Do you ever wash your duvets in your own washing machine?

[fluffyanimal]

Just asking because DS wet the bed last night and there were wet patches on his duvet cover. By the morning I couldn't find any wet on the duvet but don't want to assume it wasn't soiled. Normally I take duvets to our dry cleaner but they take over a week to come back and this duvet is our only summer weight one.

I'm hoping that since it is a single duvet and only 4.5 tog so not very thick, I could get away with washing it myself. It does just fit in the drum of the machine but it's obviously quite full. Is it worth the risk?

[jennycoast]

I always do. I think we have a big drum, but can even do a king size in it. Ours are all machine washable though.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

I have a 7kg machine. During the last sunny week I washed a similar size duvet in the machine ... with a cotbed duvet as well. The previous load was a 10tog superking.

It expands to fit the space. If you try to squish it down, I expect you could fit something else in if you wanted to (don't, though).

If you're worried, use a lower spin. But I'm absolutely sure it will be fine.

[gamerchick]

Single quilts should be no bother for any washing machine. I did mine regular when going through that phase.

[BigBoobiedBertha]

At one point when DS2 was small I was washing his duvet in the tumble dryer 4 days out of 7.

At the time I think it was the 10.5 tog half.

I would tumble dry it if you can - it sort of fluffs it up. I was worried it would clump if I line dried it.

[MousyMouse]

the dc's have washable duvets from ikea
they wash well and dry quickly. and are comfy to sleep in in case your bed is taken over by dc at night

[RobotHamster]

I'd just hang it on the line and sponge any yellow bits tbh.. whenever ive washed a duvet they've not come out of it very well

[Doshusallie]

Yes all the time and they have always been absolutely fine

[hermioneweasley]

Yes, they are fine. If tumble drying then throw a tennis ball in as well to stop them going lumpy (same for pillows)

[fluffyanimal]

Thank you all. I will risk it, and for the future look into getting spare duvets from Ikea.

[handcream]

I agree, single summer duvet will be fine. Agree as well as you really need to put in tumble dryer and make sure its completely dry. I wish I had a bigger machine. Its a Miele over 10 years old but only 5kg.

Dry cleaners have just charged £22 for a super king duvet!

[Sconset]

What do you think is the largest that could go ina 7kg machine?Mines a double, feathers, prob a high tog(l'm always cold!)
Do you need special detergent for feather duvets?

[5madthings]

yes i do but our machine has a large size drum and it has a duvet cycle! my.mil is horrified that i wash my duvets in the machine and thinks it will break the machine,despite me pointing out that the machine has a duvet cycle!!!

[HorryIsUpduffed]

My feather king has a laundry label which says to use a large capacity machine on a 40 delicates load (ie low spin). I am inspired to wash it today and will use a half-dose of non-bio with a normal dose of fabric softener.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

And as I said upthread, I've washed my winter superking in my 7kg machine. It was a struggle to get in, but not out.

[stealthsquiggle]

Single feather duvets regularly go through the wash (and the drier) in this house. Superking feather one goes to a launderette.

[MousyMouse]

you don't need a special detergent for feather duvets. any non bio would do. or a wool detergent. I usually use shampoo (about a tablespoon full).
never ever bio detergent for feathers, as the enzymes will break them down.

[LegoRelatedInjury]

I do my 13.5 tog double duvet in my 6kg machine on a 50 degree normal cycle and it washes and spins just perfectly.

[RobotHamster]

Oooohhhh I wonder if using bio detergent was my mistake.

Well I know better now :)

[Hassled]

I didn't know that about not using bio for feathers - will stop doing that.
I wash all our duvets regularly - DH is allergic to both cats and dust mites, and we have both.

[mermaidbutmytailfelloff]

I took my super king to the laundrette. Very happy peaceful hour with iPad, sweets and mums net! Duvet like new and really puffy (feather filled).

Just wanted to share really!

[Sconset]

Thank you, all who answered! I'm going to go for it!

[sparkle12mar08]

My 7kg machine will comfortably take a king size 4.5tog duvet, a 9tog double or two single 4.5togs or below. Most hollowfibre duvets will wash perfectly well in a domestic machine. I don't have a tumble drier but line dry them with no problems. I do our at least twice a year and the dc's as and when needed, usually every 8 weeks or so. When you take them to a dry cleaners they're not 'dry' cleaned ie in solvent, but sent away to be washed as normal in great big machines. Its much, much cheaper to use a laundrette.

[TrulyMadlySleeply]

I wash my 4 DC's single duvets every other week (individually of course!). My washing machine is 8kg. My best tip is that I don't bother to take the duvet cover off. Just tie elastic bands around the 4 corners to keep the duvet in place, bung it in the washing machine, pillow case and sheet included on a 60 degree wash. Add a colour catcher sheet in case of colour runs. When finished take the elastic bands off, shake thoroughly and dry either on your banisters, on an airer, washing line or tumble dryer (if in the tumble dryer you need to keep the elastic bands on, but remove and shake immediately when its dry to reduce creasing at the corners where the elastic bands have been). I do mine on the airer or bannisters. They come out of the washing machine at about 9.30am and are back on the beds by about 3pm. I hate changing duvet covers and using this method haven't had to do so with the kids bedding for years

[ShoeWhore]

I do this regularly with single duvets, it's fine.

[BeedlesPineNeedles]

truly how hot is your house that a duvet dries in 6 hours without going in a tumble drier?