Step By Step Guide to Clean Duvet at Home
To prolong the lifespan of your duvet or comforter, you must take proper care of them. A duvet does not even need to be frequently washed since it has the duvet cover that protects it and keeps it clean.
However, if there happens to be a spill or a tiny stain on your duvet, it will be best to spot it clean and dry. You don't need to complete a whole duvet-cleaning process to keep it clean. It is often the duvet covers that need to be washed and not the duvet itself.
Sometimes, you have to freshen up your duvet before the need to all-out wash it arises. So, if you want to freshen up your duvet, and probably kill some germs without actually washing it, you need your dryer and a few dryer balls or clean tennis balls.
Place your duvet or comforter in the dryer and add the dryer balls. Set the dryer on a low or medium heat and allow it for about 30 to 40 minutes. Stop the dryer every 10 minutes and rotate the duvet to distribute the heat evenly.
That way, you can freshen up your duvet without actually having to wash it. On the other hand, a comforter has no covering, and so it is not often protected against stains and will need to be washed as frequently as possible.
Therefore, if you cannot merely freshen it up, below are a list of steps that you can take to wash your duvet and comforter at home.
- Follow The Instructions:
Most beddings often come with labels that provide care instructions on how to clean the material properly. Paying attention to the label before duvet-cleaning will give you a clue as to the type of material that you are dealing with and how to wash it safely.
Remember, do not launder fabrics labeled dry clean only as that could significantly damage the duvet or comforter. Ignoring this first step can cause you to destroy your duvet or comforter.
- Choose a Washing Method
If your duvet or comforter is sewn with a material that needs to be dry cleaned, it will be best to send it to a reputable dry cleaning facility like Soji Cleaners to have it cleaned up.
You can either hand wash the duvets or wash them with a washing machine. If you are using a washing machine, ensure that it is large enough to contain your duvet or comforter without ripping it.
Duvet in a washing machine
First, place your comforter or your duvet cover into a large washing machine and add the appropriate quantity of liquid soap that is best suited for the material that you will be washing.
Next, set your washer cycle at gentle or delicate, set the spin to medium or low not to stress the seams, and use cold water in the duvet cleaning or comforter cleaning process.
Granted, you want your duvet or comforter to look very neat, sparkly, and incredibly soft. Still, it will be in your best interest to resist the temptation of using a bleach, fabric softener, or anything else to either brighten or soften your duvet.
The bleach removes the protective down-proof layer covering the fabric. The fabric softener coats the down, and other natural or synthetic fibers used in filling up the duvet or comforter prevent it from properly drying.
After the washer has completed its cycle, run it through the rinse cycle for at least 2-3 times to ensure that your duvet or comforter is thoroughly rinsed without any residue of the liquid soap used in washing it.
Once you are done washing and rinsing your duvet, you can then take it to the dryer. If the duvet is made with synthetic materials, you can set your dryer on low to medium heat or tumble dry on low heat. However, if the duvet or comforter is made with down or other natural fibers, it will be best to set your dryer on low heat and allow it to dry.
You can as well add dryer balls or clean tennis balls wrapped up in some socks. This will help to agitate the down and fibers as the duvet dries, returning them to their natural forms and preventing the formation of lumps on the duvets or comforters.
Stop the dryer at intervals, take out the duvet and shake it to redistribute the down or other fibers inside it. Rotate it and use your hands to smoothen out any clumps that you find before putting it back into the dryer again to dry completely.
Once the drying cycle is complete, take out the duvet or comforter and hang it under shade to air it. Do not spread your duvet under direct sunlight as it causes the down filling to release an unpleasant odor in addition to a small amount of shrinkage that may occur.
After duvet cleaning, ensure that the duvet is completely dry before placing it back on your bed to prevent mildew. If you notice any clumps in the duvet, it is an indication that the duvet or comforter is not dry, so you will have to place it back in the dryer to dry completely.
- Washing by Hand
A duvet cleaning or comforter cleaning exercise can be a little bit difficult to carry out by hand. But, it is not impossible to do, especially if you cannot seem to lay your hands on a washing machine or afford the cost of having it cleaned by professionals.
You will need a clean bathtub, cold water, and a mild washing soap or detergent to accomplish this task. Before placing your duvet or comforter in the bathtub, ensure that there is no dirt in it.
It will be best to scrub the bathtub with a cleaning agent and rinse thoroughly to be on a safer side. Next, fill in the tub with cold water and add the right amount of mild washing soap suitable for the duvet.
Use your hands to lather up the soap to create a soapy solution. Then place your duvet or comforter inside the soapy water and allow it to sit in the water for about 30 minutes.
Next, gently move your hands around the surface of the material to get rid of stains. Remove the duvet or comforter from the bathtub and drain the soapy water.
Refill the tub again with cold water and place the duvet back into the water to remove any excess detergent or soap suds. Do this a couple of times until the duvet or comforter is rinsed thoroughly. Finally, drain the water and gently roll up the duvet several times to squeeze out excess water.
If you do not have a dryer to dry your comforter, you can pick it up after removing excess water and give it a good shake to make sure that the down and other synthetic fibers are not clumping before you hang it.
It is advisable to hang the duvet or comforter on a place where it is suspended to prevent the growth of mold or mildew. You can drape it over a drying rack or place it near a window or fan so that it can dry up quickly.
There are still certain things that you can do to keep your duvet or comforter clean and prevent frequent washing that can cause the material to lose its quality. What are those? Let’s find out.
Extra Tips To Keep Your Duvets/Comforters Clean
These tips can enable you to treat your duvets better and keep them fresh before each wash.
- If you are using a duvet, always protect it against stains, sweat, and damage using a duvet cover. A thorough duvet cleaning should be done only once in a while.
- Regularly fluff your duvet or comforter as this will help to redistribute the fillings and prevent them from becoming matted.
- Do not store or transport your duvets or comforters in a plastic bag. Instead, place it in the cotton bag that it came with, as it allows air to penetrate through to the duvet.
- After duvet or comforter cleaning, do not iron or starch the material as this can melt the fillings.
- Use a steamer to remove wrinkles, odor, and germs on the duvet or comforter before wash days.
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