Caring for Your Duvet Cover

 Now you have your beautiful new Vintage Duvet Cover, here are some tips to help you care for it so it will last for years.

No matter how careful we are, spills and stains happen.  These should be attended to as soon as possible so they don't set into the fabric.

Protect Your Cover

 In order to keep it looking like new, here are a few things to know about cleaning the cover.  It seems to be best to wash your duvet cover when you place clean sheets on the bed. If you use the duvet in a traditional fashion, without other bedding, you may choose to wash the cover every week.

As you begin your day by making up your bed, give the duvet and cover a shake to fluff it up and keep the fill evenly distributed.  Check the cover quickly for any thing that may have spilled and use a light spot remover if needed. 

Launder or Dry Clean?

When the duvet cover needs a complete freshening up, remove it from the duvet and check for the manufacturers recommended method of cleaning it. Check it for any serious stains that might need pre-treatment.  If it can be washed, use mild detergents and gentle warm water cycle in the washing machine. 

Turn it inside out and dry the duvet cover with gentle low heat in the dryer, adding a fragrant dryer sheet, removing it when almost dry.  If you can, hang the cover outdoors to complete the drying, it will smell so fresh and wonderful when you bring it in and recover your duvet.  If it needs smoothing, iron it using the setting indicated for the particular fabric of the cover.  If the manufacturer states dry-clean only, do not wash it as this could cause it to shrink or become out of shape.

If you have a queen size of king size duvet cover or one of a heavy fabric, be sure it will fit into your washer and dryer.  You may need to go to a laundromat and use their large sized machines.

Curbing Allergies

Remember that bedding is a very attractive place for mites and they, along with dust can cause allergies.  When you wash your duvet cover consider adding essential oils to the rinse water.  Eucalyptus, pine or even peppermint oil have been shown to kill dust mites and breathing the aroma of the oils is healthful as well.