Most of you do not have a washing machine with the capacity to wash your duvet, so the only alternative is to get it dry cleaned.
We will cover some of the salient points you need to consider before taking your duvets to the dry cleaners, such as fillings.
Find out:
- Prices for duvet-cleaning
- How often you should clean your duvet
- Can you dry clean down and synthetic duvets
- Does dry cleaning damage your duvet
Let’s dive in.
How much does it cost to dry clean a duvet in the UK?
Prices will vary with location and type of filling. If you live in London, you will pay more for dry cleaning a duvet than in Halifax or anywhere north of the M25.
Here is a representation of what price you can expect to pay for your duvet to be dry cleaned:
| Duvet Double Poly. | £21.00 | £29.40 |
| Duvet Single Feather | £22.50 | £31.50 |
| Duvet Double Feather | £26.25 | £36.75 |
| Duvet Single Down Feather | £26.10 | £36.54 |
How many times a year should I clean my duvet?
It depends on how often the duvet is used. If your duvet is in a spare room, it will not need cleaning so frequently ( if not used, store in a breathable bag away from dust.
Your duvet will stay cleaner if your duvet cover is replaced frequently. It makes sense to replace your duvet cover weekly or at least once every couple of weeks. This will prevent the ingress of dust into the duvet filling.
If your duvet has normal daily use, then it’s safe to assume that washing is only needed twice per year.
However, your duvet should be cleaned at least quarterly if you sleep hot and tend to sweat at night. Sweat may introduce mould into the filling and cause an allergic reaction.
If your duvet smells peculiar, it’s time for a clean.
Does dry cleaning involve steam?
Yes, in small amounts. Dry cleaning is based on chemicals, and you will notice a chemical smell that you will need to air out of the duvet before using it to sleep under.
How does dry cleaning work?
It’s a simple process involving solvents. Solvents are vaporised and enter your duvet. The solvent attacks the dirt, and crime dissolves it.
The solvents are then vacuumed to a holding tank where the dirt and grime particles are separated, and the process starts over again until the cleaning cycle has finished.
How should a duvet smell after dry cleaning?
It will have a chemical odour only. Invariably you have cleaned your duvet with solvents, and as such, there will be a residual solvent odour that will disperse in a short time.
If your duvet smells of anything else, the dry cleaning process was unsuccessful, and you should return the duvet for further cleaning.
Can you take a down feather duvet to the dry cleaners?
No. If you need your feather or down duvet cleaning, tackle it to the laundry and ask them to wash it conventionally.
Although dry cleaners will dry clean your down or feather duvet, it’s best to wash them conventionally.
Feather and downs trap air. That’s what makes them perfect for duvets. They will also trap the dry cleaning chemicals known to be carcinogenic.
If you dry clean your down or feather duvet, it is important to let it off-gas in a well-ventilated room or still outside in the fresh air for 4 or 5 hours.
Can you dry clean synthetic duvets like Microfibre?
Check the care instructions. Most microfibre duvets do not need to be dry cleaned. They are best washed in a mild soapy detergent in a large washing machine drum.
Microfibre forms a mat inside the duvet and, although light and breathable, use the microfibres to retain air to give it some of its warmth qualities.
Dry cleaning solvents could replace the air pockets within the microfibre matrix, making the microfibre duvet hazardous. If you dry-clean your microfibre duvet, it will need to air in a well-ventilated room or on a line outside to allow toe solvents to disperse.
Does dry cleaning remove stains?
Not all stains. Dry cleaning is great for removing grease and oil-based stains due to its primary cleaning method being a solvent-based chemical.
If you have human body fluid stains such as blood, dry cleaning is not so effective, and spot cleaning is recommended to remove the stains.
How do I make my duvet fluffy again?
Making your duvet fluffy again can be a challenge. Shaking and teasing the internal filling. If you have washed your duvet at home and it’s line-dried, then you can place it in your tumble dryer on a cold setting and place three tennis balls inside the dryer. Put the tennis balls in socks to avoid marking your duvet.
After 20 minutes, pull the duvet out and repeat the cycle until you have the desired fluffiness you require.
If you can’t get your duvet in the tumble dryer, you will need to shake the duvet, lay it flat, and tease the filling apart by pulling upwards.
If there is a clump of filling in the corner of the duvet, you will need to break the clump by pulling it apart and then trying to disperse it across the duvet.
Can you wash a duvet that says dry clean only?
It’s not recommended. If you inadvertently get a stain on a dry clean only duvet, it’s fine to spot clean the stain with minimal water and a microfibre towel to blot out the excess water.
What happens if you wash dry clean only?
You could see some shrinkage. If your duvet is marked dry clean only, it’s there for a reason, and the reason normally is that the filling or outer of the duvet will not react well with water and detergents.
If the filling shrinks, it will lose its properties of being warm and comfortable. If the outer shrinks, it will not look so good inside your duvet cover.
Stick to the care instructions, and you will not go wrong.
Will dry cleaning damage your duvet?
No. Dry cleaning does not damage fabrics. If anything, it keeps fabrics in good condition and preserves them, giving them a longer life cycle.