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Original poster

To think coverless duvets are pointless?

166 replies

Moortown · 22/12/2025 16:41

I hate changing duvet covers so I thought I’d treat myself to a machine washable coverless duvet. I went for one made by silentnight. It’s king size.

It needed to be washed today, so I tried to put it in the machine. I couldn’t even get half of it in, so ended up having to drive 7 miles to the nearest launderette, paying nearly £20 to wash and dry it, the whole exercise taking over 2 hours of my day. It would have been a lot easier to just put a duvet cover on!

It’s a 10.5 tog one, so silly me just assumed that it would fit in the machine as my regular duvet is also 10.5 tog and fits in easily. So it can be done, but for whatever reason they decided to make these ‘washable’ ones far too big to fit into anything except a giant washing machine, that no regular household possesses.

I’m sending it back as it’s not fit for purpose.

AIBU to think this is a major design flaw?

OP posts:
cardibach · 23/12/2025 10:27

Simonjt · 23/12/2025 08:17

My husband has minimal use of his hands and arms, how easy do you find it to put on a duvet cover without using your hands and arms?

Show quote history

If you look at my first comment on the thread I said how useful they are for people (like a friend of mine) with reduced mobility. That is clearly not what I was talking about. Look at what I replied to and stop trying to catch people out and make them look thoughtless when that’s not the case.

Zippedydodah · 23/12/2025 10:26

Fairyvocals · 22/12/2025 19:53

Aren’t they all horribly synthetic? I don’t like nylon etc next to my skin.

This is precisely why I wouldn’t want one. I like natural bedding, wool duvets and cotton bedding.

FiveShelties · 23/12/2025 10:17

gamerchick · 23/12/2025 10:12

Nothing you say will make it ok to return something you've used, puked on and washed OP. But you crack on.

I couldn't me, I'd donate it to an animal shelter before doing that.

I completely agree.

gamerchick · 23/12/2025 10:12

Nothing you say will make it ok to return something you've used, puked on and washed OP. But you crack on.

I couldn't me, I'd donate it to an animal shelter before doing that.

Original poster
Moortown · 23/12/2025 10:04

For those wringing their hands about me returning the duvet - some key points.

  1. it no longer has any trace of dog sick (the frothy bile variety rather than proper sick), as it was promptly laundered in a 40kg capacity washing machine. I’m sure the returns department have dealt with far worse than a freshly laundered duvet.

  2. it will be disposed of, as all Amazon returns are.

  3. I sell on Amazon marketplace myself and I am often forced into accepting returns for far flimsier reasons than it’s completely fucking useless and doesn’t do what it’s supposed to. It’s the nature of Amazon, I very rarely return anything I buy but in cases such as this where the item is useless to me, it’s a good option to have.

Try as you might, you won’t be able to make me feel in the slightest bit bad, when I spend an awful lot of money on Amazon throughout the year and also pay an eye watering amount in seller fees to sell on there, and receive zero seller support in return. Either Jeff has his useless duvet back, or it clutters up my home for the next X years.

OP posts:
CoastalCalm · 23/12/2025 09:47

Letthemeatgateau · 23/12/2025 08:26

Are they mostly man-made fillings? Can't bear the too hot/too cold/sweatiness of artificial fillings. We have a wool duvet which is wonderful - can't imagine washing that every week, it'd take forever to dry.

The nightlark ones are made from recycled PET bottles which adds to their appeal for me personally

CoastalCalm · 23/12/2025 09:44

I use them without any issues , I have a stoma bag which often leaks overnight so they are a godsend , clean completely on a 40 wash and fully dry after a couple of hours over the banister plus no hassle re constantly changing duvet covers and they are beautifully light and cosy

Upholstery · 23/12/2025 09:27

Yes, exactly! I got my terminology mixed up in my first post and said they were continental quilts - they're not, because as you say duvets are continental quilts. These are just plain old quilts/comforters/eiderdowns, like everyone had 100 years ago. Made from cheap synthetic materials for sure, so lower quality, but that's the only difference.

twiddleit · 23/12/2025 08:36

Erm… I’m old, admittedly, but have manufacturers cottoned on to ‘the latest trend’ to con consumers? A ‘coverless duvet’ is an eiderdown. They were what we had pre ‘contental quilt’ - and you had a top sheet under the eiderdown.
The eiderdown got washed in the summer, not every couple of weeks! Bearing in mind that MN washes their sheets every week and if you don’t you’re a scumbag, this would be a nightmare!

Simonjt · 23/12/2025 08:29

Fairyvocals · 23/12/2025 08:28

Do the ones with cotton covers take longer to dry?

