How to wash a duvet – remove germs, odours, and allergens with these expert tips

Most of us spend around eight hours in our beds every single day, but did you know that over time our duvets can become riddled with bacteria, germs, and even dead skin cells? If you’re not a fan of sharing your bed with these sorts of bedfellows, you'll want to know how to wash a duvet.

After all, even investing in the best duvet on the market doesn’t mean you can get away with not cleaning it.

However, we understand why you may have put this task at the bottom of your cleaning calendar. Duvets are big and bulky, and the idea of washing them by hand or in the washing machine sounds like hard work.

But, it’s not as hard as you think, and it’s definitely for the best. As Sally Bonser, spokesperson for bedding retailer Silentnight, explains, ‘Caring for a duvet properly can extend its lifespan whilst also ensuring you get a hygienic and relaxing night’s sleep.’

Here's how to wash your duvet – either in the machine or by hand.

How to wash a duvet

'Duvets should be washed every three to six months in order to decrease the build-up of bacteria and potential allergens,' says Thomas Høegh Reisenhus, Sleep Specialist and Sleep Counsellor, at bedding brand TEMPUR®.

Fantastic Services' domestic cleaning and laundry expert Petya Holevich agrees, saying 'Duvets should ideally be washed every 3 to 4 months or at the very least once a year to maintain a hygienic living and sleeping environment. However, if you have allergies or pets, you’ll need to wash them every 1 to 2 months'.

This is how to do it.

How to wash a duvet in the washing machine

1. Strip the bed

Before you wash your duvet, you'll need to strip the bed and remove your duvet cover.

'Using a duvet cover is beneficial because it’ll help extend the time between washings by protecting the duvet from direct contact with body oils and dirt' explains cleaning expert Petya Holevich.

But, 'Before putting your duvet in the washing machine, always remove the duvet cover'.

2. Check the duvet care label

Firstly, it's important to check the care label of your duvet. Different duvet fillings will have different care instructions.

'Always read the instructions on the care labels and follow these to ensure you are washing your bedding correctly,' say Emily and Jonathan Attwood, founders of uxury feather-and-down bedding brand scooms. 'This is your first port of call to make sure you clean everything properly without damaging your duvet.'

'Keep in mind that not all duvets are the same, so before washing yours, you’ll need to check the label with the care instructions. Some duvets may recommend professional cleaning only or have another type of special care instructions', agrees Petya.

3. Consider the washing machine drum size

A single or double duvet should be fairly easy to wash in your average washing machine, but if your duvet size is larger you might need to consider alternatives.

'To get the best results, specifically, if you have a king-sized duvet, it should be washed in an extra-large capacity front-loading washing machine' says Petya. 'If you don’t have a washing machine like that, you can often find one at a nearby laundromat'.

'If your machine isn’t big enough, you may need to take the duvet to a laundrette to make use of a large capacity washer or dryer,' agree the experts at Scooms.

4. Pre-treat any stains

'It’s always a good idea to pre-treat any stains on your duvet before putting it in the washing machine' says Petya Petya Holevich. '

'Inspect it for any small or large stains that need a little more attention. If you find any that you don’t think will come out in the washing machine or if you simply aren’t ready for a full wash, spot clean them'.

'To spot clean, you’ll need a clean white rag' – you can buy white microfibre cloths at Amazon– 'a gentle stain remover and a spray bottle filled with water'.

'Shake the filling away from the stained area so you can mainly focus on the outer fabric. Wet the stain and surrounding area with your spray bottle filled with water. After that, apply the stain remover, pat the fabric with the rag and leave it for about 20 minutes. If the stain is still there, rub the fabric into itself or scrub the stain with a toothbrush'.

'Repeat this process until your duvet is ready to put in the washing machine'.

5. Put the duvet in the washing machine

If the care label on your duvet indicates that it's safe to put in the washing machine, go ahead and do that.

'Spread [the duvet] out as much as possible inside your machine' advises Petya. 'If you’re struggling to fit it into your washing machine, consider taking it to a laundromat'. Then wash according to the care instructions.

It's always best to wash at the temperature advised on the care label, but if your duvet isn't that dirty, our experts suggest washing at a lower temperature to save energy.

'Wash the duvet at a maximum temperature of 40 degrees' suggests Rhiannon Johns, Interior Designer and Head of Brand at bedding brand Piglet in Bed. 'This will effectively remove dirt and natural body oils while using less energy than higher temperatures'.

'Set the washer to a gentle cycle using warm water' agrees Petya. 'Use roughly half a normal load’s recommended amount of laundry detergent and pour it into the machine’s detergent dispenser. When washing a duvet, avoid using any liquid softener and bleach and do not pour the laundry detergent on the bedding itself'.

Top tip: Cleaning expert Petya recommends putting tennis balls in the washing machine to aid the cleaning process. 'Put each tennis ball in a clean sock and tie the sock to prevent the tennis ball from escaping. Put them in the washer with your bedding for extra agitation to help remove any body oils, sweat and dirt from your duvet'.

6. Remove from the machine and check for soap residue

'When you remove your duvet from the washing machine and check for any remaining soap residue. If you think there is or see suds, rewash your duvet without any detergent or put it through another rinse and spin cycle' advises Petya.

7. Follow the drying instructions

Whilst checking the care label of your duvet make sure to note its drying instructions. Some duvets will require line drying, others will be able to be tumble dried.

