Down duvets can be washed at home in a large-capacity machine or at a laundromat's commercial washers — the key is using the right settings and ensuring they dry completely, which takes longer than most people expect.
Checking Care Labels
Most down and down-alternative duvets are machine washable. Check the label for:
- Water temperature (usually warm or cold — hot water can damage down clusters)
- Machine wash symbol — if it shows hand wash only, take it to a professional cleaner
- Dry clean only — do not machine wash
Machine Washing
- Use a large-capacity front-load washer — a standard top-load agitator machine can damage down and the duvet cover; a laundromat commercial washer is ideal for king sizes
- Use a small amount of gentle or down-specific detergent — regular detergent in excess strips the natural oils from down clusters
- Select a gentle or delicate cycle with warm water
- Run an extra rinse cycle — detergent residue left in down causes clumping and odour
Drying
This is the critical step — improperly dried down grows mould inside the clusters:
- Transfer to a large-capacity dryer immediately after washing
- Add 2–3 clean tennis balls or dryer balls — they beat the duvet as it tumbles, breaking up down clumps and ensuring even drying
- Set to low heat — high heat damages down
- Run for 2–3 hours, checking every 30–45 minutes to break up any remaining clumps by hand
- The duvet is dry when it feels fully lofted with no damp spots — press your hand into it and check the centre, which dries last
- If in doubt, run another cycle — damp down stored in a duvet cover will mould
Tips
- Wash duvets 1–2 times per year — using a duvet cover extends the time between washes significantly
- Air the duvet outside on a dry day between washes to refresh it and kill dust mites
- King-sized duvets are often too large for home machines — a laundromat's 20kg commercial washer handles them easily