Duvets are bulky, which can make people wary of sticking them in the washing machine, but there is another way to clean them this spring. If you don’t want to deal with chunky bedding dripping water all over your home after a wash Steven Szary, from My Luxury Sleep Shop, recommends leaving your duvet outside in the sun.
Steven said: “Leave your duvet out for several hours (four to five is about right) and it’s best to do it in the late afternoon or early evening when the sun isn’t too harsh. A little bit of sun is good though as it helps to kill unwanted bacteria and germs.”
It may seem simple, but the ultraviolet rays in sunlight are a natural disinfectant which will help remove bacteria and even dust mites from your duvet.
Over the winter months, sweat, body oils and dust can become trapped in duvets, so it is important to air them out to prevent mould.
Hanging your duvet allows more air and heat to move through the fabric to get rid of musty smells, and fluffing up the filling of your duvet makes it feel more comfortable to sleep in.
What is the best way to air out a duvet?
Before you take your duvet outside, you need to make sure you pick the a sunny and breezy day where there has been no rain for a few days.
Steven said: “If it’s cloudy or has rained recently, the air will be more humid and will not be as effective for airing out your bedding.”
Once you have the ideal weather, wait until the late afternoon and take your duvet outside. Waiting until later on in the day means the sun is gentler, which will help protect the fabric and stop your duvet from becoming stiff.
Give your duvet a light shake before hanging it up, and once it is secure, gently beat down the fabric. This will help loosen up the duvet fibres and also stop the fluff inside from clumping up together.
It is best to hang your duvet on a clothes line, but if you do not have one, then you can also leave it on a drying rack, fence or any clean surface you have as long as you can secure it properly.
Then all you need to do is leave your duvet for four to five hours outside in the sun. Once the time is up, your duvet will be refreshed and sanitised so you can enjoy a more comfortable night’s sleep.