Washing duvets correctly – so you can sleep like you're on a cloud every night
Your duvet provides you with many relaxing and restful nights. Show it the care it deserves. Find out how to wash your duvet and what to bear in mind here. Remember: wash your duvet, put on your bed linen, and enjoy a better night's sleep.
Why a duvet should be washed regularly
Did you know that your bed linen only absorbs some of the moisture and dust that builds up in your bed during everyday use or after a night's sleep? Most of it is absorbed into your duvet, night after night. This can lead to unpleasant odours and mites multiplying. Not nice! But the good news is that you can do something about it. Simply wash your duvet regularly to enjoy completely hygienic sleep.
- Regularly cleaning your duvet kills mites and germs, preventing odours and stains.
- Using the correct programme and detergent will make your duvet even softer and fluffier after washing and drying.
But how often should you wash your duvet? Which programme is suitable for which filling? And how do you actually dry a duvet properly? We aim to answer these and many other questions in this guide. Ready? Then let's get washing.
Why a duvet should be washed regularly
Did you know that your bed linen only absorbs some of the moisture and dust that builds up in your bed during everyday use or after a night's sleep? Most of it is absorbed into your duvet, night after night. This can lead to unpleasant odours and mites multiplying. Not nice! But the good news is that you can do something about it. Simply wash your duvet regularly to enjoy completely hygienic sleep.
- Regularly cleaning your duvet kills mites and germs, preventing odours and stains.
- Using the correct programme and detergent will make your duvet even softer and fluffier after washing and drying.
But how often should you wash your duvet? Which programme is suitable for which filling? And how do you actually dry a duvet properly? We aim to answer these and many other questions in this guide. Ready? Then let's get washing.
How often should you wash your duvet?
How often you should clean your duvet depends on a few factors. For example, do you sweat a lot at night? Do pets sleep in your bed? Do children use the duvet who might have the occasional nighttime accident? If so, you might want to consider washing your duvet more often. Here are a few rules of thumb to guide you. As with all the other tips that follow, it is important to follow the care label on your duvet, as it will provide precise information on how to care for it.
- As a general guideline, you should wash your duvet once or twice a year.
- People with allergies, pets or children should wash their bedding more frequently. This can range from three to four times a year to one to two times a month.
- The environment also plays a role: duvets should be washed more frequently in humid rooms and in urban environments, where open bedroom windows often allow more pollutants to enter than in rural areas.
Tip: Regularly airing your duvet and shaking or beating it from time to time can extend the time between washes.
How often should you wash your duvet?
How often you should clean your duvet depends on a few factors. For example, do you sweat a lot at night? Do pets sleep in your bed? Do children use the duvet who might have the occasional nighttime accident? If so, you might want to consider washing your duvet more often. Here are a few rules of thumb to guide you. As with all the other tips that follow, it is important to follow the care label on your duvet, as it will provide precise information on how to care for it.
- As a general guideline, you should wash your duvet once or twice a year.
- People with allergies, pets or children should wash their bedding more frequently. This can range from three to four times a year to one to two times a month.
- The environment also plays a role: duvets should be washed more frequently in humid rooms and in urban environments, where open bedroom windows often allow more pollutants to enter than in rural areas.
Tip: Regularly airing your duvet and shaking or beating it from time to time can extend the time between washes.
Cleaning your duvet: preparation is half the battle
Before you can wash your duvet, you need to prepare it first. This is important because using the wrong washing programme or failing to notice any damage to the duvet can affect how well it is cleaned. Don't worry — with these tips, you'll be ready in no time!
- Read the washing instructions. The labels indicate the temperature and programme at which the duvet can be washed.
- For example, repair minor damage such as loose seams beforehand to prevent feathers or down from escaping.
- Shake and beat the duvet outside once more before washing it. This will remove any coarse dust or dirt, which will make the washing machine's job easier.
- Always wash duvets and duvet covers separately. This is because duvets and bed linen often require very different cleaning methods.
- Important: most duvets require a washing machine with a capacity of at least 7 kg to be cleaned properly. If your machine is too small, you can either take your duvet to a laundrette or have it professionally cleaned.
