Bedding can be a pain to clean as most of it will not fit in washing machines and can take forever to dry.
With less rain on the way, it’s a great time to try out a simple method that involves the outdoors to get your duvet and pillows clean.
But how can you wash a duvet at home? Queen of Clean Lynsey Crombie explained: “If you are lucky enough to have a large drum washing machine then most duvets can be washed this way using the duvet setting.
“If this isn’t the case, most dry cleaners offer a duvet-cleaning service. Or alternatively, on a beautiful bright sunny day get your duvet out on the washing line.”
However, households need to ensure they have a strong washing line before leaving the items out in the fresh air and sunshine.
It is the sun’s rays that are doing the bleaching and cleansing so if the rays can’t get through, the item won’t get bleached.
To whiten them, usually two to three hours will do the job. If you want the item even whiter, try a few hours again another day.
However, keep in mind that leaving things out for days at a time could weaken and damage the fabric particularly if they are sensitive fabrics.
As well as sunlight, hydrogen peroxide can also work if you have any stains on your pillows or duvets. Apply neat to the stain, once the stain has been removed, rinse away.
As for how many times you should wash your duvet, it is advised twice a year.
It is recommended that pillows should be replaced every two to three years. At the same time, duvets should be replaced every five years to keep them fresh.
