down quilt covering - duvet? slipcover?

[Maddle]

I purchased a down quilt from Costco, and now I am hesitant to put it on the bed, as I won't know how to clean it. (Sooner or later, it's going to need it.) Usually my motto is "when it gets that dirty, throw it away," but that doesn't seem very budget friendly, does it?

I am thinking it should have a cover over it - is that called a duvet? - but I am having a hard time finding one that would fit. It seems to be an odd size, 90 x 98 inches.

Do I need to cover it? Would a top sheet between me and the quilt, and a lightweight blanket or sheet ovet the top of it be sufficient? Should I make one from two flat sheets? Any suggestions?

Maddle

 

[kellia]

My kids all have twin down comforters in the winter. My mil gave them to them and is always getting them new duvet covers. She gets them at TJMax, Marshall's and those types of places, I've also seen them at JCP and on Overstock.com. The ones they have now are really nice and thick flannel. I've also washed the comforters many times in the washing machine with no problems (one of my sons still has accidents quite often). Just put a couple tennis balls in the dryer with it.

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

90x98 sounds like a standard queen size comforter. I have found duvets at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and www.thecompanystore.com all on clearance and less that $15.

You could make a duvet with flat sheets. Sew up 3 sides and attach buttons or ribbons to the bottom opened end to keep it all inside. I think for a queen size comforter, 2 twin size flat sheets are the right size to sew.

There are instructions online for doing this.

 

[sherry7]

Overstock.com usually has very good deals on duvet covers. Personally though, I don't use one anymore, as the down comforter itself always seemed to slide toward the bottom of the duvet cover and it was aggravating. I think that some duvet covers have fasteners that hold the 4 corners of the down comforter, but I didn't buy that kind.

Little known fact: down comforters are washable, even the ones that say "dry clean only". Dry cleaning chemicals should actually never be used on down, as they leave a film that will cause it not to "loft" as well. The better dry cleaners actually use the method I'm going to describe. There are a few tricks to it:

1. Use a jumbo washing machine at the laundry mat, the biggest one they have. I think it's called a triple or quadruple loader, and not all laundromats have one. I have a huge front loader at home, but it's still not big enough for my Queen sized down comforter that we use in the winter. I do have another thin down comforter that we use in the summer, and I do wash that one at home.

2. Use 1/3 the amount of detergent you'd normally use. HE detergent is best, since it's low sudsing. Pre-treat any stains with Shout, etc before washing.

3. Do not use fabric softener or fabric sheets...they will leave a film on the down feathers.

4. Wash with cold water, normal cycle. Do a 2nd rinse to ensure all of the detergent residue is gone. If you have the option to spin it again to get excess water out, do that too.

5. Dry on low. Be prepared...it's going to take several hours to dry thoroughly. Every 30-40 minutes, take it out of the dryer and give it a good shake. I also use a few clean tennis balls in the dryer, which help break up the lumps in the down filling. When you think it's dry, it's probably not...it really does take several hours unless you have a very thin down comforter. If it doesn't dry thoroughly, the down can mold. Do NOT line dry.

I use a flat sheet under our comforter to help keep it clean, but DH manages to tear the bed apart as soon as he gets in it. I typically take my bigger down comforter to the laundromat once per year, usually in the late Spring when it's starting to get warm. I'm there for a few hours, so I take a good book. Like I mentioned before, I wash the thinner down comforter at home, so I just do that one as needed.

 

[Maddle]

I would have thought that it was a standard size also - but the covers I have found are 88x88, or 90x90, and maybe one was 90x94.

I will take a look over at TJMax, etc.

For the time being, I will put it on the bed as is. Good to know it could be washed if necessary - even if it does take all day to dry.

Maddle

 

[PinkRhombus]

90x98 sounds like a standard queen size comforter. I have found duvets at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and www.thecompanystore.com all on clearance and less that $15.

You could make a duvet with flat sheets. Sew up 3 sides and attach buttons or ribbons to the bottom opened end to keep it all inside. I think for a queen size comforter, 2 twin size flat sheets are the right size to sew.

There are instructions online for doing this.

For a queen size, you'd need two king size flat sheets.


I've made them for my kid's beds, but I bought the one for our bed at TJ Maxx. REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY nice.

I love the covers...I wash them about every other week. It's nice to walk into your room and smell the fresh fabric softener smell...