Ours have cotton covers, on a dull winters day on an airer they take about 2-3 hours to dry, on a sunny day on the line it can be as quick as 30 minutes, but I would turn it around so both sides get the sun.

Fairyvocals · 23/12/2025 08:28

Do the ones with cotton covers take longer to dry?

Letthemeatgateau · 23/12/2025 08:26

Are they mostly man-made fillings? Can't bear the too hot/too cold/sweatiness of artificial fillings. We have a wool duvet which is wonderful - can't imagine washing that every week, it'd take forever to dry.

Simonjt · 23/12/2025 08:22

We have them they’re fab, they all get washed once a week, they either line dry or get put on the clothes horse to dry. When you buy them it says what size machine you need for the duvet you’re buying.

BlackCoffeeAndSugar · 23/12/2025 08:20

I can't believe you are returning a puked on duvet to the shop. That's rank.

Upholstery · 23/12/2025 08:19

RacingAcrossTheSofa · 23/12/2025 08:11

Could you have washed and dried a whole king size quilt in a domestic washing machine, and had it back on the bed that night? No. So obviously they are not the same as what was available 40 years ago.

Show quote history

They're eiderdowns. Like my granny (born 1912) had. People are talking about needing sheets and "throws" [aka "blankets"] with them. Like my granny (born 1912) did.

Simonjt · 23/12/2025 08:17

cardibach · 22/12/2025 19:21

Really? I don’t get the drama about putting covers on quilts. It’s not difficult.
Whats this wandering duvet business? Never happened to me.

Edited
Show quote history

My husband has minimal use of his hands and arms, how easy do you find it to put on a duvet cover without using your hands and arms?

RacingAcrossTheSofa · 23/12/2025 08:12

I don’t understand why these threads about coverless duvets always attract so many people who have clearly never picked one up, yet are convinced they know all about them.

Yes, OP, the whole point of them is they’re easy to wash, so if you can’t fit yours in your machine it is pointless to have.

FirstdatesFred · 23/12/2025 08:12

And yes it often still comes out still smelling of wee because the detergent hasn't got round it properly so I have to do it twice!

FirstdatesFred · 23/12/2025 08:11

I agree, I got one for dd who still wets the bed, but even though I can just about fit it in the machine it takes ages to dry.
I also just put her Xmas duvet cover on it as she wanted that on - it's boring to have the same colour all the time!

RacingAcrossTheSofa · 23/12/2025 08:11

Upholstery · 23/12/2025 06:38

Aren't these just what we used to call continental quilts, rebranded? We all switched to duvets in the 1980s because it was so much easier than fannying on with sheets and quilts, especially as domestic washing machines have drums too small to let them move properly. Amazing that they're being touted as a marvellous new invention. And that they've caught on! I wouldn't have thought there was much call, beyond for people with specific disabilities that make them unable to handle/wash duvet covers but still able to handle/wash entire quilts.

Could you have washed and dried a whole king size quilt in a domestic washing machine, and had it back on the bed that night? No. So obviously they are not the same as what was available 40 years ago.

Ownedbykitties · 23/12/2025 07:58

I have two singles on a king size bed. It's more comfortable at night as we can each choose to throw it off or wrap ourselves up in it without disturbing the other. Washing is so easy and the whole thing feels so clean. It is dry within a few hours and I never have to tumble dry it. In the other hand, my cotton duvet covers take much longer to dry. Having a coverless duvet each is a no brainer for me. I used to hate putting a clean one on each week.

Ownedbykitties · 23/12/2025 07:58

I have two singles on a king size bed. It's more comfortable at night as we can each choose to throw it off or wrap ourselves up in it without disturbing the other. Washing is so easy and the whole thing feels so clean. It is dry within a few hours and I never have to tumble dry it. In the other hand, my cotton duvet covers take much longer to dry. Having a coverless duvet each is a no brainer for me. I used to hate putting a clean one on each week.

bumptybum · 23/12/2025 07:46

Fairyvocals · 22/12/2025 19:53

Aren’t they all horribly synthetic? I don’t like nylon etc next to my skin.

Yes. They are horribly synthetic. I also find synthetics in my skin in bed unpleasant. I can’t even sleep with nightwear that isn’t 100% cotton. I think some people are more skin sensitive.

FiveShelties · 23/12/2025 07:35

Sending a quilt back which a dog has been sick on is just awful.

LevelHed · 23/12/2025 06:55

somanychristmaslights · 22/12/2025 17:02

You’re not going to be able to take it back. It is fit for purpose, not their fault you f your washing machine is too small.

Glad someone has pointed out this obvious fact.