Most of us are diligent about how often we wash our bedding, but it’s all too easy to keep putting a fresh cover on your duvet, whilst forgetting to clean the duvet itself. However, if you can’t remember the last time you washed your duvet, or if your bedroom never smells fresh, even when you’ve just put on fresh sheets, it’s probably time to give your duvet a clean.
A cosy duvet, like a good mattress, plays a valuable role in getting the recommended 7-9 hours sleep per night. And, since you spend up to a third of your life sleeping or in bed, your duvet can get pretty grimy if you're not giving it a clean periodically.
Washing your duvet is a vital part of keeping your bed clean and fresh, so consider this your reminder, and read our top tips on how best to launder this bulky part of your bedding...
Why should you wash your duvet?
Despite being encased in a duvet cover that’s washed regularly, your duvet will still accumulate dust, skin cells, sweat, and dust mites. And, if it’s not aired properly, there could be mould spores and bacteria lurking in there, too, making your duvet very unhygienic.
Aside from simply being an undesirable addition to your duvet, a lot of these nasties are problematic if you suffer from allergies. But the good news is that most are removed and killed when your duvet is properly laundered.
How often should you wash your duvet?
The general advice is once per year at a minimum, but if you use the same duvet year-round, it could probably benefit from a wash every 3-4 months. If you suffer from allergies, are particularly sweaty at night, or have been very ill, your duvet may need more frequent washes.
Do summer duvets need to be washed more often?
Switching to a lower tog duvet during the warmer months can help you to stay cooler at night. But that doesn’t mean you won’t still have a few sweaty nights in the peak of summer, so your duvet might need an extra wash or two.
Conversely, if you don’t sweat much through the night, you might find it’s enough to wash your duvet at the end of summer, so that it’s clean before being stored away for winter.
Can you wash a duvet at home?
You can absolutely wash a duvet at home and some of the best washing machines come with a specialist duvet programme. However, it’s important to note that you should always follow the instructions on the care label for guidance.
But if your duvet doesn’t easily fit into the drum of your washing machine with some room to spare, you’ll need to take it to a specialist cleaner. Cramming a duvet into a washing machine drum that’s not big enough for it means it won’t have the space it needs to move around and won’t be washed effectively.
How should you wash your duvet?
Regardless of whether your duvet is synthetic or filled with natural feather and down, always wash according to the care label.
For machine washable duvets, if it fits in your washing machine, wash at the hottest temperature the care label allows and use a liquid detergent, as this will penetrate it easier than a powder. You can also use a laundry sanitiser such as Dettol, for added reassurance.
Dry thoroughly, preferably in a tumble dryer on a low heat. If you don’t have access to a tumble dryer, try to wash it on a warm day and hang it outside in the sunshine to speed up drying.
What if it doesn’t fit in your washing machine?
Most dry cleaners offer a duvet service that covers all sizes as the duvet is cleaned using chemical solvents instead of water. Check the care label first to see if your duvet can be dry cleaned, and be aware that many feather and down duvets are not suitable for this type of cleaning.
The alternative to the dry cleaner is a launderette. If you're lucky enough to have a good launderette in your area, they may offer a duvet service — they’ll wash and dry the duvet for you using their extra large commercial style washing machines. Depending on where you live, this could even include collection and delivery as part of the service.
How can a feather and down duvet regain its fluffiness post wash?
The important thing is to make sure feather and down duvets (and all duvets for that matter) dry thoroughly. If possible, dry on a low temperature in a tumble dryer. The action of the tumble dryer will not only dry the inside properly, but it’ll plump up the duvet after washing.
How often should you wash your mattress protector?
Most mattress protectors are machine washable, so follow the care label and wash every two months. As with duvets, if it doesn’t easily fit into your machine, you may need to wash it at a launderette.
The best summer duvets for keeping cool, tried and tested
Score: 98/100
With a near perfect score, our winning summer duvet is one you’ll want to take to bed before the next heatwave hits. It impressed our panel of testers with its cosy feel, comfort and how easily it slipped inside a duvet cover. In fact, our panellists had nothing bad to say!
You can forget about heat disrupting your sleep too – this lightweight design kept our testers cool without any sweating, and still provided a comfortable amount of warmth when it wasn’t so hot outside.
One tester described it as the “best duvet ever – perfect for those with high body temperature due to sharing the bed, menopause or monthly cycle.” And everyone said they would recommend this summer buy to others.
