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Duvets v. Blankets

(75 Posts)
Stansgran Mon 26-Nov-18 12:29:30

About 12 years ago I had a foot operation. Making a king size bed with blankets took 68 steps. I countedgrin I bought a superking sized duvet and also sheet so DH could be well tucked in! Since then every day he has complained about the duvet. And I mean every day. I'm cracking. Do I revert to two wool blankets( £145 each John Lewis) and a heavy bedspread ? Or do I hope I die soon? Any way anyone can suggest a solution? I'm having a knee done very soon and just can't face the grumbling. There was a letter in the Times this morning which I had read out to me about duvet v. Blanket which has sparked this off.

phoenix Mon 26-Nov-18 22:05:44

Ironing duvet covers????????

(Phoenix has a fit of the vapours and goes for a lie down, under her un-ironed duvet cover)

Beau Mon 26-Nov-18 23:06:55

I read years ago that any sheet / blanket / throw over or under a duvet completely voided the way in which they keep you warm. I can't remember exactly why - does no-one find this to be the case?

FlexibleFriend Tue 27-Nov-18 12:53:32

I have a all seasons duvet, a 4.5 and a 10.5 that attach to each other by poppers. It's some kind of feathers and it is very heavy. I have dodgy knees and really struggle to get out of bed. Heavy is good because their are no gaps, the duvet fills every available space around my body but it's not so good because I'm pinned down by the weight of it when trying to get up and only have one leg that can move freely the other one needs to have the duvet lifted off the leg before the leg can move. I personally think blankets would be lighter but I wouldn't tuck them in.

Gonegirl Tue 27-Nov-18 13:05:13

I prefer duvets (definitely no top sheet). When the weather gets really cold I add a lower tog duvet on top of the 10.5 one and secure them together by winding lightweight rubber bands round the very tips of the four corners. Keeps them in place nicely.

David1968 Wed 28-Nov-18 10:45:23

I'm with you Phoenix - ironing duvet covers???? Life is too short!

dragonfly46 Wed 28-Nov-18 10:53:44

Yep SilverLining we have a king sized bed with two single duvets. In the summer we revert to a sheet and cotton blanket which works fine. We lived in Holland for a number of years and most people have single duvets. It also means you can have separate weights.
I do miss not being able to throw the duvet out of the window every day to air though. I did it once over here and got some very strange looks.

dragonfly46 Wed 28-Nov-18 10:54:45

We also have pure cotton seersucker covers which do not require ironing!
My iron comes out once a month if it is lucky!!

Abbeygran Wed 28-Nov-18 11:04:58

Duvet for us, un-ironed. I don’t even know where my iron is, haven’t used it in years!

GrandmaPam Wed 28-Nov-18 11:09:32

Maybe shop elsewhere for the blankets! John Lewis isn't cheap smile

GrandmaPam Wed 28-Nov-18 11:10:46

Haha...I also lived in Holland. Don't remember it being normal to have two single quilts, but I do have fond memories of hanging them out to 'air'. Miss that!

holdingontometeeth Wed 28-Nov-18 11:17:39

Why don’t you just compromise?
Tell him he can wear his coat in bed, that should keep him warmer.

Thorntrees Wed 28-Nov-18 11:18:14

We have had duvets for years, different togs according to season,no top sheet. I do remember when we got the first one my Mother was very shocked by the whole idea of not having blankets and bedspread but even she came round to it eventually. We do have a dual control electric under blanket in the winter which DH uses but I don’t bother with. A lightweight fleecy blanket on the foot of the bed keeps feet warm. Hate the duvet tucked in on hotel stays as others have said- I do iron the covers though but then I quite like ironing!

Kim19 Wed 28-Nov-18 11:29:22

You have all the practical answers here. Wonderful. My two provisos would be if your foot can stand the blanket weight and that bed making is the sole responsibility of your husband then go for it. I would append that by suggesting the single bed option be resorted to of he ever reneged on the agreement. Certainly wouldn't be my first choice. Good luck and please put your comfort first.

cc Wed 28-Nov-18 11:29:29

You can actually get wool filled duvets now, so perhaps he'd try one? Then as previously suggested you could have two duvets.

sandelf Wed 28-Nov-18 11:30:40

Why does he let you struggle with this? He needs to be a gentleman - or at least a grown up. Sorry to be blunt.

icanhandthemback Wed 28-Nov-18 11:34:19

All I can say is that your DH has too much time on his hands if he moans every day about the duvet and you had to too little to think about if you were counting how many steps it takes to make a bed. Life is just too short! grin

JacquiG Wed 28-Nov-18 11:45:04

Twin beds? Own bed clothes?

nipsmum Wed 28-Nov-18 11:51:52

Single beds, double duvets. Definitely no ironing. Fold as soon as it comes off the drying line. Put in the cupboard, no ironing required. That's my advice.

GabriellaG Wed 28-Nov-18 11:52:35

Duvets for me.
Blankets? Can you get a king size ( orveven a double blanket into an ordinary washing machine? Then there is the matter of drying it.
No, I prefer a down duvet in winter and a lighter tog hollowfibre in spring/summer. I use a flat sheet underneath it and a fitted sheet on the mattress topper which is itself on top of a mattress protector.
Throws in varying weights and colours are added as needed but I like a cool bedroom with open windows even in winter.
My bed and bedding is of paramount importance to me.

nannypiano Wed 28-Nov-18 12:45:29

I've always put a sheet between me and the duvet. Tucked in, keeps the duvet still and much easier to wash and return clean to the bed than fighting a duvet cover.

Magrithea Wed 28-Nov-18 13:04:23

Go the continental route! In Germany a lot of hotels have separate duvets on a double bed so you could get twin beds (and push them together) and he could have his blankets etc. and you your duvet. Simples!

Blue45Sapphire Wed 28-Nov-18 13:14:57

Definitely duvets here, and has been ever since DH and I married in 1972.
A tip I picked up from mumsnet, similar to what Gonegirl said - when you get the duvet into the top corners of the cover, slip an elastic hair band or similar around each corner, they then don't slip out when you give the duvet a good shake.
What's ironing?

mabon1 Wed 28-Nov-18 13:17:34

What's wrong with single beds then?

GabriellaG Wed 28-Nov-18 13:31:35

mabon1
Actually, nothing.
You get as much room to yourself in a single bed, as in a king and are not subject to arms and legs flailing about, covers yanked away from you, snoring...
Either single beds or a double all to yourself in another room. grin

kitnsimon Wed 28-Nov-18 13:42:03

I bought two single duvets for our bed when the king size one got difficult to change. We both find them very comfortable.