On average and depending on the quality you have invested in, a duvet needs replacement after 5 to 10 years. If you use separate comforters for winter and summer, you can of course extend the lifespan of both considerably. What aspects affect the lifespan of your duvet?
How long can you use a deck jaw?
Do you pay much or little attention to its maintenance? And what filling materials are used in your duvet? And have you properly ventilated your bedroom? And. yes some more elements play a role. In this blog we take a closer look at the lifespan of your (down)duvet.
How do you know if you need a new duvet?
The look and smell of your bedding often does give an indication:
- When you hold duvet up to the light and you see that the padding is gone in certain places. Usually you will have noticed this even during the night because you are significantly fresher than usual. You can obviously try to shake it back up evenly, but if that no longer has any effect, use your duvet as a summer version or clean it up.
- If your duvet smells, sorry stinks…, despite proper airing and/or (professional) washing. Adding vinegar to your detergent seems to help remove unpleasant odors. However, be very sparing with it, as vinegar can quickly damage the filling of the duvet. Adding ammonia to your laundry can also help, just make sure your detergent does not contain chlorine bleach. However, there are situations where your duvet unfortunately has to be irrevocably relegated to the wastebasket: think of urine or feces from humans or animals not immediately removed, intense smelling perspiration from overactive apocrine glands or the body odors absorbed in the duvet when you have to take certain medications. Certain antidepressants, opioids or amphetamines can unfortunately cause this intense body odor.
- Yellow stains on your duvet are often an indication of intense sweating and depositing bacteria. If you can’t get this to go away despite all the washing, you may want to use another duvet just for appearances.
- When the fabric tears the duvet loses its filling and it is impossible to use it anymore. If you bought a down comforter, you can have the ticking completely replaced at a sleep store. For all other comforters, in most circumstances there is much to fix with handy hands and needle and thread. However, if the fabric has become too thin due to age, it is often hopeless work and better to renew.
How often do you replace a duvet?
If we assume for a moment that you have maintained the duvet well and you sleep (almost) all year under the same duvet, you will find that after 5 to 10 years the best is really gone. So where is the difference you may be asking yourself? Well in the padding of your duvet. Let’s dive deeper into this matter.
How long does a down comforter or feather-filled duvet last?
Down comforters or feather-filled comforters lose their filling power over time and thus their insulating power.
A goose- or duck-filled duvet is heavy and is often used in colder regions. The outer cover or ticking is often woven very thickly. It has to be, because otherwise the tiny feather pins poke through the fabric. Feathers are rougher, heavier, less resilient, less suitable for quilts and therefore cheaper.
When you wash a feather comforter, the drying time afterwards is very important. Poor drying leads to unpleasant odors and the risk of mold. Comforters filled with feathers do not last as long on average as down comforters. After 8 to 10 years, the best is usually gone.
A down comforter consists mostly of duck or goose down instead of feathers. Down is many times lighter and, depending on the quality chosen, possesses a higher fill power. The more down, the better. This is indicated by the ratio, for example 90% down. Then the filling consists of 90% down and 10% feathers and residual materials.
A 100% down comforter also has a proportion of residual materials, however very minimal and this has been strictly regulated since 2001 according to EU Standard EN 12934. This standard requires information on the origin, the color of the down, the percentage ratio of down to feathers and the quality class. (from class I to V).
Down comforters, depending on the finish of the cover, can be easily cleaned and refilled when needed. The video above is a promotional video from a professional company from Belgium that specializes in down cleaning. We recommend having your duvet professionally maintained every five years. In that case, you will extend its lifespan up to 15 years and beyond.
Comforters made of natural hair, such as wool, how long can you use them?
A wool duvet has a lifespan of 8 to 15 years depending on quality, maintenance and use. You can choose natural hair comforters in sheep’s wool (Texeler or Merino are well-known examples), camel hair or cashmere (goat’s wool).
Wool contains lanolin, which is a dirt-repellent and antibacterial substance. When you wash it duvet it loses some of the lanolin. So wash only when necessary.
