How Often to Wash a Duvet Cover

Odds are you already have your sheet-washing schedule down pat. But what about your duvet? How often should you actually wash each part of the duvet set? And does the duvet insert need the same attention as the cover?

Keep reading for a comprehensive guide on how often to wash each piece of your duvet set, why it matters, and a few easy tips to make laundry day a little easier.

How often to wash duvet cover

Ideally, a duvet cover should be washed as often as you wash your bed sheets and pillowcases. That is most often every couple of weeks, unless your bedding stains or needs laundering sooner.

Washing these bedding items together will save you time and effort so you can sort out your entire bed on the same day.

Washing your duvet cover will also help to keep your bed hygienic, comfortable and allergen-free. Like bed sheets, duvet covers absorb moisture from perspiration while you sleep and need to be washed to prevent mould and mildew growth.

Duvet covers are also usually the top layer of bedding, which means they're likely more exposed to dust and debris than bed sheets. Washing will help prevent dust mites and other nasty allergens from disrupting sleep.

How often to wash duvet insert

While duvet inserts don't need to be washed as often as other bedding items, they still need to be washed every now and then to stay comfortable and odour-free. How often you should wash a duvet insert depends on the material they’re made from and how you use them.

A duvet used as part of a set should usually be washed about every 2 - 3 months. This is because duvet inserts absorb perspiration and come into contact with skin and body oils while you sleep.

Duvets can also be aired out to help prevent moisture from sticking around in your bed after you get up in the morning. You can either hang the duvet up to air out after use, or fold the duvet at the foot of the bed to let the moisture escape for between 30 minutes to an hour before making the bed.

Duvet inserts used without a cover will need to be washed more often than those used in a duvet set.

How to wash

Washing a duvet cover

Duvet covers can generally be washed in the same way as bed sheets and pillowcases. Before you get started, make sure you understand the proper care instructions to avoid damaging the duvet cover. This will tell you whether cold or hot water is appropriate for washing and which cleaning products to use.

Washing a duvet insert

Washing a duvet insert is usually straightforward and easy, but there are a few things to consider to ensure you clean it properly without causing any damage. As with any other bedding item, figure out the recommended care instructions first to understand what to do and what to avoid when cleaning the duvet cover.

For more information, check out this article with step-by-step instructions on how to wash a duvet insert properly.

Drying

Drying a duvet cover

After washing duvet covers, they need to be thoroughly dried before being used or put away. Duvet covers can usually be dried in the tumble-dryer or air-dried, but you'll need to consider the following for either method:

If you're still not sure which method you prefer, check out this comprehensive guide to drying linens.

Drying a duvet insert

Drying your duvet insert is crucial for keeping it in good shape over time. After you wash a duvet insert, keep the following in mind:

What about other bedding

Different bedding items need different care routines. Here's how often you should wash other bedding items to help you better plan laundry day and get it all done in one!

• Bed sheets: Bedding like fitted sheets and flat sheets should be washed every couple of weeks. These sheets come into direct contact with your skin as you sleep and absorb a lot of moisture each night.
• Pillowcases: Pillowcases can be washed with the same frequency as bed sheets: about once a week or once a fortnight. If you have very sensitive skin, you may want to swap out fresh pillowcases more often.
• Pillows: Like duvet inserts, pillows don't need to be washed as often as bed sheets, but should be washed twice a year at a minimum.
• Bed covers: Bed covers should be washed once every few months to keep them dust-free, fresh and clean.
• Blankets: Depending on the material, blankets should be washed every few months or so. If you suffer from night sweats or are particularly sensitive to allergens, you may benefit from washing blankets more frequently.