Are you all done? Then you're ready to go! 'But wait a minute,' you think to yourself. 'Which wash programme is right for my duvet?' What is the ideal temperature for the wash cycle? Which detergent and fabric softener should you choose? We're happy to answer all your questions. Read on to find out more.
Cleaning your duvet: preparation is half the battle
Before you can wash your duvet, you need to prepare it first. This is important because using the wrong washing programme or failing to notice any damage to the duvet can affect how well it is cleaned. Don't worry — with these tips, you'll be ready in no time!
- Read the washing instructions. The labels indicate the temperature and programme at which the duvet can be washed.
- For example, repair minor damage such as loose seams beforehand to prevent feathers or down from escaping.
- Shake and beat the duvet outside once more before washing it. This will remove any coarse dust or dirt, which will make the washing machine's job easier.
- Always wash duvets and duvet covers separately. This is because duvets and bed linen often require very different cleaning methods.
- Important: most duvets require a washing machine with a capacity of at least 7 kg to be cleaned properly. If your machine is too small, you can either take your duvet to a laundrette or have it professionally cleaned.
Are you all done? Then you're ready to go! 'But wait a minute,' you think to yourself. 'Which wash programme is right for my duvet?' What is the ideal temperature for the wash cycle? Which detergent and fabric softener should you choose? We're happy to answer all your questions. Read on to find out more.
The right programmes and temperatures for washing duvets
If you want to wash your duvet, the care instructions are your most important ally. The symbols will help you to identify the most suitable programme, temperature and drying method for your duvet. Here are some guidelines to help you:
- Washing down duvets: Wash feather duvets and goose down duvets on the wool or delicate cycle at 40–60°C, with a low spin speed and an extra rinse cycle.
- Washing polyester and synthetic duvets: Use the easy-care or gentle cycle, preferably at 60°C, or 40°C in exceptional cases.
- Washing camel hair, sheep's wool and sheep's wool blankets: Max. 30°C on the wool cycle, only use special wool detergent that can re-grease the wool. Tip: Camel hair and sheep's wool require very little care – instead of washing, it is often sufficient to air them thoroughly.
- Washing silk duvets: Hand wash or use the silk cycle with lukewarm water, do not spin.
The right programmes and temperatures for washing duvets
If you want to wash your duvet, the care instructions are your most important ally. The symbols will help you to identify the most suitable programme, temperature and drying method for your duvet. Here are some guidelines to help you:
- Washing down duvets: Wash feather duvets and goose down duvets on the wool or delicate cycle at 40–60°C, with a low spin speed and an extra rinse cycle.
- Washing polyester and synthetic duvets: Use the easy-care or gentle cycle, preferably at 60°C, or 40°C in exceptional cases.
- Washing camel hair, sheep's wool and sheep's wool blankets: Max. 30°C on the wool cycle, only use special wool detergent that can re-grease the wool. Tip: Camel hair and sheep's wool require very little care – instead of washing, it is often sufficient to air them thoroughly.
- Washing silk duvets: Hand wash or use the silk cycle with lukewarm water, do not spin.
Which detergents and fabric softeners can you use when washing duvets?
Programme selected, temperature set? You're almost done. The only question remaining is whether and which detergents and fabric softeners you can use. Here are a few basics to keep in mind – please refer to the care instructions for your duvet for the most important information.
- The care label on your duvet always sets the tone – especially for special fibres or special coatings.
- Economical dosing protects fibres and the environment.
- Fabric softener is not recommended in most cases, as it can impair the function and lifespan of the duvet (we will explain how for each individual duvet type).
Home remedies for cleaning duvets: when are they useful, and when are they not?
Home remedies such as baking soda, gall soap or vinegar water can be useful for treating simple stains on synthetic or cotton duvets, such as neutralising odours or pre-treating individual stains. However, home remedies are usually unsuitable for down, feather or wool duvets, as they can damage the delicate fibres or filling material and leave behind moisture residues. A basic tip is to always test on an inconspicuous area first. In the case of high-quality natural fillings, it is better to use special washing and cleaning agents.
- Removing blood stains from bedding: Soak in cold water, use gall soap or salt solution if necessary.
