Given their sheer size and bulkiness, cleaning dirty or stained duvets is quite the hassle. If they fit in standard washing machine at all, a duvet can take days to dry, drip water all over your floor, and often requires multiple wash cycles to get thoroughly clean.
One cleaning expert has shared a remarkably simpler way to remove stubborn duvet stains. Zac from E-Cloth shared how lemon juice and a bit of outdoor space can help clean your duvet. The cleaning and bleaching powers of lemons and sunlight are stronger when used together, as he explained.
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 known as citric acid, which possesses natural antibacterial properties and can break down most common bed stains.
At the same time, sunlight naturally whitens fabrics and can also aid in disinfection by killing dust mites, bacteria and mould spores.
While both sunlight and lemon juice are mild cleaners, when citric acid is exposed to the ultraviolet rays, it can create a much stronger solution.
This combination will not only remove stains from a duvet but also naturally bleach the material and mildly sanitise it without the need to put it in the washing machine.
Body oil, dust and sweat often become trapped in bedding during the summer months, so if the weather is in your favour, it’s best to do it now.
How to clean duvet stains using lemon juice and sunlight
Start by pouring a small amount of lemon juice onto any stains on your duvet, then gently blot it into the fabric using a dry cloth.
Avoid rubbing the lemon juice into the duvet as this could push the stain deeper into the fabric. Be careful not to apply too much lemon juice as it can be challenging to dry duvets, and excessive liquid could cause the duvet to become mouldy or musty.
After applying the lemon juice, hang your duvet outside in the sun. If you don’t have outdoor space, place the duvet next to a window, although this may not be as effective.
If possible, leave the duvet out all afternoon, ensuring to rotate it at some point so the sun can treat every part of the material. When the time is up, your duvet should feel fresh, clean and all stains should be completely gone.
However, it’s important to note that airing out a duvet is a simple way to remove stains, but it’s not a substitute for washing it. If you can’t fit it in your washing machine, make sure you occasionally take it to a dry cleaner for a deep clean.