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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:
PingPongBat · 28/10/2014 23:52

DCs friends, not children! Duh

carlsonrichards · 29/10/2014 08:38

And Ping, don't forget everyone showering twice a day with a bath in the evenings because if you don't, the entire world can tell and you smell revolting.

maddy68 · 29/10/2014 08:52

I chuck mine away too.
Cheaper than getting them cleaned and cba with the faff

Chandon · 29/10/2014 09:07

Oh dear, I did not know duvets need washing.

I just bought new down duvets, as the old ones were smelling a little bit, they were 12years old and have NEVER been washed.

I use thick 100% cotton duvet covers, which get washed weekly. And I air the duvets and pillows every day it does not rain.

Never knew you could wash down. Does it not go all clumpy?

Will take my old ones to launderette, as nothing to lose!

mausmaus · 29/10/2014 09:46

you can wash down and if you tumble dry it will not go lumpy.
you need to use wool detergent though or as others will destroy the feather structure.

my duvet 12 tog down is 15 years old. aired regularly and washed every other year or so.

if I were to put it away for some time not going to happen I would wash it before.

PrimalLass · 29/10/2014 09:59

over 0.5 mile away

About a 10-minute walk then?

muphys · 29/10/2014 10:14

I admit I won't use a launderette for anything. The thought of putting my clothes in a machine which has had other people's clothes and bedding sloshing around in it makes me feel quite sick. Sorry everyone but I honestly couldn't sleep at night under a duvet that had been washed in a launderette.

Lacks, I really am genuinely interested to know if you have OCD or something similar. In all honesty, this has to be the strangest thing I have read in a long time.

Oldraver · 29/10/2014 10:18

Chandon My down/feather duvet is 14 years old and I wash it every year admittedly not for the first few years. It doesn't go lumpy at all you just have to make sure it is dried properly.

I wait until we have a really sunny day and drape it over the wirlygig..

Pipbin · 29/10/2014 11:05

Lacks, I really am genuinely interested to know if you have OCD or something similar. In all honesty, this has to be the strangest thing I have read in a long time.

When I first left home my great aunt gave me money to buy a washing machine as she didn't want me washing my things in a laundrette where 'other people's underwear had been washed'.

Pipbin · 29/10/2014 11:08

I'm going to pull out all of my duvets today and give them an airing.
I think my winter duvet is so old that it is a 'country diary' branded one!

Downamongtherednecks · 29/10/2014 16:11

Those of you who don't wash duvets are missing out. When you get them out of the washing machine they are all bunched up, then after a while on the line they smell lovely. You finish them in the dryer with a new tennis ball to fluff them up and they look like new. It's like magic! (disclaimer have only tried with expensive feather ones no clue if the magic works on all duvets)

ElephantsNeverForgive · 29/10/2014 16:37

My new down coat says to wash it with tennis balls, I'd worry the yellow would come out the fluff

stealthsquiggle · 29/10/2014 19:05

Wash it, elephants, or just dry it? I have never tried washing anything with tennis balls, but they definitely work in the drier.

Chandon · 29/10/2014 20:19

Ok I will wash my duvets this week.

Nicola19 · 29/10/2014 20:27

I just got a service wash and dry on four pillows, three single duvets and one double for £52. They are no longer yellow stained! It was worth it.

ATombWithoutAFoof · 29/10/2014 20:48

Another wool duvet lover here. Warm in winter, cool in summer. Amazing.

I have those weird absurdly heavy latex pillows, any tips for washing those?

gamerchick · 29/10/2014 20:56

I can't believe I've never thought of that before. 2 summer duvets press studded together to make a winter duvet. No worry about overloading the washing machine.

Genius Grin

Minerves · 29/10/2014 22:19

OP i do the same thing because i have a weird phobia of touching/using anything thats been stored away for any length of time - think there's spiders living inside it and i could never sleep in a duvet that hadn't been shook out every day.

everyone thinks i am weird though!! :)

overslept · 30/10/2014 02:02

carlsonrichards it isn't sweat, he is a dry sort of person actually. It's like grime that he accumulates from some unknown source and deposits on the sheets Blush. I have no idea where it comes from! He does do a lot of dusty work etc. He destroys clothes quickly as well. He is the sort to put on a brand new jacket that cost a fair bit then decide to faff about with the oil in the van Confused... Then get angry with himself when it gets oil on it!

glutenfreekiwi · 30/10/2014 02:19

Most animal charities don't take duvets and pillows in this neck of the woods, although they do like blankets, sheets and towels. Other charities do tend to take them - particularly the homeless charities and especially around winter.

The animals tear the covers and then the stuffing from the duvets/pillows is hazardous (and if not hazardous it's a PITA to clean up!).

Personally I like to change from summer to winter duvets and then have the not in use one cleaned - they are both wool duvets so can't just chuck them in the washer and dryer (and they are WAY to heavy for my machines).

Pillows just seem to end up grim no matter what I do with them - generally 2 pillow cases on each, washed weekly...

AdoraBell · 30/10/2014 02:20

I've never thrown away a duvet. Can't see a reason to. Even when DDs have wet when they were younger that was remedied by washing. As for sweat etc getting on them, do you not use a cover?

YABU OP I am truly baffled by this.

AdoraBell · 30/10/2014 02:30

Chandon you can wash down, yes it goes clumpy but a good vigorous shake sorts that out. I have a down filled jacket that comes out looking wrecked but dries up lovely. A duvet might require two people to shake it thoroughly.

And I forgot to mention I use sheets as well as a duvet cover because I CBA taking a duvet cover off just to put it back on. Sheets get washed weekly.

Ir1na · 30/10/2014 03:32

I use the laundrette, although the duvets and pillows I've had need replacing every couple of years because they've actually ripped.

Ir1na · 30/10/2014 03:33

QuintessentiallyGhoulish Uuurgh!! Shock I'm surprised he wasn't kept in hospital with something like that.

JamNan · 30/10/2014 04:22

I have a wool duvet. It resists moisture and dust mites. It gets washed once a year and aired once a week when the bed is changed. Silk wadding mattress topper gets washed about every three months. I use pillow protectors to keep pillows clean.

Think of the environment OP. It's wrong to keep chucking used bedding in landfill. YABU.