- Remove yellow stains from the duvet: pre-treat with a little bicarbonate of soda or vinegar water and then wash the duvet.
- Removing sweat stains from duvets: treat with bicarbonate of soda, then select a wash cycle.
Home remedies for cleaning duvets: when are they useful, and when are they not?
Home remedies such as baking soda, gall soap or vinegar water can be useful for treating simple stains on synthetic or cotton duvets, such as neutralising odours or pre-treating individual stains. However, home remedies are usually unsuitable for down, feather or wool duvets, as they can damage the delicate fibres or filling material and leave behind moisture residues. A basic tip is to always test on an inconspicuous area first. In the case of high-quality natural fillings, it is better to use special washing and cleaning agents.
- Removing blood stains from bedding: Soak in cold water, use gall soap or salt solution if necessary.
- Remove yellow stains from the duvet: pre-treat with a little bicarbonate of soda or vinegar water and then wash the duvet.
- Removing sweat stains from duvets: treat with bicarbonate of soda, then select a wash cycle.
Drying duvets: with or without a tumble dryer?
If you really want to clean your duvet thoroughly, you need to wash and dry it. Even the best wet cleaning will be of little use if the duvet cannot dry properly afterwards.
- If you don't want to use a tumble dryer to wash your duvet, you can hang it up after washing and let it dry in the fresh air. Lay it out flat and turn it regularly to help it dry evenly, but avoid direct sunlight. However, this is not so easy on damp days or in winter. Rooms with an extractor fan are ideal for this, such as the bathroom or laundry room.
- The duvet will dry thoroughly in the tumble dryer. The good news is that even delicate down duvets can usually be tumble dried. It is best to do this at a low temperature and on the lowest spin setting. Adding tennis balls or dryer balls will prevent clumping.
- The care label will tell you whether you can tumble dry your duvet and, if so, how. As there is a lot that can go wrong, it is essential that you follow the instructions and ask for advice if you are unsure. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your IKEA duvet.
Drying duvets: with or without a tumble dryer?
If you really want to clean your duvet thoroughly, you need to wash and dry it. Even the best wet cleaning will be of little use if the duvet cannot dry properly afterwards.
- If you don't want to use a tumble dryer to wash your duvet, you can hang it up after washing and let it dry in the fresh air. Lay it out flat and turn it regularly to help it dry evenly, but avoid direct sunlight. However, this is not so easy on damp days or in winter. Rooms with an extractor fan are ideal for this, such as the bathroom or laundry room.
- The duvet will dry thoroughly in the tumble dryer. The good news is that even delicate down duvets can usually be tumble dried. It is best to do this at a low temperature and on the lowest spin setting. Adding tennis balls or dryer balls will prevent clumping.
- The care label will tell you whether you can tumble dry your duvet and, if so, how. As there is a lot that can go wrong, it is essential that you follow the instructions and ask for advice if you are unsure. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your IKEA duvet.
Prevention is important: storage and practical everyday use of the duvet
To clean your duvet thoroughly, you need to both wash and dry it. Even the best wet clean will be ineffective if the duvet cannot dry properly afterwards.
Of course, it is important to wash your duvet regularly. However, you can follow a few simple tips to extend the time between washes and protect your duvet.
- It is best to leave the bed unmade for as long as possible after getting up – this allows the bed linen, duvet and pillow to air out and dry. It is better to make the bed a few hours later, once the moisture has evaporated.
- If you tend to sweat a lot at night, you might want to consider switching to a cooling duvet and mattress. You can purchase these, as well as cooling pillows, from us.
- Make sure you change out of your everyday clothes before going to bed, as this will reduce the amount of dirt and dust that ends up in your bed.
- If you need to store a seasonal duvet, make sure it is well ventilated and kept in a dry, odourless place. Lockable storage boxes, such as those from IKEA, can help with this.
- Shake and beat your duvet regularly, and let it breathe in some fresh air from time to time.
- Regularly check your duvet for stains and odours.
By following these tips and many others in our guide, you can enjoy sleeping under a freshly scented, hygienically clean duvet for many nights to come. You can also find lots more advice on improving hygiene in everyday life here, and thanks to our duvet guide, choosing a new duvet will be easy.
