Duvets and pillows

Jane10

I'm going to check out whether its possible to buy duvet protectors. It must be?

We have all-seasons duvets, down or feather and down, and each part goes to be laundered once a year. They're all too big for my washing machine.
I wash our pillows (again down or d and f) about every 6 months in my machine. They do have to be tumble dried, but come up beautifully.
I rarely thought of washing pillows until I read Bill Bryson's 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' and the horrendous section on dust mites! Enough to make you itch all over.
Right after reading that I also vacuumed our mattress - I won't go into what came out....

Feathers and down are obtained from birds either as by-products of slaughter, natural moulting or live plucking - this is very painful and traumatic for the bird. There are now many alternatives to feather and down which are comfortable and hygienic, but if it is still your preference it is easy to check that the product is cruelty-free.

Oooo can you wash duvets and pillows?...

Lived in Sweden many years ago before duvets arrived here. We use to hang a naked duvet out in the fresh air about once a month. I still do it but sometimes just hang it out the window. Pillows I just replace.

I started buying zipped cotton duvet covers for new duvets, but Dunelm Mill have stopped selling them. Have seen them on other sites but they cost almost as much as a new duvet. Wish I'd known about mattress/duvet/pillow protectors years ago.

Oh dear I can't remember when I last vacuumed the mattress . As for taking it outside to air, well there's absolutely zero chance of that - it's so damn heavy, even between us my DH and I struggle to lift it to turn...

"loopyloo* our cats and dogs home won't take feather pillows, because of the potential mess if dogs take to chewing them

I don’t get on with duvets at all so use normal sheets and blankets which can be regularly washed and as we use feather pillows we make sure that they are replaced at appropriate intervals. I have duvets for guest beds though.

Had a relative who was a professional housekeeper who taught me lots of things.

I have matress protectors, pillow protectors and plain duvet covers, then bedsheets, pillowcases and coloured/patterned duvet covers. Duvets and pillow go outside 'naked' on first suitable spring day and regularly until wet Autumn, occasional airing late in year depending on weather. My machine would not like heavy load, take duvets to laundry when special offer, is two for one or second half price. Pillows binned as necessary but protectors washed regularly certainly lengthen pillow life. AC go off with anything they can so sometimes get to replace pillows sooner than usual. Take my mattresses outside to air when a very good spell of weather, also vacuum them with a pair of tights over the vacuum head(has it got a name?) when I change the protectors. I don't like replacing items if I can prolong life by care. Also clear washing machine and tumble drier filters regularly. Loathe dusting. John Lewis sale for pillows.

I have two quilts one for summer so I wash them after change them over. Not pillows though.

Oh I agree, finding good pillows is hard!!!

I also replace duvets and pillows. The only pillow I do wash is mine, which is a Dunlopillo one and washes well and doesn’t lose its shape, but it is getting a bit long in the tooth and I think it will be out the door before too much longer. I wish I had a pound for every pillow I have ever bought that manufacturers have made exaggerated claims for in terms of ergonomic and health properties, and some of which are still cluttering up my cupboards never to be used again as they are useless! Note to self: get rid!

As Bathsheba said, rescue dogs/cats homes are usually very grateful for any bedding. Then you can buy new with an environmentally clear conscience

Phew, that’s good. Not just me then. I’m hopeless with washing pillows so replace when necessary, same with the duvet. Sorry to ask but when I read that bit of ‘advice’ I thought this is one more thing that I didn’t know and have been doing wrong!

When I buy a pillow I put the date on it with marker pen on the label. I do try washing them sometimes tacking them to hold the foam in place. Now, I think feathers will be better and then given to cats home or in compost bin.

Exactly MissA! I won't pay out for dry cleaning, it seems pointless, and I can't fit my duvet in my washer. It's a problem isn't it

I replace pillows every year or so, and don't consider this particularly wasteful because I always pass the old ones to the local cats and dogs home for bedding. I use pillow covers under the pillowslips, and they're not feather pillows, so I'm sure they're fine, and the home are always grateful for them.

And I have padded pillow protectors, in case a drool.

I used to take my duvet to the launderette (how do you spell that, now?!) once a year, and spend about as much washing and drying it as it costs to buy a new one. I cottoned on after about ten years.

No I don’t wash them I renew pillows if they get stained and duvets get dry cleaned every few years It’s only me so I m not causing them to get dirty beneath the covers which are washed regularly

I always have an under pillow case, which can be washed, boiled and bleached. It extends pillow life.

If you have a large freezer you can wrap a pillow in a bin bag and put it in the freezer for 24 hours ( if you have room ) . This kills off the bugs .

I have to wash pillows often , sometimes they go a funny shape but I have managed to reshape them . It is very wastefull and bad for the environment to chuck them ! OH s duvet is in the washing machine nearly everh week ...... sigh