'Set the dryer to a low or air-dry setting' says Petya. 'The duvet can also be air-dried on a clothesline or drying rack'.

'While your duvet is in the dryer, check periodically to make sure that the fluff is distributed evenly', continues Petya. 'Sometimes, you may need to take it out and hand-fluff it'.

'Keep in mind that it can take around 3 or more hours for your duvet to be completely dry. You’ll know it’s completely dry when it feels light and the filling is spread evenly throughout it. In any case, always make sure the duvet is fully dry because duvets that aren’t entirely dry carry the risk of mildew development and odour onset'.

Top tip: 'Use wool dryer balls in the dryer as they'll help the hot air to circulate more evenly and efficiently,' Emily and Jonathan of scooms suggest. 'This not only reduces drying time but saves you money on your energy bills too!'

8. Shake and put back on the bed

Finally, before putting your duvet back on the bed, give it a good shake to redistribute the filling. It's best to do this every time you change your bedding to keep it in optimal shape.

Then put a freshly washed duvet cover back on the duvet, and you're good to go.

How to wash a duvet by hand

If you don't have a washing machine or your duvet's care instructions advise spot-cleaning only, here's how to go about it.

1. Pre-treat any stains

Follow Petya's advice above to pre-treat any stains. Then, 'If you’re spot-cleaning only and not planning on putting your duvet in the washing machine for a full wash, once the stain is gone, spray the area with water again to remove any soap residue and use a blow dryer to dry the area' says Petya.

Top tip: 'When spot-cleaning your duvet, it’s also a good time to inspect for any small rips or tears' Petya advises.

2. Wash the duvet in the bath tub

If you don't have a washing machine, your washing machine isn't big enough for your duvet, or the care label advises washing by hand, the easiest way to handwash a duvet is in the bathtub.

Fill the bath with enough water so that you can fully submerge the duvet, and add a mild detergent. Mix this in with the water so that it becomes a little slimy.

The easiest way to clean the duvet in the bath is to knead it with your feet. This way you can maneuver your way around every inch of the duvet, which is more difficult when reaching into the bath from the side.

After this, the water will contain the dirt and bacteria from the duvet, so drain this and refill the tub with fresh water. Rinse the duvet in this until you're satisfied you've got all the detergent out. Wring out as much excess water as possible to speed up the drying process.

3. Make sure the duvet is fully dry

If it's a sunny day, air the duvet out on the washing line and leave it to dry naturally. Alternatively, leave it in a warm room where it's likely to dry, such as the kitchen or utility room.

Be mindful that if your duvet hasn't been in a washing machine on a spin cycle it's likely to be much wetter and so take longer to dry fully.

FAQs

How to wash a wool duvet

For a wool duvet, Chris Tattersall, Clean Sleep Environment Expert and MD of Woolroom, suggests due to wool’s natural moisture management qualities that make it difficult for bacteria or fungus to grow 'simply hanging your wool duvet outside to aerate every two months is enough to keep it fresh and clean'. If it’s part of the machine washable range then 'placing it on a wool or delicate cycle with a slower spin speed on your washing machine and adding specialist wool detergent, before hanging it out to dry is the best way to care for your duvet.'

What is the best way to wash a duvet?

Knowing how to wash a duvet thoroughly all depends on the type of duvet you're dealing with. The care label is your new best friend; check it properly before you begin washing, so you can avoid ruining it.

'Synthetic fibre duvets should be washed in a large washing machine as per the care label instructions,' says sleep specialist Thomas. 'Feather and down filled duvets need to be dry cleaned so it may be worth keeping a spare clean duvet, so you don’t have the stress of taking the dirty duvet to the dry cleaners and collecting the same day.'

Hang it out in the sunshine every few months so it can deodorise naturally, and of course, make sure you're changing the bedsheets frequently too.

Dry cleaning is the more costly option, so if you don't want to go down the route, you can wash your duvet by hand in the bathtub instead. Consider giving the duvet some breathing space every so often to lower the chances of dust mites and bacteria breeding.

Can you put a duvet in the washing machine?

Yes - as long as you check the instructions of the duvet before you do so. Most duvets will be machine washable, and washing in a machine is much easier than washing by hand.

However, it’s important to note that you need to have a washing machine that will cope with the tog and size of your duvet. To get a thorough wash, you shouldn’t have a tight fit between your duvet and the drum. Instead, it should fit in the drum loosely to allow the water and laundry detergent to get into every nook and cranny.

Can you wash a 10.5 tog duvet in a 7kg washing machine?

A 7kg washing machine should have the capacity to wash a single or a double 10.5 tog duvet, but it may struggle with a king-size 10.5 tog duvet. Ideally, you want the duvet to fit loosely in the washing machine - and a king-size day will probably be too large for the washing and laundry detergent to clean it properly.

Can you wash a 13.5 tog duvet in a 9kg washing machine?

This all depends on what size duvet you have. Generally, most 13.5 tog duvets should be able to fit in a 9kg washing machine, but this might not be the case if you have a king-size duvet.

Of course, you can always try your luck - but if your duvet is still dry after a normal wash cycle, it’s a sure sign that it’s too big for your washing machine.

Of course, when you’ve washed your duvet, you might want to clean your mattress, too. But don't worry that's also easier than you might think.

So, when was the last time you washed your duvet?