Duvet users - how often do you wash yours?

RazWaz

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

Well, I'm relieved! I don't think the one that's on just now has ever been washed and it's about 2 years old I think. I've got a king size and can't get it into the machine either. I've priced getting it dry cleaned and it's shockingly expensive isn't it?

I must confess to being a bit anal about making sure that the duvet is in the same configuration every time I change the bed. Do you know what I mean? I have actually written T/R on the top right corner of my duvet to ensure it goes on the same way all the time. I just can't bear the thought that either my hubby's side will be on my side or that the 'feet' end will be at the 'face' end. Same with pillows - I can't let anyone else change the bedding in case they don't put things back to their original positions.

I'm the same, I drive my OH nuts making him get up and fix it cause "the weight feels wrong". Put my duvet over me and I can tell you which side the opening is! I think it's insomnia that's made me 'learn' it.

bouncydog1

We have super king goose down, 15 tog for winter and it goesfor washing and drying when we change to Sumer weight. Summer one goes when we change to winter.

Other interim washes dependant on if the cats (that sleep on our heated waterbed at every opportunity) have any accidents! Did anyone know that cats projectile vomit? No - neither did I until today!

Honeythief

I've never washed a duvet in my life (and isn't it dangerous to dry clean them because the chemicals stay in there? I'm sure our feather one has a tag on it saying not to). We use top and bottom sheets and wash the duvet cover regularly, so it doesn't bother me. It'd be different if children or animals were having accidents, but that isn't likely to happen in our house.

Ms_Chocaholic

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

And there's my next question - who uses a top sheet with their duvet? I don't - that's the whole point of a duvet so you don't have layers, isn't it?

I never used to use a top sheet but I made the change about 3 years ago and so glad I did. It saves washing the duvet cover so often and on hot nights (like last night) I can throw off the duvet but still have a covering.

miss_corerupted

oooo the last time must have been about 4 years ago!! is that yuchy?? previously i have washed it the bath

kezlou

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

Continental quilt - I forgot that's what we used to call them!

My MIL still uses old fashioned brushed cotton sheets and a huge heavy purple felted-wool blanket with the 2" wide satin edge! Quaint.

We still have the those felted -wool blankets
I bought them when we lived in the old house for about £2 each, they are amazingly warm. In the winter my children have bottom sheet, duvet and blankets on top. We have a king size duvet and two blankets on ours.

Okay washing duvets i have to wash the single ones constantly as ds2 wets the bed and everything needs to be washed. Think my neighbours think i'm mad .

So single duvets once a week in the washing machine.
King size just gets aired out, can't fit it in the washing machine. I don't bother to scrub it unless it really needs it.

sounds bad eh?:o

Honeythief

I think the majority of people have similar standards and it is only the big companies that sell cleaning products who want us to think that's not safe or we're not normal for not exceeding those standards. We are normal!

I'm in New Zealand and we have frosty winters with some snow storms, and the houses are not well built or well insulated, or well heated. It gets very cold at night. I layer up with wool clothes and those lovely wool blankets over the duvet. I've got a friend from Malaysia who just moved here recently, and she has no idea how to cope with the cold. She didn't know what I was talking about when I told her about the wool blankets, I suppose because they are difficult/expensive to buy new and most people just hand them down over generations. I sent her off to scour the thrift shops for something to keep her warm at night!

mummyroysof3

For those who can fit a single quilt in their washer...what size drum do you have?

thehappybutterfly

Pooky wrote: »

We all have a 13.5 king sized duvet (3 beds) for winter/spring/autumn and they go out on the line every couple of months for a good beat and air off. I steam clean them once a year and replace one every year (so a 3 year cycle). Pillows get the same treatment (steam cleaning and line airing) and I replace them every 18/24 months when they get to flat to fluff.

In the summer we just have a sheet and blanket or just the sheet, the duvets get a really good airing then and packed in a vacuum sealed bag to stay fresh.

Duvet covers/sheets and pillow cases get changed every 4/5 days on our bed (DH is disabled and spends a lot of time in bed so it needs doing). DDs beds get done once a fortnight. Mattresses and or toppers get flipped/turned at the same time to make sure they wear evenly.

My goodness Pooky - you're VERY organised! :T I would never be able to remember all that. I'd get all confused about what direction I flipped the last time, or whose duvet got replaced the last time!

Valli

I usually take mine down the launderette in the summer (I washed one once, in a bath - never again...) because they have huge machines. I used to have an 8kg machine so washed the single duvets in there.

DD and I use topsheets. But duvet covers still get washed at least once a fortnight. DS, however, no longer uses a top sheet - he was kicking it down the bed so I stopped giving him one.

I also wash their pillows, on sunny days;)

My pillows, on the other hand, I have had for 29 years and I got them when the old lady who lived next door to my first MiL died.

In my defence I have had the filling (feathers) taken out and cleaned and they have had new ticking (before you're all grossed out) a few times!