Bedding question that frankly, I am ashamed to ask

[roaringwater]

I have had a home of my own for 22 years, been married for 20 of those and have quite old children.

However, I am embarrassingly clueless about some elements of housekeeping. While I do change the bedlinen (even I am not quite this filthy), I don't really know what you're supposed to do to keep the actual pillows and duvets clean. To be truthful, every now and again, I just crack and buy some new ones in IKEA. Surely there must be a better way?

Also, I have no idea why I don't know this stuff - my parents' home is immaculate. I was a very studious, bookish child: this was greatly lauded and encouraged and I wasn't ever shown how to do practical things (e.g. figured out for myself how to clean a bathroom when I bought a house.)

Advice from more capable people would be great.

I keep an extra pillow case on the pillows as a protector.

It is impractical to keep washing pillows every 2 months - once a year in the Summer more like.

The feather ones pong if they are not bone dry but don't go lumpy.

I think we have to be mindful of discarding pillows as they don't seem to be recycle able

Pillow protectors. Laundered about monthly.
Pillows put out into sunlight when possible to disinfect.
Replaced about bi-annually (depending on level of use) and what they are made of and any staining.

Duvets have cotton inner covers and put in sunlight. Replaced as needed. Dry cleaned in between, if necessary.