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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

or is DP regarding duvets?

152 replies

Notagainmun · 28/10/2014 13:06

Twice a year I change duvets, 4.5 tog for Summer and 10.5 for Winter. We have one double and two king size beds in total. At this time of year I wash the lighter ones before storing but I buy inexpensive 10.5s and bin them rather than try to wash and dry them as I believe it would probably cost more.

DH doesn't think they need to be washed or binned for several years (MIL never did). I think that all the sweat, drool and other bodily fluids makes them rank. I also wash the feather pillows one a year (summer) and change mattress covers and pillow protectors four times a year and he doesn't see the need to wash the pillows - ever!

OP posts:
carlsonrichards · 28/10/2014 19:27

Your husband needs to see a doctor for excessive sweating, over. It can be indicative of many medical problems.

reup · 28/10/2014 20:05

£600 for a duvet!!!

CaptainAnkles · 28/10/2014 20:24

Agree with Snatchoo.
You're meant to change the covers and pillowcases not bin the duvet or pillows. Duvets don't need replacing that often and really shouldn't need to be washed unless they're actually dirty.

Oldraver · 28/10/2014 20:26

It costs £6 to wash my feather duvets. They cost way too much to chuck out

Oldraver · 28/10/2014 20:37

DS had a wool duvet for his cotbed, it was lovely and a lot less bulky than other duvets I had seen so I assume a kingsize wool one would be easier to fit a home machine ?.

I also wanted him to have a decent duvet, he now has the same quality as mine. I cant understand how duvets sold as 'kids' are cheap shit

JellicleCat · 28/10/2014 20:37

I can't believe those of you throwing out duvets after only 6 months of use. One of our duvets is about 30 years old! It was cleaned this year and is as good as new.

Artandco · 28/10/2014 20:45

Reup - that's the price of a super king size Canadian goose feather duvet

We also have wool on the kids beds. They sell lovely ones from 'baavet'

Artandco · 28/10/2014 20:47

Oh and our duvet is probably already cheaper than op if she spends say £50 each time and replaces x2 time a year! We have had ours 7 years already and no reason to replace in near future. It's the only duvet we have brought

cassie1051 · 28/10/2014 20:58

I don't wash my duvets, am I weird? Change the sheets once a week so I thought that'd keep them clean? I replace pillows every few years when they go lumpy and/or smell less fresh.

Dragonfly71 · 28/10/2014 21:01

Feeling very anxious. I don't have a duvet rotation/ airing/ laundry or charity policy. Sometimes when I change the bed I think that looks a bit grubby so bung in wash ( single ones). I have taken the double to launderette in past but can't remember how long ago. Am awful person.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 28/10/2014 21:09

Duvets get used for several years then binned here.

It's absolutely not worth two lots of petrol and two lots of parking plus cleaning charge to get them washed.

Having a new bigger washer, I might have a go at washing the single that's filthy. (Combined washer drier ripped even singles).

Same with pillows, I've tried washing them. It ruined them.

PenguinsIsSleepDeprived · 28/10/2014 21:19

Lacks- but do you never stay with family, friends?

PingPongBat · 28/10/2014 21:20

I agree with everyone who's been Shock at the waste - I just hate the fact that 'we are a throwaway society' and people just shrug their shoulders and say 'well that's just the way it is' and go with it. Make an effort and wash the bloomin' thing, or - if you insist on getting rid of it each year - at least recycle it. Like MrsTerror I work with people who have absolutely nothing, they would be delighted with a duvet that had been used for only 6 months, washed or not.

AgentProvocateur · 28/10/2014 21:21

I my 30-something years of adulthood, I've had a duvet cleaned once or twice. And I've never washed a pillow. Amazed that we're all alive and healthy, really.

Pipbin · 28/10/2014 21:26

Don't ask some of the posters on here to stay then Agent. They will die from the shock of being in the same room as a duvet that isn't washed on 90º every week.

Catsmamma · 28/10/2014 21:27

I buy cheap ones and fling them after a year or donate them to the dogfaces...the cats sleep on the bed, I not paying £300 for a duvet to set up a housemite and cat flea rest home

(cats are deflead regularly...but am now pondering the ethics of some sort of neck drop for people to do in bed mites.....)

They are never the same after being shoved in a washing machine, pillows or duvets.

springlamb · 28/10/2014 21:40

DH is bald and still his pillows go a horrible manky yellow colour. I have hair like one of the hair bear bunch and fill it full of mousse, wax, oil and hairspray and my pillow's not discoloured at all. It's very weird.

RiverTam · 28/10/2014 21:40

Agent - I'm 43 and sometimes I wonder how I've made it this far. Judging by MN laundry and housework threads, I should have come down with some kind of heinous disease once a year at least. And yet, somehow, I haven't. Weird, eh?

Silverdaisy · 28/10/2014 21:54

Surely if someone deams their duvet to be too revoluting for them to use, then giving it to charity/the homeless is just wrong?

Equally the staff at animal shelters would have to handle such item?

Op I know this wasn't your solution.

I cannot see how duvets get so disgusting, by this standard shouldn't matresses be recycled yearly . (Or maybe they are?)

Catsmamma · 28/10/2014 21:56

Springlamb .....the yellow....That's boysmell that is.

MrsCakesPrecognition · 28/10/2014 21:58

I use Four Season Spundown washable duvets. Even the Superking size goes through my domestic washer and tumble dryer when I split the duvet into the two sections.

MrsTerrorPratchett · 28/10/2014 22:19

Surely if someone deams their duvet to be too revolting for them to use, then giving it to charity/the homeless is just wrong? Well some people on here can't use a launderette so I think we can safely assume some people's standards are different to others. I wouldn't give a homeless person out of date food, for example, but a very slightly used duvet? Yep.

hiccupgirl · 28/10/2014 22:29

Our duvets go to the launderette round the corner before they get packed away for winter/summer. It costs £12 to get a king size duvet service washed.

I honestly can't believe anyone would think it is ok to through away a duvet after only 6 months use. Not so bad to pass it on but they're made to last years not just months. We bought our 4 season feather one 7 years ago and I'd expect it to last at least another 10 years with washing every 6 months or so. DS has a wool one for winter and an IKEA one for summer, I'd expect them to last him to being an adult and he's 4.

Silverdaisy · 28/10/2014 22:39

Why does a slightly used duvet need replacing though, just keep it.

Charitys ask people to clean items before donating, that would include duvets.

I have no idea how old my duvet is, I keep my sheets clean and air the duvet.

If we all throw our duvets every 6 months, well I dread to think.

PingPongBat · 28/10/2014 23:51

RiverTam - my whole family should also be riddled with disease by now, according to some on MN - washing towels every day, wiping down toys with Milton in the evenings... - I didn't even sterilise my DDs formula bottles 100% of the time. We're one of the healthiest families I know, judging by the amount of days my DCs children and parents have off sick every winter.