The good thing about our down duvets is: you can wash them yourself. But is it even possible to wash a down duvet without a dryer? After all, drying is the most difficult part of the entire washing process. In our article, we will show you how to achieve this feat and still get your down duvet dry and fluffy again.

 

Why and how to wash a down duvet without a dryer?

If you have already read our blog post on washing down duvets, then you know that it is necessary to wash your duvet every 3-4 years to maintain its lifespan. Otherwise, the down will eventually lose its insulating and moisture-regulating properties. Ideally, you should always use a dryer for drying to prevent the process from taking too long and to minimize the risk of mold formation. 

But what if you don't have a tumble dryer at home? With our tips, this can also be accomplished. However, in this case, you should wash your duvet in the summer, if possible, when the weather is nice and dry!

Let's start our instructions with the washing process.

 

How to gently wash your down duvet

• Check if the down duvet fits well into the washing machine without being completely crushed.
• Examine your duvet for possible holes or tears.
• Set the desired wash program – for our down duvets, a maximum of 60 degrees.
• Add a down detergent or wool detergent to the detergent dispenser of the washing machine. Do not use fabric softener.
• Select extra water to ensure all detergent residues are removed, or start a second rinse cycle.
• For spinning, ideally choose 400, maximum 600 revolutions.

How to optimally prepare the duvet for drying

To ensure the spinning process is as gentle and short as possible and that the down and feathers are less crushed, use a little trick: 

If your washing machine allows it, remove the down duvet from the machine before spinning and manually squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Then, place the now lighter duvet back into the washing machine and start the spin cycle. This way, small clumps will loosen better.

After spinning, fluff up the down duvet thoroughly. 

While your duvet is washing, prepare the drying area.

 

Your drying spot - airy and shady

Ideally, you should choose a shady outdoor spot for drying. 

Strong sunlight can cause the down to dry out too much and become brittle. 

A covered patio, which also protects against unexpected rain, would be ideal.

For drying, it's best to use a standing clothes airer or something where you can place the down duvet so that air can circulate from all sides.

Do not hang the duvet on a clothesline, as this can cause the down filling to shift within its chambers, potentially clumping together and drying less effectively.

Place your down duvet in the shady spot for several hours after the wash and spin cycle.

 

The drying process: How long does a duvet take to dry without a dryer?

Now it's time to be patient. Because drying without technical assistance takes many hours. Depending on the outside temperature, you may even need to dry the duvet for over 2 days. If necessary, bring your duvet inside overnight, but here too, make sure that air can reach the down duvet from all sides the entire time. If possible, leave the window open overnight. 

It is important that you repeatedly shake and turn your down duvet during the drying process. This way you ensure that all the down is really dry and fluffed up before the duvet is used again. 

Only use the duvet again when it is thoroughly dry, and in the following days, continue to air your down duvet well.

 

How do I dry a down duvet in winter?

If you wash a down duvet without a dryer, you should only do so in summer, if at all possible.

But what if, due to heavy soiling, it is necessary to wash a down duvet in winter and no dryer is available?

If possible, you should remove stains locally, e.g., with a damp cloth. However, if this is not enough and the duvet needs to be washed, there are still a few options.

Consider the basic washing instructions.

For drying, the following options are available:

If you have a sauna in your house, you can dry the down duvet there. However, you should keep the temperature very low (approx. 50 degrees) and make sure that you regularly turn and shake the duvet. Keep your distance from the sauna heater.

If you have an indoor fireplace or tiled stove, you can dry the duvet on a clothes airer nearby, but make sure the duvet does not get too hot, meaning it is not dried too close to the heat source. Here, too, regular turning and shaking is important. 

Otherwise, the emergency solution is to heat a room as small as possible to a very warm temperature and ventilate regularly during drying. From a cost and ecological point of view, this option is really only recommended for emergencies. 

For all winter drying variations: if the weather permits, air the duvet thoroughly outdoors in between.

 

Other alternatives

If you follow the advice described here, your down duvet should soon be accompanying you to a restful sleep again. 

However, if the steps seem too elaborate, if you are concerned that you don't have the time, patience, or space for proper drying, or if your down duvet is very large, we recommend professional cleaning. Depending on the filling quantity and washing machine size, this already applies to down duvets 155x220, and definitely for down duvets 200x220 and down duvets 220x240. This is because large down duvets hardly fit into a standard household washing machine. 

At the dry cleaner, you can be sure that the duvet will be professionally cleaned and dried, saving you a lot of work.

Whichever option you choose - we wish you much joy and success in caring for and, above all, using your down duvets.