Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Prep and wash
• Part 2 of 2: Drying the duvet
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Duvets are warm and cozy bedding, but like everything else, they will eventually get dirty and will need to be cleaned. While most have a label stating that they need professional cleaning, you can also clean them at home just fine. With a few simple steps, your duvet will look like new again, without having to pay an expensive dry cleaner bill.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Prep and wash

1. Unless they have gotten dirty, you should have duvets professionally cleaned once every few years. It is not necessary to have duvets cleaned more often (maximum once a year).
2. Take off your duvet and check if any feathers have come loose, if there are any tears and check for stains. Repair the cracks with a needle and thread. Treat the stains by applying a cleaning agent directly to the stains and wiping clean with a cloth.
3. Use a front loader as a washing machine. If you have a top loader with a stirrer in the middle of the machine, consider washing your duvet in a front loader. The agitator in the center of the machine can damage the duvet.
4. Set your washing machine to delicates and warm water. Add a mild detergent and bleach if your duvet is white.
5. If you have a top loader, do not put the duvet in the washing machine until the water has had a chance to turn around for a minute or two. This allows the detergent to be better absorbed by the water. Make sure to submerge the duvet completely in the water and place it evenly around the agitator.
6. Rinse twice to make sure all detergent has been removed. Just to be on the safe side. Before you spin the duvet, it is better to squeeze the duvet (top loading). This will make the duvet drier and better for washing machine.

Part 2 of 2: Drying the duvet

1. Remove the duvet from the washing machine after completing the washing program. Your comforter will look flat and, and if it is white, it will look a bit spotty. This is because the feathers are still wet.
2. Place the duvet in a tumble dryer and use the settings that are appropriate for the color of your duvet. White duvets, just like clothes, can handle a higher temperature, but it is always better to start from a not too high temperature.
3. Put clothes dryer balls, a linen sports shoe without laces, or a tennis ball in a sock, in the dryer, along with the duvet. Any of these items can help break up the tangles and will plump up the comforter. Press "Start."
4. Keep an eye on whether the duvet is drying properly. Drying can take several hours. This is also a good time to get some air into the comforter.
   • Periodically check the comforter for compressed feathers by holding it up. This means that the duvet is still slightly damp and will have to dry longer.
5. When the duvet is dry, remove it from the dryer and put it on the bed. The entire drying process can take 4 to 12 hours, depending on the temperature setting.
6. Avoid drying on a line. This can promote mold growth. You can do this, but dry the duvet first on a line, beat it up and dry it further in the dryer.

Tips

• Before folding and storing the duvet, make sure it is completely dry so that no mold can form. Place the comforter in a cool, well-ventilated closet.
• Do not wash a duvet too often, as this can break the feathers. An alternative to washing your duvet is to purchase a dry-clean kit for the dryer and use a duvet cover to protect the duvet.

Warnings

• If you plan to clean a duvet at home, make sure your washing machine and dryer can handle this type of laundry. If the duvet is too big for your machine, you may damage the duvet, the washing machine or the dryer.

Necessities

• Mild detergent
• Bleach (optional)
• Clothes dryer balls, linen sports shoe or tennis balls