Duvets and pillows: winter bedding care on the Costa del Sol
Get duvets and pillows ready for cooler nights: airing, washing by fabric type, drying properly in a humid climate and storing them without musty smells.
· 2 min read
Why November is the moment
The first properly cool nights arrive and the winter duvet comes out of the cupboard. After months of storage, and often a humid summer, it can smell stale or feel slightly damp even though it looks clean.
Pillows deserve the same attention. They take up body oils, sweat and dust every night, so a pillow you have used for a year or two is worth cleaning before the cold season, not only changing when it goes flat.
Air first, wash second
Before washing anything, shake the duvet and pillows out and air them for a few hours on a balcony, terrace or by an open window on a dry, breezy day. Sunlight and moving air remove a lot of the stored smell, and a gentle beating with the flat of your hand loosens the filling.
Avoid leaving them out in the late afternoon or evening, when the air near the coast turns damp again. Dry-air hours around midday are best.
Read the label before you wash
Fill and fabric decide the method. Synthetic fibre duvets and pillows are usually machine washable at 40 degrees. Down and feather need a gentle, low-temperature programme with a mild detergent made for them, and an extra rinse so no soap stays in the filling.
Many home machines are too small for a large double or king-size duvet. If the duvet barely fits, or the label says dry clean only, a launderette with big machines or a professional service is the safer choice. Memory foam and latex pillows should never go in the machine: spot clean the cover and air the core.
Drying is where most people go wrong
Filling that stays damp turns musty and can grow mould, and this is a real risk in coastal homes in winter. Use a tumble dryer on a low heat with a couple of clean tennis balls or dryer balls, which break up clumps, and stop to shake the item out every 20 to 30 minutes.
Without a dryer, lay it flat or hang it over two lines on a sunny day, ideally outdoors in the early afternoon, turning it regularly. Check the thickest corners with your hand: if they feel even slightly cool or heavy, keep drying. It can take a full day or two for down.
Protectors, rotation and storage
Use a washable mattress protector and pillow protectors under the pillowcase, and wash pillowcases weekly. Protectors are far easier to wash than the pillow itself and stretch the time between deep cleans.
When you put the summer bedding away, make sure it is completely dry and store it in a breathable cotton bag, not a sealed plastic bag, ideally off the floor and away from external walls. If you look after several properties or a holiday rental, Lavanda can handle the full bedding changeover and linen care for you.
