How to wash a king size duvet at home
During the last year, COVID-19 has highlighted the need for us to pay attention to hygiene, but many items are difficult to clean due to their size. A king size duvet is a great example. If your washing machine isn’t big enough, you can pop the duvet along to your local dry cleaner or visit a launderette, but in the event you prefer to clean it at home, here’s a guide on how to do so.
Rules for washing a king size duvet at home
Before washing any duvet – or any fabric for that matter – always check the care label for the best washing practices for that item. Duvets can be made of polyester, feather, silk, or wool and some need a specialist clean. Be particularly careful with wool as it can become hard when washed if the wool has not been treated properly.
In addition to the care label, check the drum size and capacity on your washing machine to ensure you don’t overload it. This is because duvets can become very heavy when wet and damage your washing machine if the drum size and capacity cannot withstand the load.
If washing at home, we recommend using a bathtub and a good dose of physical effort:
- Having removed the duvet cover, fill a bathtub or a large tub that will fit the duvet with warm water, add a detergent and mix the solution with your hands. Ensure the volume of water is tall enough to encase the duvet.
- Bring over the duvet and completely submerge it in the tub.
- Allow 5 minutes for any dirt and debris to be removed then wash manually until there is no soap left.
- At this point, squeeze as much water out of the duvet as possible.
- Wring out the duvet and shake it to fluff up the filling.
- Then, let the duvet drape in an open space or pegged on your washing line and dispose of the water in the tub.
How to dry your duvet
Having manually washed your duvet, shake it whilst it’s still damp to redistribute the filling. If the care label permits, you can tumble dry your duvet for 45 minutes to 1 hour, providing the machine can withstand the load.
Using a tumble dryer kills bedbugs, mites, and other bacteria due to the heat but you should use dryer balls placed within the folded duvet to keep the filling fluffed. Alternatively, air dry your duvet for a whole day when it’s hot and sunny since ultraviolet rays from the sun naturally disinfect any bacteria. Ensure both the filling and the casing of the duvet are dry before placing it back on the bed, which will prevent moisture retention, unwanted smells, or change in colour (i.e. becoming yellow). The duvet cover can be washed in a washing machine and reapplied to the duvet once dry.
How often should you wash your duvet?
We at Peters’ Cleaners suggest you should wash your duvet annually whatever the size and make (i.e. single to emperor size or synthetic or natural material). However, if the sleeper is ill or has allergies then we recommend cleaning it every 2-3 months.
Not just a duvet
So now you know how to wash your king sized duvet, you can apply the same rules to your other duvets and pillows. If that all sounds like a bit of a chore, however, you can drop it into us for a wash and tumble. Explore our Duvets & Pillows cleaning service.