Ensure regular and thorough ventilation. Over time, your duvet will become thinner due to use. Don’t throw away your natural hair duvet then, use it as a summer comforter, and it will last another round quite well.
What is the lifespan of cotton comforters?
Cotton comforters are strong at absorbing moisture. However, because it absorbs moisture faster than it releases it again, it can feel clammy. Therefore, airing is extra important with this comforter filling. Cotton comforters can be washed, but be careful because the filling usually consists of carded cotton.
Carding the cotton removes impurities and aligns the fibers. Thanks to the stitching in the ticking, these fibers stay in place well however when washing, this can come loose. So choose a gentle program at low speed and after spinning let the duvet dry hanging or lying down. Often these comforters need replacing after 4 to 5 years.
How long do silk comforters last?
Silkworms are reared and the larvae are very well cared for and fed with very specific food, namely the leaves of mulberry trees. They never mature into a moth, however, because to have long silk fibers, the cocoons are cooked. A process that the silkworm does not survive.
After collecting these cocoons, the silk is reeled off and joined into a silk thread. A duvet filled with silk feels very soft. It is anti-allergic and also causes hardly any irritation on the skin. The filling is very strong in heat regulation.
Provided good care is taken, you can use a silk duvet for quite a long time. Therefore, choose hand washing or steaming, avoid hard wringing and twisting and preferably dry flat and always use a mild detergent for delicate fabrics. This way, this duvet will easily last 10 years and more.
How long does a synthetic duvet last?
A synthetic duvet lasts 5 to 10 years. A little word of explanation, because when a product is made from synthetic raw materials we mean the filling, that is, the fibers, industrially made by man.
The raw materials are usually not natural, think petroleum or natural gas derivatives. However sometimes they do come from nature, think wood pulp. The purpose of these synthetic fabrics and fillings is to mimic or enhance natural fabrics. Often these quilts are cheaper because they are mass-produced.
The lifespan of synthetic comforters is really strongly linked to quality. Because even though a fiber can be durable on its own, usage does have a big impact. Not every synthetic fiber handles perspiration or heat regulation well. When a comforter fabric and filling are more suited to the person sleeping under it, its lifespan will also increase.
So what do you do with your old duvet? – Waste separation
When it’s time for a new duvet, what do you do with your old one? Think about why you want to put it away. If the duvet isn’t as warm as it was when you bought it, think about using it as a summer comforter. Don’t feel like doing that and does duvet otherwise look fine? Then consider donating it to a thrift store or use a textile container to drop it off. It is important to contact a thrift store ahead of time to see if they will accept it.
When a duvet really ends up in the trash it basically belongs in the residual waste. There is one exception, namely down comforters. There are initiatives that recycle down, such as down return in the Netherlands.
In recent years, a lot of comforter manufacturers have been increasingly conscious about collecting all types of comforters, with the aim of targeted recycling. In this case, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and above all to offer the duvet in the right conditions and especially dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do down comforters wear out faster?
No, down comforters do not wear out faster. Because you can usually have down comforters professionally cleaned (best every 5 years), duvet actually lasts longer than average.
How long does a comforter cover last?
It depends a lot on the quality and composition. Of course, you wash a cover regularly and therefore it will also show wear faster. Usually you’ll also see it earlier on the pillow. Therefore, it is best to replace a pillowcase after about three years. On average, a cover needs to be replaced after about five years.
Why did my duvet go flat?
Usually the inside of your ticking has become dirty and more damaged down is present in your fill. As a result, your down does not come into the ticking nicely and powerfully filled. Or the duvet is badly shaken and always slept on the same side. In that case, the down shifts and you also get open, flat strips.
How long does a duvet last – Conclusion
On average, a duvet lasts about 10 years. It depends greatly on the filling materials and ticking chosen. If the duvet suits your characteristics with regard to perspiration, moisture regulation and warmth as a sleeper, it will often last longer. How you maintain the duvet is also inextricably linked to how long an duvet can be used.