Score: 92/100
Brook + Wilde’s bedding often performs well in our tests, so we had high hopes for this duvet – and we weren’t disappointed.
Its luxe feel impressed our panel, who said it kept them at a comfortable temperature during the night. It also came through our wash test with minimal shrinkage and, although it took a while to dry, it proved robust, with the high-quality stitching and evenly distributed filling remaining as good as new.
Our panel's verdict was unanimous – they all enjoyed a great sleep under this duvet and would recommend it to others.
Score: 91/100
Don’t let the low price make you question the quality of this duvet; our panel awarded it nearly full marks across the board, especially for its comfort. It also performed well in the lab, with our experts recording minimal shrinkage and no impact to the evenly distributed hollowfibre filling or its overall appearance post-wash. It only took an hour to dry, too.
In fact, for one tester who often gets overheated at night, this budget-friendly duvet was the perfect option. They described it as “light, cool and comfortable.”
Score: 91/100
Washing your duvet regularly is always important but being able to freshen it up during summer when we tend to be sweatier is even more essential. Dropping just over one mark in our wash test, this lightweight design is a trusty buy – it dried quickly, didn’t shrink and maintained its high quality.
Our panellists were impressed too, as it lived up to its temperature-regulating claims, keeping them cool at night. Some liked its airy feel but others would have preferred a snugger design. However, it's worth nothing that this duvet is available in a whole range of tog options (we tested the 10.5 tog option, which would work year-round if you don't like anything too warm).
Score: 90/100
This 6.7 tog microfibre duvet is designed for sweet dreams all year round, but the lower tog rating makes it a great summer option.
We found it well-constructed with an evenly distributed filling that stayed in place after washing. Rather than shrinking, we noticed that this duvet stretched minimally, but the 2cm difference wasn’t enough to impact how well it fitted into a standard double duvet cover.
Our panel found the lightweight design comfortable to sleep with, and most said it regulated their body temperature, helping them sleep easy.
Score: 90/100
This is another great value duvet for warmer weather. Soft and comfortable to sleep with, the filling remains even throughout the night and washed well on test, drying in less than three hours.
Like the other 4.5 togs on our list, it may not offer enough warmth for cooler nights – you can swap to one of our best winter duvets when temperatures drop – but our panel rated it highly for suiting their body temperatures, and most said they’d recommend the lightweight duvet to friends and family.
Score: 90/100
Ethical Bedding sets out to create “duvets with a difference”, filling them with a blend of recycled bottles and fibre derived from sustainably-grown bamboo and eucalyptus. As well as being more eco-friendly, they're hypoallergenic too.
Multiple testers described this duvet as luxurious and high quality, making it a true feel-good choice. At 7 togs, it's slightly warmer than other options on this list, so it should suit those who want a happy medium. But still, testers found it lightweight and cosy.
Score: 90/100
A rise in temperature can also rouse underlying allergies, but this duvet is here to help you avoid unwanted sniffles. It’s treated with “HeiQ Allergen Tech”, which uses natural probiotics to eliminate common allergens such as dust mites, pet hair and some types of pollen. Judging by the feedback from our allergy-suffering panel members, it delivered on this claim, with one saying they would “highly recommend” it.
The premium polyester filling traps heat, drawing it away from your skin, and has a light, open structure, making it great for warmer nights. It also has a 205 pure cotton thread count, which is naturally cooling and breathable. In fact, one of our hot sleepers enjoyed notably better sleep with this duvet compared to their regular one.
Score: 88/100
Made from 100% cotton, this duvet effectively manages temperature fluctuations by absorbing body heat and releasing it once you’ve cooled down. One tester, who tested it during changeable weather, told us, “I’ve never felt too hot or cold with it” – a testament to its regulating capabilities.
Our panellists found the material gentle and silky to touch, making it ideal for those with eczema-prone skin. Crafted with the brand’s Airblend filling, it mimics the feel of feather down without triggering allergies, ensuring a restful and comfortable night's sleep.
Score 88/100
Wool is naturally temperature regulating, making it a smart choice for summer. It’s also naturally hypoallergenic and this duvet has Allergy UK approval. Most of our panel found it kept them cool and they liked the quality feel of the duvet. Wool does have a distinct smell, but testers said it dissipated quickly.
Coming with detailed care advice, it’s machine washable and we were impressed that its appearance remained the same after washing, although there was some shrinkage and it must be line-dried. Wool doesn’t correspond to a tog rating, but this lightweight duvet is a premium temperature-regulating buy.
