With the arrival of the beautiful days, the time has come to keep your duvets for a few months . Many of us do this without washing them first, only to have unpleasant surprises when autumn arrives, such as an unpleasant smell.
Before storing the duvets, it is a good habit to wash them , and we almost always go to the laundry room given the large volume of the duvet and the resulting difficulty in washing it at home.
However, you just need to follow the right technique to have a perfectly clean and scented duvet at home : we list the most practical methods below.
Before you begin, remember that it’s always a good idea to read the labels on any type of clothing. Make sure your duvet can be washed in both water and machine. Some duvets, for example, can only be dry cleaned.
Hand wash the duvet
Although it is not the fastest technique, it is possible to wash the duvet by hand in the bath.
Fill the bathtub with warm water, then add 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 200 ml of white wine vinegar. Then add a little liquid or flake castile soap and make sure it dissolves completely.
Submerge the duvet in the bathtub and let it soak for 15 to 20 minutes before emptying it by lifting the stopper.
Repeat the process at least 3 times, until the water in the bathtub comes out clear.
Wash the duvet in the washing machine
This method is much faster and less laborious. Shake the duvet to remove excess dust, then check if it can be washed in water and read the washing machine instructions to check the weight capacity.
Add a little liquid castile soap to the bowl of your washing machine, followed by half a cup of baking soda, making sure it dissolves completely.
Run a cold delicate wash cycle. Set the spin to 900 rpm to remove as much water as possible and run at least two rinse cycles to prevent soap from settling into the duvet fibers.
Quick tip: Add two tennis balls to the machine wash cycle to keep the duvet filling even.
How to dry duvets
Regardless of the type of wash you have chosen, now is the time to let the duvet dry.
Spread it horizontally and, if possible, in the open air but away from direct sunlight. Once spread out, use your hands to distribute the duvet filling well: doing this once dry will be much more difficult.
Before storing the duvet, it is advisable to wrap it in a cotton towel to protect it from dust and protect it. Store the duvet in a well-ventilated place.