Down duvets are still very popular and have fervent and well-warmed fans. This is no wonder, as the soft down provides wonderful warmth and comfort and is fluffy, soft, fluffy and cosy.
High-quality down duvets and down pillows are a real dream of cosiness and well-being that no one who has ever enjoyed them will want to do without.
But even if you change your bed linen regularly, down duvets and pillows will get dirty at some point – whether from dust, dander or moisture. When washing duvets and pillows, you should always bear in mind that down is a delicate natural material and requires careful care.
5 tips for washing down duvets and down pillows:
How do I wash a down pillow?
1. Before washing
Good down duvets and pillows can usually be cleaned in your own washing machine, provided it is large enough and you also have a tumble dryer. Chemical pre-treatment or cleaning is absolutely not recommended for down, which is a natural product. In any case, you should check the washing symbols carefully before washing. In most cases, down can only be washed as a delicate wash and at no more than 60° C.
2.The right washing machine for down
For pillows you need a washing machine with a capacity of at least 4.5 kilograms, for duvets a capacity of 6 kilograms upwards. Ideally, the drum should only be half full. Please do not try to force the duvet into the drum if the washing machine is not large enough. This could cause the down to be pressed too tightly together
and break the quills – a loss of quality would be the undesirable consequence.
It is also important that you use a standard washing machine that can be filled from the front. A toploader model, such as those used in the USA, is less suitable as the mechanical movement of the laundry through the washing arm could damage the down duvet.
How do I wash a down duvet?
3. Washing instructions – the right washing programme for your duvet and pillow with down filling
For light soiling, it is best to select a gentle programme at 40 °C. For heavy soiling or for allergy sufferers, a gentle programme at 60 °C is also suitable. As far as washing settings are concerned, you should select a delicate wash or the wool programme if possible. The selected washing programme should also have a spin cycle. It may be advisable to repeat the spin cycle, as down and feathers absorb many times their own weight in water.
4. Which detergent can be used for duvets and down pillows?
Use a special liquid mild detergent for delicates and wool or for down or our billerbeck Blue Wash-Egg.
Heavy-duty detergents and fabric softeners are not suitable. These attack the sensitive protective film of the down, which is responsible for the excellent climate properties. Fabric softeners also stick the down together.
5. How often should down duvets and down pillows be washed?
The down duvet should not be cleaned in the washing machine too often. Otherwise the high-quality down will become brittle and the quality will suffer. It is recommended to wash a duvet every four to six years and a pillow every two to three years.
If you have any further questions about how to wash duvets and pillows filled with down, we will be happy to advise you personally.
You can find more washing films on our YouTube channel.
