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These Smart Duvet Hacks Actually Work
Looking for the best ways to keep your bedding cozy and snug? Check out these simple, effective duvet tips and tricks for a good night's sleep, every night.
There's nothing better than snuggling up under a warm, cozy duvet at bedtime.
Whether it’s finding the perfect duvet cover for a duvet insert, or making the bed like a pro, a few clever bedding hacks can make all the difference.
Read on for some simple yet effective tips and tricks to help you keep your duvet cozy, snug, and perfectly arranged without the hassle.
Finding the right size
Duvet inserts come in a range of sizes, so finding the right one for your bed is all-important. Here's what you'll need to think about when picking out the right duvet size:
- Standard bed size: Most beds and bedding items are made in standard sizes, including single, king single, double, queen bed, king bed and so on. As a starting point, look for duvet inserts that match the size of your mattress. Too small, though, and the duvet might not cover the entire bed. Duvets that are too large can sometimes look untidy, but oversized, plush and crumpled bedding can be a cozy style all of its own!
- Bed/mattress height: The height of your mattress and bed can also impact the ideal duvet size. If you have a high mattress and bed, you may want to consider a duvet that is one size larger than the be, especially if you like a slightly messy, perfectly imperfect bedding style.
- Bedding/sleeping style: While a popular choice is matching bedding and duvet size, you could also opt for the Scandinavian sleep method. This method uses two smaller-sized duvets on a larger bed, one for each partner, and may help you to get a more comfortable, restful sleep.
- Duvet thickness: The thickness of your duvet can impact the overall warmth, weight and style of your bedding. If you love a cozy, warm and snug bed, opt for a super thick duvet with a high fill weight. If you prefer a more flexible, all-season duvet and neat bedding, opt for a medium-weight duvet.
Putting the duvet insert into cover
Getting the duvet insert back into the duvet cover after laundry day can be a daunting prospect. One wrong move and you can end up with lumpy, patchy bedding, or worse still, stuck inside a duvet cover with rapidly dwindling hopes of escape.
But before the panic sets in, there are a bunch of tricks to arm yourself with that will make setting up your bedding a breeze. Consider the following tips and tricks for making the bed with a duvet.
Duvet burrito trick
The burrito duvet trick, also known as the California roll method, is perhaps the easiest way to get a duvet into its cover. The best part is it's easy to pull off this simple technique all by yourself. No help required! Here's how the burrito hack is done, in five simple steps:
- Turn the duvet cover inside out and lay it flat on the bed with the opening at the foot of the bed.
- Place your duvet insert on top of the cover, lining up the edges of both.
- Starting at the head of the bed, pinch the duvet cover and duvet insert together and roll them down towards the foot of the bed.
- Once they're both rolled up together, pull one side of the duvet cover over the whole 'burrito' and secure it to the other side as normal.
- Unroll the burrito on top of your mattress and line it up again with the bed if need be.
Keeping the duvet insert in place
Everyone with a duvet knows it can be a little bit of a struggle to keep your duvet insert in place. Sometimes the duvet or the duvet filling seems determined to escape the confines of your bed and bunches up at the foot of the bed or in the overhanging sides of the duvet, leaving you freezing cold in the middle of the night. Here are some tips for keeping the duvet insert securely in place.
- Match duvet insert and cover: The first (and most important) thing to do is make sure the duvet insert is the right size for the duvet cover. If these two items are not a matching pair, your duvet can bunch up in its too-small cover or slip around in its too-large cover. Getting the sizing right will ensure a snug fit for your duvet.
- Fasten duvet cover: Securing your duvet insert by closing the cover's fastenings will help to keep the duvet from falling out the bottom of the cover when you're sleeping or making the bed. The extra tension of closed fastenings or buttons will also help to hold the duvet insert in place.
- Duvet clips: Duvet clips can be used to secure a duvet insert in the perfect sleeping position within its cover. Place your duvet cover on your bed inside out, with the duvet insert on top and aligned with the cover's edges. Attach the duvet clips to pinch together the top corners and bottom corners of the duvet insert and the duvet cover, and proceed with the burrito method.
