Advice, please, on getting a duvet cover REALLY clean!

[Piers66]

Hello,

I have a couple of king size duvet covers that I've been using for over a decade now, and usually wash at 40 degrees. Over the years, though, they've both ended up with a slightly 'tacky' feel to the material up at the head end. I'm guessing this could be due to the slow build up of facial or hair oils...

I've tried washing them at 90 degrees, and it has improved them, but not completely. I just tried sleeping with the duvet turned sideways (so one of the sides is now the top), and it does feel nicer.

Any suggestions how to get them really clean? For example, would a one-off dry clean do the trick?

For info, I'm in the UK, and generally use supermarket (e.g. Tesco / Sainsbury) liquid detergents.

Thanks,

Piers.

Tbh, if they feel like that and are ten years old, it's probably time to replace them. You could try adding a scoop of Vanish to the wash first though, if you haven't tried that yet.

Grease will be dissolved in dry cleaning. But that is all dry cleaning does, it doesn't clean sweat and other water soluble stains. So dry cleaning and then washing could be good.

Liquid detergent doesn't clean as well as powder does. Switch to powder for starters, and give them another 90 degree wash.

I would try steeping the ' tacky' bit in a strong solution of washing soda before doing a 60 degree wash with powder only. No fabric softener

As above, I think I'd replace them at this stage.

Shampoo is great at removing body oils though if you wanted to try again at cleaning them. I use shampoo on dh and ds's shirt collars when there's a grubby build up. I just apply it and rub in before washing.
I would also recommend adding a couple of scoops of soda crystals to the wash. This should help remove the build up. You could soak them in soda crystals before washing too if you have the energy to wrestle king sized sheets in the bath!

Power not liquid for a start. Maybe try making a paste out of the powder and running it in and leaving for an hour or so prior to washing?

Use bio powder and do a pre-wash. No softener.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will definitely switch to a powder, and will try out the shampoo and washing soda tricks.

As far as just replacing them goes, they aren't visibly dirty / stained, and don't smell. The tackiness I've referred to is pretty minimal / subtle, to the point that my GF didn't notice it until I pointed it out! I'm someone who always looks to fix / repair things before replacing, as it seems such a waste to get rid of them, so won't do that unless it gets a lot worse.

Anyway, I'll give your suggestions a go, and report back if / when I'm successful.

Piers.

Or a squish of washing up liquid, anything that really targets grease. If you really want to go for it a dishwasher tab in a hot bath. You could probably go all the duvet sets at once, just submerge the affected bits, soak, then put on a hot wash with bio powder.

Washing up liquid is great for dissolving grease- I have soaked my white duvet covers in the bath before, with washing up liquid and some oxi stain remover, a good few hours.
Then wash at 90 with bio powder.
Very satisfying seeing the colour of the bath water!

Also never use fabric softener on bedding

wash on 60. put half an american cup of white vinegar in the middle drawer and put half a cup of bicarb in the drum... gets rid of all the rank yellowy mankiness

with detergent obviously!

Soak in soda crystals as they are good at degreasing. Then wash with bio powder detergent

I always wash bedding at 60 and also use soda crystals as they remove stains/grease

Always wash at 60.

Dont be using fabric conditioner, rather use a shot glass full of white vinegar

You are right, its facial oils clogging up the fibres and fibres are pretty short so yep under the chin area, you are feeling it

Im old school, I never wash bedding at 40, always 60, sometimes higher, But I also only ever buy cotton or linen.
(No Im not rich, but I bought bedding with an inheratance in 2000 and its still in use )

To add to all the great advice, I’d say extra rinse.

Vinegar & bicarb cancel each other out, it's a myth (acid + base).
Yes to washing soda crystals, they seem to get grease out of anything. Look up Nancy Birtwhistle, I bet she's got a solution for this.

@Piers66 well a duvet cover which is 10 years old owes you nothing!! is it not nicer and easier to send it to duvet cover heaven?? just go and buy a new one, for goodness sake!

Wash with a scoop of soda crystals in the drum (big sainsbury's carry it) and use a powder like vanish with white vinegar (buy it cheap on amazon in the 5 litre bottle) in the fabric softner drawer.

On that note clean your filter and clean your detergent drawer while you're at it!

Chuck em / use them in the garage / as painting sheets and buy some 100% cotton / linen stuff instead.

Never again will I buy polycotton bedding!

Note: the soda crystals and vinegar don't cancel each other out as used at different times of cycle, soda crystals during wash and vinegar during rinse.

But I'd just bin them and buy new pure cotton or linen ones and look after them (and your machine) going forward.