A duvet and its cover need different care. Wash the duvet cover with your sheets every one to two weeks: inside out, buttons closed, cold water, a gentle cycle, then a low tumble dry. Wash the duvet insert itself only two or three times a year, following its care label: a large-capacity machine, a gentle cycle, a little mild detergent, an extra rinse, and a long, low-heat dry until it is completely dry all the way through. The steps below cover both, plus what to do when a duvet will not fit your machine. The cover instructions are written for eucalyptus TENCEL duvet covers like ours.
Before you start: read two labels
The cover and the insert each have their own care label, and they rarely say the same thing. Our duvet covers are machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Inserts vary more. Down and feather duvets usually want a gentle wash with a mild or down-specific detergent; synthetic ones are often happy with a normal gentle cycle; a few are dry clean only. The label also tells you the highest temperature the fill can take. If it says dry clean only, take it to a cleaner rather than risk it.
How to wash a duvet cover
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Take the duvet out. Undo the buttons, untie the corner loops from the duvet's tabs and slide the insert out. Ours has eight corner loops, so check all of them are free before you pull.
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Close it up. Do the buttons back up so the cover cannot twist into a ball or catch on anything in the drum.
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Turn it inside out. Washing inside out protects the outer surface from rubbing, which keeps it smooth for longer.
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Wash cold on a gentle cycle. Use a mild liquid detergent and do not pack the machine full. Wash it with similar smooth fabrics, such as your sheets and pillowcases, rather than towels or anything with zips or hooks.
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Skip the bleach and the softener. Bleach weakens fibres. Fabric softener is not needed, because eucalyptus TENCEL is naturally smooth, and it can leave a film on the fabric that makes it feel less fresh.
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Dry on low. Tumble dry on a low setting and take the cover out as soon as the cycle ends, ideally while it is very slightly damp. Lay it on the bed or hang it for a few minutes to finish. Pulling it out promptly stops creases from setting.
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Put the duvet back. The quickest way is the roll method, which takes under a minute and needs no climbing inside the cover. It is explained step by step in our Queen vs King duvet cover size guide.
Washed cold and dried low, eucalyptus TENCEL holds its size. If you want the detail on heat, see does TENCEL shrink when washed and can you put TENCEL in the dryer.
How often to wash a duvet cover
Every one to two weeks if you sleep directly under it, which most duvet users do. If a flat sheet sits between you and the cover, every few weeks is enough. Wash it sooner after illness, hot nights or a pet on the bed. It is the same rhythm as your sheets, which is why it is easiest to wash them together; our guide to how often to change your sheets covers the schedule.
How to wash a duvet insert
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Check it fits the machine. The duvet needs room to move and rinse. A Queen or King insert usually needs a large-capacity front-loading machine. A top-loader with a central agitator can pull and tear the shell, so if that is what you have, use a large machine at a laundromat.
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Treat marks first. Dab any spots with a little diluted mild detergent and a clean cloth. Do not scrub, which pushes the mark deeper into the fill.
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Use a gentle or bulky cycle. Choose the temperature the label allows and use only a small amount of detergent. For down and feather, a down wash is best. Leave out the fabric softener.
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Add an extra rinse and spin. Filled bedding holds on to detergent and water. An extra rinse clears the soap, and a final spin takes out as much water as possible before drying.
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Dry low and slow. Tumble dry on low with two or three dryer balls to break up clumps. Every 30 to 45 minutes, take the duvet out, shake it and spread the fill back into the corners. A Queen or King down duvet can take several hours.
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Make sure it is completely dry. Squeeze the middle and the corners. Any clump you can feel is still damp inside. Damp fill smells musty and can grow mildew, so keep going until it is light and even all over, then air it for a few hours before it goes back in its cover.
If your duvet will not fit your machine
Use a large-capacity machine at a laundromat, which is often the quickest option for a King insert, or take it to a cleaner who handles bedding. Between washes, spot clean marks and air the duvet well. Kept in a cover, an insert stays clean enough that two or three washes a year is plenty.
Drying a duvet without a dryer
It can be done, but it takes patience. Spin it as dry as the machine allows, then lay it flat or drape it over a drying rack or line in a warm, airy spot, out of direct strong sun. Turn it and shake out the fill every few hours. Expect it to take a day or more. If you can, finish with a short tumble on low to fluff the fill back up.
Keeping a duvet fresh between washes
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Keep it covered. The cover is the washable layer. An insert that is always in a cover stays clean far longer.
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Air it out. Pull back the bedding in the morning and let it breathe before you make the bed. Now and then, hang the insert outside on a dry, breezy day.
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Deal with spills straight away. Blot rather than rub. Our stain removal guide for eucalyptus bedding covers the common ones.
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Keep a second cover. With two covers, the bed is made again the same day you wash, and each cover lasts longer.
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Wash before you store. When you swap a winter duvet for a lighter one, wash and fully dry it first, then store it in a breathable bag rather than plastic.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a duvet in the washing machine?
Most down, feather and synthetic duvets can be machine washed if the label allows it and the drum is large enough for the duvet to move freely. Some are dry clean only, so check the label first.
How often should you wash a duvet?
Two or three times a year is enough for an insert kept in a cover. Wash it more often if there are spills, pets on the bed or anyone with allergies. The cover is washed far more often, every one to two weeks.
Can you wash a King duvet at home?
Only if your machine is big enough for it to move and rinse properly, which usually means a large-capacity front-loader. If it fills the drum, use a laundromat.
Can a eucalyptus TENCEL duvet cover go in the dryer?
Yes, on a low setting. Take it out promptly, while it is very slightly damp, so it stays smooth and holds its size.
Should you wash a new duvet cover before using it?
Many people do, to freshen it after packing and shipping. A cold, gentle wash and a low tumble dry is all it needs. Shop our eucalyptus TENCEL duvet cover sets in Queen and King, in nine colours.
