I assume I don’t just stuff it in the washing mashine. I have got three duvets, all of which have to be cleaned. Any ideas?
Is there not a washing label?
From somebody who has extensive knowledge of how these things are done in youth hostels:
Take the cover off and wash it. You don’t need to wash the inside, any more than you need to wash a down pillow every time you wash the pillowcase.
If you’ve been using them without the cover, I don’t know what to tell you.
I assume you’re talking about a goosedown comforter/duvet. Keep in mind that before it was made into an item for your personal use, the goosedown spent most of it’s time in water while still attached to the goose. In other words, just toss it in your machine if it has a large enough capacity*. The most important thing is to get it completely dry though. Dry it until you think it’s dry, then dry it again, or hang it out on a line to dry some more. (Nothing like the smell of wet down.) You might want to take it to a laundrymat that has large sized dryers. I’ve also heard to toss some tennis balls in the dryer with it to fluff it up some, but I’ve never done it that way.
*You might want to set the washer to its “gentle” setting. The only problem I had when washing mine was a bit of the fabric in the corner ripped about a quarter inch (my washer’s sorta crappy) and I had some feather leakage until I stitched it up.
I think that you can buy a “kit” at the grocery store specifically for washing a down comforter in the washer/dryer. I believe it comes with a special type of soap that keeps the down fluffy. I have heard that using regular soap will basically ruin a good down comforter.
I know that most drycleaners offer down cleaning services and it might not be a bad idea since they are professionals and will no doubt do a good job. If they don’t you then have someone besides yourself to get mad at. All I am saying is that it might be worth shelling out the extra cash. Plus, it might have that nice dry cleaned smell. Mmmmmm. I honestly like the way it smells, on shirts at least. Most of my comforters I have thrown away after they got too old because they seemed totally beyond repair.
Hey, Matt, learning some of those important housekeeper things?
Yes, you can wash it in a huge double washer. Then dry it in the dryer, which you MUST open every 10 minutes take it out turn it around put it back in. Next time get yourself a duvet cover, they are easier to clean.