Can You Wash a Duvet Insert?

It's laundry day! That means it's time to strip the bed and pillows and throw everything in the washing so you can have a delightfully freshened-up bed by the evening. But before long, you might find yourself unsure about the right wash cycle for your duvet insert. Can you throw your duvet insert in with your bed sheets or pillowcases? Should you take it out of the cover before washing it? Before you embark on your laundry journey, it helps to know the best ways to take care of your bedding. Read on for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to properly washing your duvet insert.

What is a duvet?

Basically, a duvet is the warm layer of bedding that goes inside a duvet cover. It's most often a self-contained fabric bag filled with an insulating material, like wool, silk, feather down or synthetic fibres.

However, you may have heard the term 'duvet' used to describe a few different bedding components, which can quickly get confusing.

Sometimes, people refer to the entire top-most piece of bedding as a ‘duvet’, consisting of a duvet cover with a duvet insert inside. For others, ‘duvet’ is just the inner layer of this duo. What's more, different places have different names for duvets. In Australia, duvets are commonly called 'doonas', whereas in the UK duvets are often called 'quilts'.

For this guide, we'll use the term 'duvet insert' to clear up the confusion and make it easy to wash this essential piece of bedding safely and properly. You’ll be washing your bedding confidently in no time!

How to wash your duvet insert

Before you get ready to wash any part of your bedding, make sure to read the care instructions to get the best results. The proper way to wash your duvet insert will always depend on the materials it's made of, which you can find on the care label. Duvets made with synthetic materials like polyester are usually machine washable and can be washed on high heat. On the other hand, duvets made of natural materials like wool, silk or feather down can easily be damaged if you wash them this way.

Before you start washing your duvet, do the following:

• Remove the duvet insert: This may seem obvious, but it's important to mention. Duvet inserts are often made from different materials than duvet covers, so washing these two items separately is a good idea to avoid damaging either. Open your duvet cover from its fastenings and remove the duvet insert to separate the two bedding pieces.
• Check the care tag: This will tell you what material the duvet insert is made of and how to wash it safely. It's best to follow this advice as closely as you can, as this will help to prevent wear and tear or damage to your duvet insert in the washing cycle. The care tag might recommend dry cleaning for your duvet insert, in which case even a gentle machine washing cycle could seriously damage it. For those that can be machine-washed, check what kind of machine cycle the care tag recommends, like cold water or warm water washing.
• Spot clean before washing: Pre-treat any stains on your duvet insert by spot-cleaning them with a mild detergent before you throw it in the washing machine. Duvet inserts can get stained with use even if they're normally protected by a duvet cover. Pre-treating these stains will help your duvet insert to look fresh and new after you wash it.
• Use a mild detergent: Mild detergents are best for washing duvet inserts. Combined with cold water cycles, they won't damage the filling materials or outer shell of your duvet insert.
• Avoid fabric softener: While fabric softeners leave your clothes feeling wonderfully fresh, they can damage the filling fibres in your duvet inserts or even prevent it from properly drying. This can make your duvet insert smell mildewy, which is not ideal.
• Wash your duvet insert on its own: Duvet inserts are most likely your bulkiest bedding item, and they usually require a lot of space to wash properly. Unless you've got a large capacity washer at home, the best way to wash your duvet insert is to wash it separately from your flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcases.
• Use a gentle machine wash cycle: Washing your duvet insert on the gentle cycle setting prevents damage to the outer shell and insulating materials on the inside. Too much agitation, hot water or a high spin cycle can cause some filling materials to shrink or break into clumps, potentially causing your duvet insert to become lumpy over time.
• Consider an extra rinse cycle: Some duvet inserts are dense and may retain detergent in the inner fibres after the regular rinse cycle is complete. Rinsing the duvet insert on a rinse-only cycle after the regular wash ensures that all the detergent is gone before drying.
• Avoid washing in a machine with a spindle: Some older top-loader washing machines have a long central spindle in the washing barrel. However, this spindle can twist, stretch and even tear larger items like duvet inserts. New top-loader machines without a spindle or front-loader machines are best for washing your duvet insert safely.

How often to wash your duvet insert

The frequency with which you wash your duvet insert will depend on how you use it, but generally, it’s a good idea to wash it at least three times a year. Too much washing can damage your duvet insert, break apart the filling materials and generally cause it to degrade more quickly. On the other hand, routinely washing your duvet insert is an important part of keeping your bedding healthy, smelling fresh and preventing dust mites from making a cosy home in your bed.

Duvet inserts with a duvet cover

If you use your duvet insert with a duvet cover, consider washing it once every three to four months. Your duvet insert is going to absorb a little less moisture from your body as you sleep, and will most likely be less stained from your skin oils over time. This means you don't have to wash it nearly as often as you wash your duvet cover, bed sheets and pillowcases.

Using a duvet insert without a cover

If you use your duvet insert without a duvet cover you'll most likely need to wash it more often, ideally every one to two months. Because the shell of your duvet insert will be in direct contact with your skin as you sleep, it will absorb more of your perspiration and could become slightly discoloured with use. As the top layer of your bedding, your duvet insert will also be exposed to dust and dirt, making regular washes even more important.

Using a duvet set without a top sheet

Using your duvet set without top sheets will expose your duvet insert to perspiration and skin oils more directly, so it's best to wash it about every three months if this is how you make your bed. If you’re not a fan of the top sheet, a clean duvet can serve a similar purpose. A clean duvet prevents irritation and allergies from ruining your sleep, which is particularly important if you have sensitive skin.

How to dry your duvet insert

Drying your duvet insert properly is the best way to ensure that it stays in good shape for longer, and smells fresh when it's time to snuggle up in bed. The best way to dry your duvet insert after washing will depend on its construction and what materials it's made of. Before you set about drying your duvet inserts, make sure you're following the care instructions provided on the care label.

Air-drying

Most duvet inserts can be air-dried safely. Not only does this air-drying save on energy costs, it also inflicts less wear and tear on your duvet insert’s materials and filling.

However, it’s not one-size-fits-all.

Different types of duvet inserts may require different conditions. For example, feather-down duvet inserts generally take longer to dry than synthetic or woollen alternatives. This means that conditions need to be warm with low humidity for the down feathers to dry quickly and prevent mildew growth. Down duvets should be hung on the line outside on a clear, dry day to help the excess moisture wick away quickly.

Down alternatives generally dry more quickly, making them more amenable to different outdoor conditions. Since they dry faster, you can rest assured they won’t mildew as long as they remain dry while airing out. Best of all, down alternative duvet inserts can also be dried on a washing rack, provided you dry them in a well-ventilated room. No more planning your washing around the weather forecast!

Tumble-drying

Tumble-drying can be tricky for certain types of duvet inserts, so should be approached carefully.

If your duvet insert is filled with a non-woollen down alternative, tumble drying is generally safe, and should not take too long. Alternatively, feather-down and woollen inserts can be damaged by high heat, and should always be tumble-dried on a low-heat setting.

Always tumble dry your duvet inserts on their own, as this will help them to dry evenly and quickly. You can even dry them with wool dryer balls or clean tennis balls to help keep them fluffy and free of clumps.