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Original poster

Do you button up your duvet cover before washing?

184 replies

Ultravox · 03/11/2024 15:31

Please help resolve an incredibly minor dispute in our house. I’ve just changed our sheets and when I went to put on the clean duvet cover it was buttoned up so I had to unbutton it to put it on and then re button it. It has proper fiddly wooden buttons and it may be just menopause but I have the rage over this.

So…

YABU: Yes I button up the duvet cover before putting it in the washing machine to stop other items going inside it.

YANU: What a waste of time. If any items go inside the duvet cover during washing then it’s easy to take them out before drying.

OP posts:
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MaryGreenhill · 29/03/2025 21:30

Yes always

TheElginGarbles · 29/03/2025 19:22

I've had very serious words with VDW about this. Buttoning up the cover increases the chance of ripping off buttons. This has happened to us twice now.

Justwwash your other stuff separately.

Onelifeonly · 29/03/2025 19:13

Yes but not necessarily all the buttons. Otherwise I get a lump of other washing inside that hasn't been spun as well as the rest.

BashfulClam · 29/03/2025 19:10

Yes because everything else goes inside and it’s a massive pain in the arse. DH wanted a super king bed so the fucking covers are huge and cumbersome to manage. I unbutton it when i fold it though.

Auburngal · 06/11/2024 08:04

I button up duvet before putting it in the wash. Only put in pillowcases in the same wash.

When taking it out of the washing machine, its not tangled and easier to hang on the airer.

Putting the cover without buttoning it can risk damaging it.

Nannyfannybanny · 06/11/2024 07:55

I have already said I use mostly a cold wash.

BuzzieLittleBee · 06/11/2024 07:29

Nannyfannybanny · 05/11/2024 08:04

You can't tell me that a 15 minutes cool or cold wash cycle uses more electricity than a 2 hour eco cycle . I've got solar panels, I know exactly how much power I am using at any given time.

The eco cycles use less because they use less water and heat it more efficiently. The agitation and spinning contribute to the saving too, but the water heating is where most of the saving comes from.

Your machine's manual gives the kwh used by each program so you can compare.

I saw a good analogy once - you can drive 100 miles by zooming along the motorway at full speed most of the way, and with some fast acceleration/aggressive braking thrown in, and get there in just over an hour, but using a lot of fuel. OR you can drive much more slowly, maintaining a steady speed without the need for changes through acceleration or braking, and sitting in the slipstream of a lorry. You might take 2hrs or more to get there, but you'll use a lot less fuel.
Same with a washing machine. Do the component parts of a wash in the most fuel efficient way possible and it will take a lot longer.

soupfiend · 05/11/2024 19:34

Drives me mad in hotels when they have an open duvet cover and the cover moves around independently of the duvet. I hate it tucked in at the bottmo as well, I have to go round when we arrive pulling it out, which is actually quite hard work.

We rarely stay in hotels although not for this reason

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 05/11/2024 18:13

Yes, or it kidnaps the other washing and holds it hostage

FrostFlowers2025 · 05/11/2024 18:12

That's exactly what my covers are like

Sgtmajormummy · 05/11/2024 10:38

Example

Do you button up your duvet cover before washing?
Sgtmajormummy · 05/11/2024 10:34

FrostFlowers2025 · 05/11/2024 06:57

The only place I have seen buttons on duvet covers are cheap hotels. My covers all have a strip of fabric so I can tuck them under the matrass to keep my feet warm, but no dang buttons. No sirree!

Show quote history

I have a couple of duvet covers from La Redoute IIRC which have a sort of wide fabric funnel at the bottom. It tucks under the mattress, reducing the thickness if you prefer an anchored duvet. You get full coverage and the “shoulders” keep the duvet in place.
No buttons (but 4 corners to catch and hide socks).

StMarieforme · 05/11/2024 10:26

Yes or all the washing ends up inside it!

Nannyfannybanny · 05/11/2024 09:40

Blossomtoes, I do have a relative with one, but she washes it weekly which I think is ridiculous. I would assume a top sheet. As a child growing up,it was top and bottom sheet, blankets,then a duvet. I can get my king size duvet in my washing machine.

BIossomtoes · 05/11/2024 09:24

Nannyfannybanny · 05/11/2024 09:20

Life is too short to undo a couple of buttons,you can buy "coverless duvets" , which is a misnomer really, because of course the wadding has a cover, problem solved. I would like one, but I havent found a pattern I like.

Don’t bother, they’re completely impractical. A king size one only just fits a normal washing machine and is too big for a standard tumble dryer. I hate ours with a passion.

Nannyfannybanny · 05/11/2024 09:20

Life is too short to undo a couple of buttons,you can buy "coverless duvets" , which is a misnomer really, because of course the wadding has a cover, problem solved. I would like one, but I havent found a pattern I like.

EierlegendeWollmilchsau · 05/11/2024 08:35

Life is too short for buttoning bedding for washing, unbuttoning and rebuttoning to go onto the bed. I have considered not even bothering buttoning when putting on the bed to save myself a minute or two.

AlteredStater · 05/11/2024 08:26

WinterFrog · 05/11/2024 07:59

I wonder if it depends on whether people use a tumble dryer? If I'm using mine, it's definitely worth doing up the buttons, but less so if hanging it out.

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You may be right! I don't own a tumble dryer, I line dry.

AutumnLeaves24 · 05/11/2024 08:25

Laiste · 05/11/2024 07:16

Leister made me laugh😂

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@Laiste

🤗😂

don't encourage it, it's an annoying little 💩 already 😂

Nannyfannybanny · 05/11/2024 08:04

You can't tell me that a 15 minutes cool or cold wash cycle uses more electricity than a 2 hour eco cycle . I've got solar panels, I know exactly how much power I am using at any given time.

WinterFrog · 05/11/2024 07:59

AlteredStater · 05/11/2024 07:51

No I don't button them up, so fiddly to do! Yes smaller items get inside but I just shake them out again. So YANBU!

I wonder if it depends on whether people use a tumble dryer? If I'm using mine, it's definitely worth doing up the buttons, but less so if hanging it out.

AlteredStater · 05/11/2024 07:51

No I don't button them up, so fiddly to do! Yes smaller items get inside but I just shake them out again. So YANBU!

Nsky62 · 05/11/2024 07:48

FrostFlowers2025 · 05/11/2024 06:57

The only place I have seen buttons on duvet covers are cheap hotels. My covers all have a strip of fabric so I can tuck them under the matrass to keep my feet warm, but no dang buttons. No sirree!

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Never uk, anyway hate to be hemmed in

TheRestIsEntertainment · 05/11/2024 07:24

I never button. It's never ever occurred to me. Stuff almost never ends up inside, if it does it takes all of half a second to remove it.

The idea of having to unbutton it to put the duvet inside to button it again blows my mind.

YANBU op. Not one little bit.

Laiste · 05/11/2024 07:16

AutumnLeaves24 · 04/11/2024 20:54

Thanks!!

sorry about my phones ability to rewrite my posts!!! I did type Laiste!!

Show quote history

Leister made me laugh😂