Duck down duvet which smells

sophiedophie

Hello,

Treated myself to what I thought would be a nice new duck down duvet only to get it out and find it has a terrible smell which after researching appears to be a common problem with duck down.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get rid of this odour?

Thanks!

prowla

I'm not sure you can; my advice would be to take it back.

I had it happen with some pillows, and they were really quite horrible.

Anne_Marie_2

If it's a chemical smell, it should wear off with a bit of airing. If it's a gamey smell, I would return it.

honeythewitch

Assuming it is in a pure cotton cover you can wash it on hot and the smell will go.
Or put it on the washing line for a few days.

Butterfly_Brain

I would just hang it on the washing line for a couple of days

Brambleberry

You are right sophiedophie,it is fairly usual to find some duvets niff a bit on unboxing. If the weather is not suitable for airing on a washing line, try hanging it over a bannister or a couple of chairs in an warm airy room and give it a shake up very few hours.
The smell might be a little overpowering for the first couple of hours, but in my experience it wears off fairly quickly. After a day or two, a nice freshly laundered duvet cover will mask the last of it.
Once it's been on the bed a few days, the chances are that the smell will be almost gone. Worh persevering for toasty bedtimes!

prowla

I tried a couple of hot washes, out on the washing line, and in the tumble dryer with my smelly pillows, and the smell stayed; I think there was something rotten in there.

Anne_Marie_2

honeythewitch wrote: »

Assuming it is in a pure cotton cover you can wash it on hot and the smell will go.
Or put it on the washing line for a few days.

Not all feather or down duvets can be machine washed, even although in cotton cover. Better to check with the cleaning instructions on the label first.

I wouldn't advise OP to wash the duvet. Might invalidate any chance of returning the item.

I have a goose down duvet which is machine washable, although far too big to go into my domestic 8kg machine, so have to take it to a laundry.

honeythewitch

Anne_Marie wrote: »

Not all feather or down duvets can be machine washed, even although in cotton cover. Better to check with the cleaning instructions on the label first.

I wouldn't advise OP to wash the duvet. Might invalidate any chance of returning the item.

Do they do something to the feathers to make them unwashable?

If the smell cant be removed I imagine the shop will have to take it back washed or not as "unfit for purpose".

Anne_Marie_2

honeythewitch wrote: »

Do they do something to the feathers to make them unwashable

If the smell cant be removed I imagine the shop will have to take it back washed or not as "unfit for purpose".

Did you read my post?

honeythewitch

Anne_Marie wrote: »

Did you read my post?

Yes! :eek: Did you read mine?
I asked what exactly unwashable duvet manufacturers DO to feathers to make them unwashable, because ordinarily, feathers are washable, cotton is washable, and care labels are often a load of hogwash.