With the arrival of warm weather, the time has come to store your duvets for a few months . Many of us do this without washing them first, only to find unpleasant surprises with the arrival of autumn, such as an unpleasant smell.
Before storing duvets it is good practice to wash them , and we almost always turn to the laundromat given the large volume of the duvet and the consequent difficulty in washing it at home.
Yet, just follow the right technique to have a perfectly clean and fragrant duvet at home : below we list the most practical methods.
Before starting, remember that it is always a good idea to read the labels of any type of garment. Make sure your duvet can be washed in water and in the washing machine. Some duvets, for example, can only be dry cleaned.
Wash the duvet by hand
While it’s not the fastest technique, you can wash your comforter by hand in the bathtub.
Fill the bathtub with warm water, then add 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 200 ml of white wine vinegar. Next, add a little liquid or flaked castile soap, and make sure to let it dissolve completely.
Immerse the duvet in the bathtub and let it soak for 15-20 minutes before emptying it by lifting the stopper.
Repeat the process at least 3 times, until the bath water 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 whether it can be washed in water and read the washing machine instructions to check the weight capacity.
Add some liquid Castile soap to the washing machine tub, then half a cup of baking soda, making sure to dissolve it completely.
Run a cold, delicate wash cycle. Program the spin cycle at 900 rpm to eliminate as much water as possible, and carry out at least two rinse cycles to prevent soap from nesting between the fibers of the duvet.
A little trick: add two tennis balls to the machine wash cycle to keep the duvet filling nice and even.
How to dry duvets
Whatever type of wash you have chosen, the time has come to dry the duvet.
Spread it horizontally and, if possible, in the open air but away from sunlight. Once spread out, use your hands to distribute the filling of the duvet well: doing so once dry will be much more difficult.
Before storing the duvet it is a good idea to wrap it in a cotton cloth to protect it from dust and protect it. Store your duvet in a well-ventilated place.