Score: 85/100
This budget-friendly, anti-allergy summer duvet from ASDA promises to help you sleep minus the sniffles – handy if your hay fever also coincides with a heatwave. It worked wonders for one of our allergy-suffering testers, who said it was a “great choice.”
However, some of the panel members were divided on its lightweight properties, as some found it was sufficiently light for summer, while others said they needed additional covers. Ultimately, though, this is all down to personal preference.
Score: 84/100
A coverless design means you’ll never need to wrestle with bedsheets again – instead, it can be chucked straight into the wash! Ideal for the morning after those sweaty summer nights. It’s a quick and convenient solution to grab from the cupboard on those transitional nights when it’s just starting to warm up.
Designed for hot sleepers, its lightweight material helps regulate body temperature. Most panel members agreed it helped them stay cool while still feeling cosy. “It’s heavy enough to still feel like there was a duvet, but cool enough to not cook you overnight,” said one tester.
Score: 83/100
If you run hotter than the sun, and your partner has ice blocks for feet, then this handy dual-tog design from Slumberdown may be the duvet your relationship needs. It takes dedicated sides of the bed seriously, with one light 4.5 tog side, and a warmer 10.5 tog filling on the other.
Most testers liked this versatile option and found it regulated their body temperatures well. It was a success with one menopausal tester too, who liked how it kept her cool but comfortable.
And washing was straightforward – the filling stayed put and although it shrank slightly, you wouldn’t notice it much within a duvet cover.
The Fine Bedding Company Silver Hungarian Goose Down Duvet
Score: 83/100
Down devotees, this 4.5 tog duvet should be your top pick. The premium design kept our panel comfortable at night and it helped keep the majority cool.
We’d suggest turning to a dry cleaner for cleaning though, as down typically doesn’t fare well in the machine. In fact, we found the filling shrunk after a spin in our washing machine, making it look tired. This small niggle aside, it's a top choice, which is why our panel said they would recommend it to friends and family.
Score: 82/100
Filled with an anti-allergy microfibre specifically designed to help reduce bacteria and dust mites, this duvet will have you snoozing peacefully rather than sniffling persistently. Multiple testers praised its lightweight properties, making it great for summer comfort and also ideal for packing away and storing in the winter.
You can also purchase an all-seasons version, which comes with an additional 10.5 tog layer you can clip on, giving you a cosy winter duvet.
The stitching wasn’t the highest quality, but generally our testers reported a good and even distribution of the filling inside.
IKEA FJALLARNIKA Duvet 4+7.5 Tog
Score: 75/100
This all-season duvet is an excellent choice for year-round comfort. Don’t let memories of IKEA flatpacks cloud your judgement – detaching and reattaching the two duvets is effortless, thanks to the convenient poppers for easily switching togs between seasons.
The duck-down filling is evenly distributed and held together with well-constructed stitching and seams. While some noticed a bit of rustling when tossing and turning, this is typical for this type of filling. Priced under £100, it still delivers impressive quality, with one tester commenting, “It reminded me of a luxury hotel bed.”
Which fabric is best for a summer duvet?
There are a few main fabrics and fillings to choose from when shopping for a duvet. Here’s what to consider for each.
Down
This traditional feather filling is known for being warm, so if you want to enjoy its luxe feel in the summer, make sure you look for a low tog.
They’re also notably durable, but if you suffer from allergies, they often aren’t hypoallergenic.
Microfibre
This synthetic filling tends to cost less than down, with many designed to imitate the feel of feathers. They also tend to be hypoallergenic.
The filling doesn’t have the same longevity as down and can lose its loft (or fluffiness) over time, but brands are increasingly using recycled plastic bottles to manufacture them, which can make them a greener choice.
Other natural fibres
Other natural fibres, including cotton, wool, bamboo and silk, are less common, but they tend to be more breathable than plastic-based microfibre.
Many duvets have a cotton or a cotton blend case, but for maximum breathability and comfort, look for one that’s filled with the natural fibre too.
Unlike down, most natural fibres are suitable if you have allergies. Fabrics such as silk, bamboo and wool also have moisture-wicking properties, which is ideal if you get night sweats.
How to care for your summer duvet
Make sure to wash your duvet before you put it away for winter – either in the washing machine or by taking it for a professional clean.
It’s important to always follow the manufacturer instructions because many natural fibre duvets need to be cleaned delicately or may be dry clean only. Our household advice editor also recommends washing your duvet every couple of months to keep it fresh and stop dust mites gathering.
