How to Clean a Duvet

Table of Contents:

You Will Need
Steps to Remove the Stain
Additional Tips and Advice

Melissa asked: How do I clean a duvet? My cat peed on my bed. As you can imagine, it has gone everywhere and stinks! My duvet is king-sized and won’t fit in the washing machine. I wondered if there was an alternative way to clean it?

If your duvet is too large for your washing machine, you may be able to find a large capacity machine at a local laundromat. If that isn’t an option, this method is both safe and effective.

You Will Need:

Bath tub
Laundry detergent
Water
Enzyme pet stain pre-treater (found in most pet stores)

Steps to Remove the Stain:

Spray pre-treater on the stain. For pet stains, be sure to use an enzyme-based product. These products are designed to break down the odor-causing proteins in the urine.
Fill the bath tub ½ to ¾ full with the hottest water you can use on your duvet.
Add 1-2 scoops of laundry detergent. Swirl or agitate the water to disperse the detergent evenly.
Place the duvet in the bathtub and push it under water. If the entire thing doesn’t submerge, add more water.
Use your hands to create the washing action, paying particular attention to the stained area. Scrub that area separately if necessary. This can be done with a scrubbing brush (soft bristles for more sensitive fabrics) or by simply rubbing two sections of the fabric together.
After agitating the duvet and “washing” it completely, allow it to soak for up to an hour.
Drain the tub.
Squeeze water out of most fabrics by rolling the duvet tightly, then immediately unrolling it to prevent wrinkles. For delicate fabrics, fold the wet duvet then press straight down on it, starting at the back of the tub and working your way toward the drain. Rolling can pull on the fabric and cause stretching, which delicate fabrics cannot tolerate without becoming misshapen. Allow plenty of “give” when folding delicate fabrics.
Once you’ve removed as much of the water as possible, fill the tub again with clean water.
Agitate the duvet once more to rinse the soap out.
Repeat if necessary.
Remove as much of the remaining water as possible, and hang the duvet out to dry (weather permitting) or toss it in the dryer (if space and fabric permit). Otherwise, hang it over the shower curtain rod or spread it across several chair backs to allow it to air dry.

Additional Tips and Advice

Before you dry the duvet, ensure the stain is gone. For pet stains, check for lingering odors as well. Allowing the duvet to dry, particularly in the dryer, will set any remaining stains and make them more difficult to remove.