Stiff duvet cover

[AberdeenAngusina]

I bought my son a brushed cotton duvet set from Primark. I thought brushed cotton would be soft and snuggly. I wasn't expecting it to be very long lasting, given the price, but I did think it would be cosy.

When I unpacked it it was quite stiff and felt harsh, but I assumed it had some sort of starch in it for packing, and that once washed it would be soft.

It's been through the washing machine three times, tumble dried twice and line dried once and it still feels stiff.

Given that it's been washed three times, I can't take it back. Is there anything I can do to make it soft?

I'd have a go at taking it back, contact customer services first to complain.

After a few washes I'd expect it to be soft really.

have one last try, run it through the washer, quite hot, with no soap or fabsoft, and a cup of washing soda crystals.

If there is a residue of soap or detergent in the fabric (common with cool washes) the soda will dissolve it out.

If the water in your washer goes grey and foams up, that will be because there is a lot of soap residue in the machine, hot hot hot washes and soda will clean it away (may take several goes until the water stays clean).

the soda also cleans away grease and oil, e.g. on bathtowels if you use lots of moisturising lard, but that's probably not relevant here.