Room to move, the key to a successful wash:
A duvet crammed into a drum that is too small will be neither soaked nor rinsed properly — and may even be damaged during the spin. The golden rule: the duvet should fill no more than about two thirds of the drum, so it can unfold and move freely in the water. That is exactly what the large-capacity machines of a laundrette allow: at Le Burck, the two 18 kg drums take a double duvet, a blanket or a thick throw without difficulty.
As for temperature, trust the label: 30 to 40 °C suits most synthetic fillings, and a 60 °C wash can be justified to sanitise in case of dust mite allergy. Down and feathers prefer a low temperature, a gentle detergent and above all no fabric softener, which weighs the feathers down and sticks them together.
Drying, the stage never to be rushed:
A poorly dried duvet keeps moisture at the heart of the filling: odours, clumps and mildew are guaranteed. A laundrette's large-capacity dryer is built for the job: it moves a large volume of hot air through the unfolded duvet and dries it evenly, which no washing line can do.
Dry at a moderate temperature, in several rounds if needed, and take the duvet out between cycles to shake it and break up the clumps of filling. It must be perfectly dry everywhere, with no cold patch to the touch, before going back in the cupboard.
When and why to wash your duvets:
Once or twice a year is enough for most households; more often in case of allergies or heavy night sweating. Between two full washes, the duvet cover acts as a buffer: it is washed with the ordinary bed linen.
Washing your duvet removes the perspiration, dust and dust mites that build up over the months — a real hygiene measure for the whole family's sleep, and one that cannot be carried out properly in a domestic washing machine.