Washing your duvet and pillows at home: step by step

You can easily wash your duvet and pillows at home if your washing machine and tumble dryer are large enough. We recommend doing this about twice a year, ideally when the seasons change. Down bedding from Marso Living can be washed at up to 60 °C and synthetic at up to 40 °C, both on a gentle cycle. What matters most for the result is drying everything completely.

Does your duvet fit in your machine?

A duvet needs room in the drum so it can move and the water can rinse through the filling. As a rule of thumb: if the drum is full to the brim once the duvet is in, it is too small. Pillows and smaller duvets such as 160 × 210 cm fit in many larger household machines. A large duvet in 240 × 220 cm usually needs a machine with a bigger capacity, such as those you find in a launderette. The same applies to the tumble dryer.

Preparation

• Read the care label. It always applies in addition to these tips.
• Remove the cover and check the casing for small holes or open seams.
• Wash your duvet and pillows one at a time.
• Use a down detergent or a mild liquid detergent, and only a little: about a third of the usual amount.
• Avoid fabric softener and bleach. Fabric softener coats the fibres, and the filling loses its loft.

Washing a down duvet and down pillows (max. 60 °C)

1. Place the down duvet or pillow loosely in the drum.
2. Add a little mild detergent.
3. Choose the gentle cycle at a maximum of 60 °C.
4. Run an extra rinse so that no detergent stays in the filling.

Washing synthetic bedding (max. 40 °C)

Wash a synthetic duvet and synthetic pillows in the same way, but at a maximum of 40 °C on a gentle cycle. Here too: little detergent, no fabric softener and an extra rinse.

Tumble drying with wool dryer balls

Tumble dry your duvet and pillows on a low temperature straight after washing. Add a few wool dryer balls. They loosen the filling and stop it from clumping. Take the bedding out several times along the way and shake it well so the filling spreads evenly. Avoid excessive heat, especially with synthetic bedding.

Allow plenty of time. A duvet needs several hours in the dryer to dry completely. If the weather allows, it can finish drying in the fresh air.

How to tell that the filling is dry

• The filling feels equally light and airy everywhere.
• You can no longer feel any clumps, not even in the corners.
• When you hold the duvet up to the light, the filling is evenly distributed.
• It smells fresh, not musty.

Only use or store your duvet and pillows once they are completely dry. Moisture left in the filling can lead to odours and mould.

When professional cleaning makes sense

If your washing machine or tumble dryer is too small, it is better to take your duvet to a cleaner. This is often the case for large duvets in 240 × 220 cm. Professional cleaning is possible, but not necessary if your appliances are large enough.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I wash my duvet?

About twice a year. In between, it is enough to shake your bedding out every day and air it regularly. Your bed linen, on the other hand, should be washed about once a week.

At what temperature should I wash down and synthetic bedding?

Down at a maximum of 60 °C, synthetic at a maximum of 40 °C, both on a gentle cycle.

Can I air-dry my duvet?

Only to finish drying. To keep the filling airy and to dry it quickly enough, we recommend the tumble dryer with wool dryer balls.

And the bed linen?

You can read how to wash covers and sheets in our care guide, and for linen in our article on caring for linen bed linen. You will find an overview of all care instructions on our product care page. And why the filling should regain its loft after washing is explained in our article What is fill power?. How to put the cover back on quickly is shown in Putting on a duvet cover made easy.