Your Guide to Duvet Care

Considering our current temperature in Toronto, it’s probably safe to say that you’ve been snuggling underneath a warm duvet in bed at night (and sometimes on the couch while watching a movie) ever since the first leaves in High Park turned red. Maybe you’ve even had yours out all summer and just kicked it to the end of the bed when the evening was too hot. Either way, is there any greater feeling than slipping into freshly washed bedding at night? As clothing and home textile care experts, we may have a small bias, but this simple luxury definitely sits at the top of our list of at-home comforts. And that’s why today we’re exploring duvet care tips.

Whether you’ve just pulled your duvet out of storage for the cold months ahead or you keep it out year-round, here are some simple ways for keeping it at its best:

1. Use a good duvet cover. Those duvet covers most of us use on a daily basis aren’t just for decoration. While they definitely do add to the aesthetic of a room, they also help protect your duvet from oils that can eventually break the fabric down and let filling escape.
2. Clean regularly. Duvet covers handle the brunt of the dirty work and should be cleaned weekly if you don’t use a top sheet; they should go into the wash monthly if you do. As for the actual duvet, we recommend cleaning at least a couple of times a year. Your duvet can last a long time if you’re cleaning it regularly and properly. We suggest enlisting the help of a pro for this. *Ahem* We know someone!
3. Dry properly. There are many people who launder their duvets at home and while this isn’t always bad, if your machines aren’t heavy duty enough, you might not be getting your items fully clean or, more importantly, fully dry. Just think about heading to bed with your comforter to find that some of the down is bunched in a corner and still damp! We have industrial-sized dryers to make sure that all of your bedding comes home as clean, dry, and fluffy as the day you bought it.
4. Replace when needed. As long as you keep it clean, aired, and stored properly, your duvet or comforter should last you many years. Once you start noticing that you are losing stuffing regularly (down duvets, just like pillows, do tend to lose feathers with regular use, but you will notice a significant loss as the piece ages) and the cover gets flat, it may be time to consider investing in a new one.

We are, of course, strong advocates for getting your duvets, comforters, and quilts professionally cleaned. Our industrial-sized machines ensure that your bedding comes home to you perfectly cleaned, dried and ready to be snuggled up underneath for months to come!

As a side note: If you have summer duvets you’ll be storing during the winter, we suggest bringing them in to be cleaned before you do to keep them in good condition and help them last longer. We’ll even pack them in breathable storage bags for you to take home! Schedule a pickup here.