Nothing is worse than getting a stain on a duvet, as they are so big and chunky that is can be a lot of effort to squeeze them into a washing machine. Washing a duvet is not a casual chore as it can take days to dry, drip water all over your floor, and often needs multiple wash cycles to get it properly clean.
However, Zac, a cleaning expert from E-Cloth has shared there is a very simple way to remove tough fabric stains on a duvet, as all you need is some lemon juice and outside space. Zac said: “Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto any stains on the duvet, then place the duvet in direct sunlight for several hours. The natural bleaching action of lemon juice combined with sunlight helps lift stains and brighten the fabric without harsh chemicals.”
Lemon juice contains a substance called citric acid, which has natural antibacterial properties, can break down most common bed stains.
Meanwhile, sunlight naturally whitens fabrics but is also can help disinfect as it can kill dust mites, bacteria and mould spores.
Both sunlight and lemon juice are weak cleaners, but when citric acid is exposed to the ultraviolet rays in sunlight it can create a much stronger solution.
The combination will remove stains from a duvet, naturally bleach the material and mildly sanitise it without having to stick it in the washing machine.
Body oil, dust and sweat often becomes trapped in bedding over summer, so it tends to be best so air out duvets now to help freshen them up now while we still have long sunny days.
How can you use lemon juice and sunlight to freshen up a duvet?
To begin, pour a small amount of lemon juice onto a duvet stain, and then use a dry cloth to gently blot it into the fabric.
Do not rub the lemon juice into the duvet as this can push the stain deeper into the fabric. Make sure to not apply too much lemon juice as it can be difficult to dry duvets, and too much liquid could cause a duvet to become mouldy or musty.
Once you have applied the lemon juice, hang your duvet outside in the sun. If you do not have outdoor space, then place the duvet next to a window but the treatment might not be as effective.
Leave the duvet out all afternoon if you can, and make sure to rotate it at some point so the sun can treat every part of the material. When the time if up, your duvet should feel fresh, clean and all the stains should be completely gone.
It should be noted that airing out a duvet is a simple way to get rid of stains, but it is not a substitute for actually washing it. If you cannot fit it in your washing machine then make sure you are occasionally taking it to dry cleaners to deep clean it.
