How to wash a feather or down duvet without ruining it

Wash a feather or down duvet on a gentle cycle at the temperature on its label (usually 40°C), with a small dose of a down-specific or non-biological detergent and no fabric softener, then add an extra rinse. The part that matters most is drying: tumble dry on low heat with dryer balls for two to three hours, shaking it out every 30 minutes, until the centre is completely dry.

Before you start

Check the label for the temperature and whether tumble drying is allowed. Look over the casing: if there is a tear or a weak seam, washing will make it worse and you will have feathers through the machine. Make sure the drum is big enough for the duvet to move freely; if you have to force it in, use a larger machine.

Washing

Use a down wash or a gentle non-biological liquid, at about half the usual dose. Feathers are a natural protein and hold oils that keep them springy, so harsh detergent strips them and too much soap is hard to rinse out. Skip fabric softener entirely: it coats the feathers and stops them lofting.

Choose a delicate or duvet programme, add an extra rinse, and spin at the highest speed the label allows to get as much water out as possible before drying.

Drying: the step that decides everything

Wet feathers clump into hard lumps and smell if they stay damp. Tumble dry on low heat with two or three dryer balls or clean tennis balls to break up the clumps. Stop every 30 minutes, take the duvet out, shake it hard and feel the middle. A double can take two to three hours; a king or super king longer.

It is done when there are no lumps anywhere and the centre feels as dry as the edges. If in doubt, give it another 30 minutes. Then air it flat for a few hours before putting it back on the bed.

Common problems

A smell after washing: almost always because the filling is not fully dry. Put it back in the dryer.

Lumps that will not shake out: more drying time with dryer balls, on low heat.

It has lost its loft: usually too much detergent, fabric softener, or drying too hot.

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