Cleaning Winter Duvets

Darren Brown, Business Development Manager at Cole & Wilson gives his six top tips on how to effectively wash winter duvets as the colder season creeps in.

Winter has come around quick and fast, and the cold weather is slowly creeping upon us, thus meaning it is time to get those winter duvets out.

When cleaning duvets, there are a number of considerations to be made;

• Fabric makeup – is the makeup of the duvet polyester, foam, feather?
• Manufacturers recommendations on washing, i.e. Temperature, drying constraints etc.
• Staining present, types of stains etc.

All these give chemical suppliers and laundries an idea on the wash requirements in order to design the correct process, to ensure the duvet is cleaned properly, rinsed thoroughly to prevent skin irritations, and left looking, and smelling clean and fresh.

Tip 1:

Ensure the machine used is large enough to deal with the size of the duvet to ensure mechanical action is sufficient to aid stain and soil removal.

Tip 2:

If staining is present, try and determine the type of stain, protein (sweat, urine, blood, etc) and pre-spot with either Cole & Wilson pre-spotting chemicals – Sultraspot Protein or Stain Wash Power. If coffee or tea stains, use Sultraspot Colour or Stain Wash Oxy (ensure the labels do not advise against oxygen bleaches before using them).

Tip 3:

If using powder, ensure over dosing doesn’t take place, use recommended dose levels and if using automatic dosing liquid systems, ensure the correct wash chemical program is used. Add sufficient powdered oxy (Caretex S – if required depending on stain level) when hand dosing.

Over dosing of detergent/alkali can cause Yellowing called Galling on White Linen and skin irritations from too much chemical, and reduce mechanical action from too much foam in washers.

Tip 4:

Ensure the correct wash temperature is selected. Cole & Wilson representatives will design the correct wash process for your duvet types according to the manufacturers recommendations (if machines are programmable), and advise on the correct default program if not programmable.

Tip 5:

When using fabric conditioners, check labels to see if the use of them is advised against. Some duvets can flatter with the use of fabric conditioners.

Tip 6:

When drying, ensure you read care labels to see the recommended drying options. Do not over-dry if tumble drying as this could result in damaging the duvet. Use correct dryer setting for duvets.