To wash your quilt, set the washer to a gentle, delicate cycle with cold water only. Add a dye- and perfume-free detergent.
The right temperature
The temperature you wash your duvet at is important. Always wash your duvet and pillow at 60 degrees to get them properly clean. 60 degrees is also the temperature that kills house dust mites.
The best advice with quilts is to wash them only when necessary to prevent fading—usually not more than twice a year. Hand-washing with cold water and mild detergent is the preferred cleaning method since it is the gentlest; as a last resort, you can use a washing machine's delicate cycle using cold water.
To wash your down & feather duvet, set the washer to a delicate warm water cycle (60°C or 140°F). Wash the duvet separately and only use one third of the normal amount of detergent. After washing your duvet, place it in the tumble dryer without delay. Set the tumble dryer on air or low heat setting.
Unlike sheets and blankets, it's best to wash quilts as infrequently as you can manage. Quilts are too delicate for regular washing, which can damage the fabric, and cause the quilt to degrade. If you use your quilt every day, you may only need to wash it about twice a year.
Cleaning a quilt
But if you're confident a quilt is safe to wash, fill a clean bathtub with cold water and add a little gentle, fragrance-free, undyed liquid detergent and 1⁄2 cup of white vinegar. Put the quilt in the tub and gently move it around.
Unless the comforter has something spilled on it, you won't need to wash it more than once or twice a year. The cover, however, will need to be washed weekly. If you consistently use a top sheet, you might be able to stretch this and wash your cover every two to four weeks.
It's worth checking whether the capacity of your washing machine's drum will be able to handle the bulk of a larger item. Most household appliances should be big enough to fit a single or double duvet, but you may run into issues when attempting to squeeze in one of a greater size.
HE top-loading washers have a soaking advantage even though they use much less water. Allow the machine to fill until it reaches the pre-set soak water level, then pause the cycle and open the lid and add the quilt. Gently submerge it under water to soak. Front-loading machines are a little trickier.
An 8 kg drum can wash a queen or a lightweight size duvet. This is suitable for a medium size family. A 9 kg machine can wash a whole king size duvet and is the best option for large families.
Although lower temperature washing is favoured for environmental reasons, for bedding it's best to stick to 60°C, this will help kill dust mites and bacteria. It's hard enough to keep bacteria and germs at bay, but if you eat in bed, there's a chance you're making it an even bigger breeding ground.
Most fabrics can be washed at a warm temperature of 40° as this helps to remove dirt, natural body oils and takes care of germs.
Given that a mattress comforter sits on top of the mattress and bedding they don't need as thorough a clean as you aren't sleeping directly on top of them. For the most part, if your mattress comforter is machine washable, then a 30-degree quick wash and then a line dry is enough to keep them clean and fresh.
Most modern washing machines now have a high-capacity drum as standard. Unlike some other products on the market, all size and tog rating options of Spundown duvets will fit into a standard 7kg drum.
Can I wash a king-size duvet in a 7kg washing machine? Generally, a 7kg washing machine can comfortably wash a duvet for a double bed but not a king-sized bed. Although your duvet might fit after squeezing it into a 7kg drum, it probably won't get a reliable and thorough cleaning.
Can you wash a comforter with sheets? Only if your washing machine has enough space to adequately accommodate room for both! Bulky fabrics bunch up easily and can cause pockets of detergent to not be distributed evenly, meaning your sheets and comforter won't get as clean if washed together in a smaller machine.
Is it okay to change your bed sheets once a month? While your specific sheet changing habits might vary a little bit depending on your lifestyle, your body, and your preferences, most experts agree you should change your sheets every week or every two weeks.
Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week.
Why do we even need to change our bedsheets? To cut to the chase, Dr Browning says we should be changing our sheets once a week, or every two weeks at the most. Hygiene is a big factor, and one of the reasons is sweat. If you've ever tried sleeping in a heatwave, you'll know how difficult it can be.
If the cycle is not gentle, this can put stress on the seams. Make sure you do not use any bleach or brightener, as this strips the fabric of its protective down-proof layer. Additionally, do not use any fabric softener as this prevents the duvet from drying properly.
Select the Cycle and Water Temperature
If you're cleaning a king-size duvet, a "bulky" cycle might be best if your washer has one. A cold/cold or warm/cold water temperature is usually your best bet. Cold water tends to be the gentlest on bedding, though warm does a better job of sanitizing.
Select the gentle or delicate cycle and add an extra rinse if possible. The label on your comforter may recommend a temperature setting. Cold or warm water will protect colors and fabrics, while hot water will kill dust mites if you don't plan on machine drying.