How to Wash a Down Duvet
If you’ve wondered whether it’s fine to wash your down duvet instead of taking it to the dry cleaner, the answer is yes. Because down is a natural material, and these birds are waterfowl to begin with, there is technically nothing wrong with washing down.
Depending on the size of your duvet, your washing machine and how dirty it is, you can wash a goose down duvet instead of having it professionally dry cleaned.
To do this you will need: a mild detergent (natural homemade detergents are ideal), wool dryer balls (or tennis balls), an extra-large washing machine (most home models are too small for duvets) and an extra-large dryer (most home models are too small for duvets). Here are step-by-step instructions:
Step 1: A Large-Capacity Washing Machine
Place your goose down duvet in your large-capacity washing machine. The more room the duvet has in the washer and dryer, the better the results, because it needs plenty of space to move around. Otherwise, it’s best to have it dry cleaned.
If your washing machine has an agitator, make sure the duvet doesn’t wrap or twist around it, as this can tear the fabric and scatter feathers everywhere. In that case, it’s best to have it dry cleaned.
Step 2: Detergent
Add a small amount of mild detergent. Do not use products with additives such as fabric softener or bleach. Be careful here, as too much detergent will damage the down and its naturally insulating structure.
Step 3: Low Temperature, Delicate Wash
The settings to use for your goose down duvet: a delicate wash on low heat and at least two cold rinses. Make sure all the detergent is rinsed out thoroughly.
Step 4: Tumble Dry on Low Heat
You need to tumble dry the duvet on a low setting in a large-capacity dryer. This will take a while – quite a while, in fact. This is where patience comes in. Your goal is to make sure the down is completely dry to prevent mould. Take the duvet out of the dryer a few times and pat it by hand so the down redistributes and any wet or damp clusters inside come to the surface, then continue drying. If you don’t have a large-capacity dryer, it’s best to have it dry cleaned.
Step 5: Dryer Balls
Add wool dryer balls (or tennis balls) to the dryer to stop the down clumping as it dries. Wool dryer balls are best, but clean tennis balls also work well to keep the down loose and evenly spread inside the duvet. Note that tennis balls may give off a slight odour as they heat up.
Lyssa Home Recommends
Please remember that we always recommend having your pillows and duvets dry cleaned to avoid problems caused by washing and drying mistakes, because even when you think it’s dry, the inside is very likely to still be damp
