King size duvet - replace or wash (and how)?

[sunmoonstarstoo]

Do you wash your king size duvet or replace it regularly? I can't fit ours in our washing machine I think but it looks a bit grimy. Don't fancy having it cleaned and then inhaling chemicals all night but can't afford a new one on a regular basis. Just wondered if anyone had any ideas?

[james909]

Wash it in the bath. Use rubber gloves with whites powder or colour powder / non bio which are less harsh on your skin. The water will go a disgusting colour. Rinse with several bathfuls of water. Drip dry in the bath on a clothes line over night. Take it outside the next day to dry more then finish it in the dryer. You could also spin dry it in the washing machine once the majority of the water is out. I say majority because anything weighing over 6 to 7kg could break your washing machine depending on the model.

[baahhumbug]

Thanks sportyme. Have you ordered from there? I can't find any mention of what the cover is made of and I also dislike those horrid synthetic covers, prefer polycotton.

[sportyme]

Hollowfibre 13.5 tog quilts are not that expensive, are machine washable, and a well made one will last for years. Make sure though that it has a polycotton cover on it, rather then the cheap polyamide something cover (I bought that one by mistake) as it is awful. Try this place for decent priced duvets. //Homespacedirect.com

[baahhumbug]

Ponders, I've searched on yell for laundry services in the area, there are none.

[baahhumbug]

(sunmoonstarstoo here - name changed)

The duvet from Fine Bedding looks good, may have to buya new one. Our current one is 13 roof I think so doubt I'll get it in my washing machine even though it's a 8 kg machine. Might try it after buying a new one.

[BoffinMum]

Wait until the hot weather and wash it outside in a paddling pool with your feet, peasant style, before rinsing with a hose pipe and wringing it out (you'll need a friend to help), and hanging it over a washing line to drip dry all day.

[SantasBigRedHat]

I have Next kingsize microfibre winter duvet, and it fits into my 8kg washing machine. And it is advertised as being able to washed at home. I just fold and roll it up.

We all have a winter duvet and a summer duvet, and a couple of spare singles in case anyone is poorly etc.

Mine get washed after being used for a season before they get stored.

[MinimalistMommi]

These king size duvet fits in a domestic home washing machine, it's a 9 tog duvet but the same company do an all seasons version too.
www.finebedding.co.uk/product/spundown-tog-duvet/

[suburbophobe]

That Asda one (link) doesn't even mention if it is down or synthetic.

At that price it has to be synthetic....

Which I don't want!

I was looking at the Ikea site for a new duvet, down are much more expensive (but natural).

[Ponders]

OP hasn't got a laundrette nearby though

[Viviennemary]

I've taken one to the laundrette and that works fine. They have a special huge washing machine. Wouldn't like dry cleaning either. If it's tatty I'd replace it but if it only needs to be washed then laundrette is best option. Also John Lewis usually has some really good quality duvets in their sale reduced by a lot.

[Ponders]

we donated some single duvets to local RSPCA shelter, but they won't take larger ones because they don't fit in their machine

OP, search on \link{http://www.yell.com\yell.com} for laundry services in your area.

[CrazyOldMare]

Get two duvets, the second can be a cheap one, then when in town drop off soiled one in laundrette for service wash (£10 round here) & pick up when next in town. Cheaper & more ecological than to chuck & buy new.

[wheredidiputit]

DH has his 13.5 tog from Asda for a couple of years. And still feels heavy when I change it.

But as they are only £5/£6 you can get a new one each year or so.

[BalloonSlayer]

It's 13.5, sun This one - cheaper than I thought.


I am not sure how long they last. Our one is no longer so outstandingly thick as it was. But still lovely and I can't believe I hung on to the old smelly one for so long.

I've been replacing the DCs' ones for winter. The single ones are just over a fiver.

[sparkle12mar08]

Whoops, cross posts with WhoKnows - shouldn't skim read!

[sparkle12mar08]

Dry cleaners don't actually dry clean them in their solvent machines you know! They get sent away to be wet washed in large capacity washing machines. But it costs much more than in a laundrette.

[Poledra]

Re getting rid of old duvets - there is a animal rescue place near us that will take old duvets for dog bedding.

[Cantbelieveitsnotbutter]

I had a Tesco value £10 king size, it lasted over 3 years of harsh newborn - potty training life and I've just bought a sainsburys 10.5 tog basics one for £12ish. It's beautiful!

[OnTheBottomWithAStringOfTinsel]

Maybe try a homeless charity - I see the people on the street round here sometimes have duvets.

[SilverSixpence]

Just wondering what you can do with the old one if it's still decent as we want to change ours - can it be donated somewhere?

[sunmoonstarstoo]

BalloonSlayer do you know how many tog the Asda duvet has?

[BalloonSlayer]

I got an ASDA basics king size duvet for about £12. It's as warm as toast, so thick it hardly goes in the duvet cover and is so light it feels like sleeping in a cloud.

[freddybanana]

Service wash at launderette costs me about £10. It's worth it.