- Make the bed evenly: Another way to keep your duvet insert in place is to make the bed as evenly as you can, without the duvet overhanging too much at the foot of the bed or on one side of the bed. This helps prevent the duvet insert from sliding down to the foot of the bed or one side over time.
- Opt for a down-alternative duvet insert: Some traditional feather-down duvets can become lumpy over time as the duvet filling clumps up unevenly throughout the insert. Down-alternative duvets made from lyocell or wool tend to keep their filling evenly distributed, especially when made with a box-stitch construction. This helps the duvet maintain a fuller look.
Making the bed
There are plenty of ways to make the bed when using a duvet, and each offers a different style and vibe for the bedroom. Here are some tips for making the bed with a duvet to suit your style.
- No duvet cover: For this minimalist bed-making method, all you do is make the bed as normal without using a duvet cover on the duvet insert. This way, the duvet stitching pattern can be part of the aesthetic of your bedding.
- No top sheet: Foregoing top sheets altogether is the preferred bedding method for many for comfort and simplicity, but it can also make for a neat, minimalist bedding style. Just make the bed as normal with the duvet set as the top layer of your bedding for a bold, unicolor focal point for the bedroom.
- Folded top sheet: This traditional bed-making method is simple to achieve by folding the flat sheet over the top of the duvet set when making your bed. This method is a good balance between a minimalist and layered style, and offers a pop of color while still looking neat and uncomplicated.
- Layering: Throwing an extra layer over a duvet isn't just great for extra warmth in the colder months. It's also a great way to bring different colors into your bedding for a touch of style. Consider layering a bed cover or throw over your duvet, using a clashing color for a bold statement, or color match for a monochrome look.
- Plush and cozy: When it comes to a cozy bedding style, there's no such thing as too much. For a plush, cozy look, make your bed as normal, layering a few bed covers, throws or extra blankets on top of your fluffy duvet set. Complement this look with layered pillows, starting with large European pillows at the back, several layers of traditional pillows in a few different colors and finishing with small, decorative pillows up front. This is a sure way to bring a luxurious vibe to the room.
Cleaning and care
Proper cleaning and care is the best way to extend the life of your duvet and keep it comfortable for longer. However, the right ways to clean and care for a duvet depend entirely on the materials it is made from. Keep these handy tricks and tips in mind when it's time to clean your duvet.
Washing the duvet insert
Washing a duvet insert is important for cleaning stains, keeping it free of odors and preventing allergens like mold or mildew from building up in the filling. In general, duvet inserts should be washed with a mild detergent and cold water to prevent the filling materials from degrading.
Duvet inserts made of synthetic materials can sometimes be washed with warm water. While these are general rules, always check the care instructions on the care tag before you wash a duvet.
Avoid washing duvet inserts with other items or in top-loader washing machines with a central spindle, as these can tangle up or even tear the duvet insert in the wash.
It's important to wash your duvet insert at least three times a year to keep it healthy and odor-free.
For a more detailed look at how to clean your duvets, check out this story.
Vinegar hack
Chemical fabric softeners are not recommended for washing duvets, as these can build up in the filling and prevent them from properly drying. That's where the vinegar hack comes in! When it's time to wash a duvet, put it on a rinse cycle and add a half-cup of white vinegar. This helps to eliminate stubborn odors and has the added benefit of giving the duvet a luxuriously soft, cozy feel.
Once the rinse cycle is finished, put the duvet back on for a regular wash using mild detergent.
Drying the duvet
Once the duvet is washed, it needs to be thoroughly dried. Most duvets can be hung on the clothesline outside to dry on a clear warm day. Sunlight can help disinfect the duvet further and keep it smelling fresher for longer.
Duvets made from feather-down can take a long time to dry compared to down alternatives, so it's important to ensure you've got clear weather before laundry day.
Duvets made from down alternatives can sometimes be tumble dried, provided the care instructions say so. Always tumble dry duvets on low heat or air to ensure the filling materials are undamaged through the drying process.
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