 months when it has a cover, and every 3 to 4 months without a cover or top sheet. The cover itself is washed like your sheets, usually every one to two weeks. Between washes, air the duvet in the sun for half a day now and then: it puffs up again and loses the moisture of the night.
When is it time to replace it?
A duvet that stays flat after washing and drying, keeps empty patches, still smells after a wash, or makes you sneeze anyway has had its day. Before buying a new one, check the warmth you need for the season: the tog rating or the weight in grams per square metre on the label tells you how warm it is.
To finish
A duvet that is easy to wash is a duvet you actually wash. If you are looking for one for the whole year, our all-season organic cotton duvet has a cotton shell. And to get it back into its cover without a struggle, see how to put on a duvet cover.
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