Our duvets and pillows are often the most neglected items when it comes to washing bedding. Since these items are the bulkiest and do not come into direct contact with our skin, having it cleaned is not exactly a top priority. 

Did you know you should wash your duvets every 6 months and pillows at least every 3-4 months? Although we may not notice it, bacteria and bodily fluids build up on our duvets and pillows over a short period of time.

Having said that, let’s take a look at how to wash duvets and pillows at home:

Duvets

Synthetic:

• Use a gentle cycle that has minimum agitation.
• Only add about 1/3 of laundry detergent than you normally would.
• Use a normal spin cycle setting.
• Make sure to completely air dry your duvet before it is used again.

Feather:

Check the care label before going to wash, as some feather duvets require to be dry-cleaned only.

• If the feather duvet is machine washable, wash on a gentle cycle, with a gentle detergent.
• Make sure to air dry duvet before using.

Removing Stains

Clean up any stains as soon as possible! To remove a stain, move as much filling away from the stain, until isolated for effective stain removal. Tie the stained area with an elastic band and treat stain accordingly. 

Pillows

Many pillows, whether it be cotton, down or synthetic, can be put into the washing machine, if not dry-clean only. It’s always important to check the care label before going to clean your pillows to make sure.

If they can be put into the machine:

• Use a gentle cycle.
• Only use 1/3 of laundry detergent.
• Wash two pillows at once if it fits, to balance the load.
• Make sure pillows are completely dry- If the care label allows tumble drying, set it to low heat, otherwise air drying is the way to dry.

Removing Stains

Again, you want to take care of any stains right away. Always dab, not rub stains with a stain pre-treat before washing as normal.  If it’s a feather pillow, isolate stain by shaking feathers away and treat accordingly. 

We know that it can be difficult to wash bulky duvets and pillows at home, especially if your washing machine won’t fit them. That’s why we at Laundryheap are more than happy to clean your duvets, pillows and other bedding!