Households that wash duvets at home
You’re looking for a washing machine for your sheets and duvets, without assuming that a stated capacity in kilograms will suit every type of bedding.
Who is this for?
People limited by their drum or drying options
Your duvet may fit in the machine when it’s dry, but you’ll also need to consider how freely it can move around in the drum and whether you can dry it completely. A launderette may be the answer.
Owners of natural or delicate duvets
For a duvet filled with down, feathers or silk, the care label will tell you which washing and drying methods to consider.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the duvet’s care label. It will tell you whether machine washing is an option before you even compare appliance capacities.
Domestic washing machine
Consider this if: the care label allows machine washing and the duvet can move around in the drum on a suitable programme. UFC-Que Choisir and Drouault say that a standard 5 kg washing machine may be suitable for a 140 × 200 cm duvet. This is only a guide, though, and won’t apply to every thickness or filling.
Bear in mind: the stated capacity refers to dry laundry, and the permitted load may vary by programme. You’ll also need to be able to dry the duvet thoroughly.
Launderette
Consider this if: your duvet is compressed in your home machine or you need a larger-capacity appliance to dry it.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to travel there and check which machines are available, while still following the limits on the care label.
Professional cleaning
Consider this if: the care label rules out washing at home or the delicate filling means you need advice tailored to your duvet.
Bear in mind: agree the right care method with the service provider based on the duvet’s materials and care symbols, rather than assuming one treatment will suit every duvet.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Room in the drum | Compare the duvet with the drum volume and the load permitted by a suitable programme, not just the machine’s stated capacity. | I want to wash my duvet at home without cramming it into the machine; for around 42% of consumers, finding a washing machine that can accommodate it would be the priority. |
| Spin and drying | Check the spin speed allowed by the care label and whether you can dry the duvet completely. If you have a washer-dryer, check its drying capacity separately. | After washing, I need to be able to handle and dry this bulky item completely. Using equipment elsewhere would meet the main need for around 33% of consumers. |
| Protecting the filling | Read the washing and drying instructions for your duvet, especially if its filling is natural or delicate. | If my duvet is delicate, I’d rather follow its care instructions than choose a generic cycle; preserving it would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Relying on the kilogram capacity alone
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the stated capacity refers to a load of dry laundry. The load accepted by a suitable programme and the space actually available in the drum also matter, especially for a thick duvet.
Check your washing machine’s manual and the duvet’s care label, then make sure the duvet isn’t compressed in the drum.
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Forcing a natural duvet into a small drum
Drouault says that a drum that’s too small can crush the down. A waterlogged duvet is also harder to handle.
Check the condition of the cover and seams, then choose a larger machine or ask a professional for advice if you’re unsure about the duvet’s size or filling.
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Confusing washing and drying capacities
A washer-dryer may have different capacities for washing and drying. For example, Miele lists 9 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying on the WTW870WPM. So even if a duvet fits in the machine for washing, it may not be possible to dry it there as required.
Check both capacities and the duvet’s drying instructions before planning to complete the whole cycle in the same machine.
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Choosing a temperature based on general advice
Instructions vary depending on the duvet and its filling. A ‘duvet’ or ‘down’ programme doesn’t replace the instructions on the care label.
Follow the symbols and specific limits for your duvet. If washing at home isn’t allowed, ask a professional for advice.
Brands to consider
Electrolux
Worth considering if you’re looking for a front-loading washing machine whose specifications state the drum volume and mention a down programme.
- Electrolux France lists a 9 kg capacity, a 68,6 L drum, a maximum spin speed of 1 400 rpm and a down programme for the EW6FI22914OV model.
- These specifications apply to this particular model. Check the manual and the care label before assuming that a particular duvet can be washed in it.
LG
The F94V52IXS is a useful point of comparison for a front-loading washing machine whose specifications include a Duvet programme.
- LG France lists a 9 kg capacity, a 68 L drum and a maximum spin speed of 1 400 rpm for this model.
- LG marks this model as discontinued. Don’t assume that another model from the brand has the same programme.
Bosch
The WGE03203FR is an 8 kg front-loading model worth considering if its capacity and dimensions suit your space and your laundry.
- Bosch Electroménager France lists a maximum spin speed of 1 200 rpm and a depth of 588 mm for this model.
- Before considering it for a duvet, check the manual for available programmes and permitted loads, then compare these with the duvet’s care label.
A washing machine for washing at home
This 9 kg front-loading model is worth considering if you want to wash a duvet at home and its care label allows machine washing. Before choosing, check the manual against the specific duvet and plan how you’ll dry it.
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Electrolux EW6F4109RA, 9 kg front-loading washing machine
If you’re considering washing a duvet at home and its care label allows it, check the manual to find out which programme to use and how much room it needs in the drum.
White freestanding model; stated maximum spin speed of 1 400 rpm. The spin speed to use for your duvet depends on its care instructions and the programme selected.
Frequently asked questions
Is the stated capacity enough to tell me whether my duvet will fit?
No. The capacity in kilograms refers to a load of dry laundry and doesn’t guarantee that a duvet will move freely around in the drum. Check the care label, the load permitted by the programme you can use and the space the duvet actually takes up. If it’s compressed in your machine, a launderette may be a better option.
Can I put my duvet in the tumble dryer after washing it?
Yes, if its care label allows tumble drying and your appliance can dry it completely. Check the drying capacity separately from the washing capacity, as they can differ on a washer-dryer. Samsung points out that incomplete drying can encourage mould growth.
Will a 200 × 200 cm duvet definitely fit in a 9 kg washing machine?
No. Its dimensions and the stated capacity aren’t enough to confirm that it’s suitable. The thickness and the space available in the drum also matter. Check the duvet’s care label and the machine’s manual before deciding to wash it this way.