Duvets and pillows need to be cleaned like the rest of your bedding, but there is a simple way to wash them if they feel too big and clunky to fit into a washing machine. Many duvets, including thick winter ones, can fit inside a washing machine, but no one wants to risk damaging the machine or having a wet duvet drip water throughout the house.
Instead, the laundry experts at Resthouse Sleep have shared that a simpler way to clean a duvet and bedding is to simply stick it outside so it can get “a beautiful dose of sunshine.” They explained: “Heat, bright sunlight and the fresh summer breeze all have the ability to naturally deodorize, disinfect and bleach natural fibres, restoring and bringing back their splendour.”
Duvets and pillows need to be cleaned regularly, even if they do not appear dirty as the fabric will absorb sweat which can create a breeding ground for germs
Other debris like pollen, dust and hair can also settle on a duvet which can make sleeping in your bed uncomfortable even if you do not notice them.
It may seem simple but the ultraviolet in sunlight can kill bacteria that can be living in your bedding to help clean it without sticking it in the wash.
Sunlight will also remove dirt, dust mites, mildew and even mould spores to freshen up your duvet or pillows with almost no effort.
This cleaning technique is called ‘sunning’ and all you need is a few hours on a hot day to get your bedding feeling and smelling a lot fresher.
The expert said: “For generations, people have hung their bedding outside for a revitalizing measure of nature’s best cleaner and deodorizer, the sun!
“Walk down any street in Europe on a warm sunny day, and you’ll see puffy pillows and quilts piled on windowsills catching the morning rays.”
How to naturally clean your duvet and pillows
On a sunny day with no chance of rain, hang your pillows and duvet outside. It is best to use a clotheslines but you can drape them across chairs or a fence as well.
Make sure to hang up your bedding at around 11am so you get the maximum exposure of the sun at noon, when it is strongest.
It is best to hang bedding out for no more than four hours, as ultraviolet rays can kill bacteria quickly, while prolonged sun exposure may cause the fabric to fade and become discoloured.
Duvets and other thick bedding like mattress toppers will need to be flipped after two hours in the sun to make help fluff up the stuffing inside.
Once you are done airing out your bedding and are bringing it inside, lay it flat on your bed for an hour. This helps get rid of any outdoor humidity that can become trapped in the fabric.
Then all you have to do is make your bed, and it will feel clean and refreshed, so you can enjoy a hot day without having to worry about your laundry
