On average and depending on the quality you have invested in, a duvet needs replacement after 5 to 10 years, but how long does a duvet last? If you use separate duvets for winter and summer, you can obviously extend the life of both quite a bit. What aspects affect the lifespan of your duvet?
How long can you use a duvet?
Do you pay much or little attention to its maintenance? And what filling materials are used in your duvet? And have you properly aired out your bedroom? And… many more factors 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 appearance and smell of your bedding often give an indication:
- When you hold the duvet up to the light and see that the filling is gone in certain places, you need a new duvet. Usually, you will have noticed this during the night because you feel significantly colder than usual. You can, of course, try to shake it back up evenly, but if that no longer has any effect, it’s better to use the duvet as a summer version or clear it out.
- If your duvet smells, sorry stinks… despite proper airing and/or (professional) washing, you’re better off buying a new duvet. Adding vinegar to your detergent seems to help remove unpleasant odors. Be very sparing with it, however, as vinegar can quickly damage the duvet’s filling. Adding ammonia to your laundry can also help. Just make sure your detergent does not contain chlorine bleach. There are situations where, unfortunately, your duvet must be irrevocably relegated to the trash: think of urine or feces from humans or animals that are not immediately removed, intense-smelling perspiration from overactive apocrine glands, or body odors absorbed into the duvet when you have to take certain medications. Certain antidepressants, opioids, or amphetamines can cause this intense body odor.
- Yellow stains on your duvet are often an indication of intense perspiration and the buildup of bacteria. When you can’t get them out despite all your washing, you might want to use a different duvet simply for the sake of appearance.
- When the fabric tears, the duvet loses its filling and it becomes impossible to continue using it. If you bought a down duvet, you can have the casing completely renewed at a sleep specialist shop. For all other duvets, in most circumstances, a lot can be solved with handy hands and a needle and thread. But if the fabric has become too thin due to age, it is often a lost cause and you are better off replacing the duvet.
How often should you replace a duvet?
If we assume that you have maintained the duvet well and you sleep under the same duvet (almost) all year round, you will notice that after 5 to 10 years, the best is really gone. Where does the difference lie, you might ask? Well, in the filling of your duvet. Let’s dive deeper into this subject.
How long does a down duvet or a feather-filled duvet last?
Down duvets or feather-filled duvets lose their fill power over time, and with it, their insulating power.
A duvet filled with goose or duck feathers is heavy and is mostly used in colder regions. The outer cover or casing is often very thickly woven. This is necessary, otherwise the small feather quills would poke through the fabric. Feathers are coarser, heavier, less resilient, less suitable for duvets, and therefore cheaper.
When you wash a feather duvet, the drying time is very important. Poor drying leads to unpleasant odors and the risk of mold. Duvets filled with feathers generally last less long than down duvets. After 8 to 10 years, the best is usually gone.
A down duvet consists mostly of duck or goose down instead of feathers. Down is many times lighter and, depending on the chosen quality, has a higher fill power. The more down, the better. You can see this in the ratio indication, for example, 90% down. This means the filling consists of 90% down and 10% feathers and residual materials.
A 100% down duvet still has a share of residual materials, but only very minimal, and this has been strictly regulated since 2001 according to EU Standard EN 12934. This standard obliges the producer to provide information about the origin, the color of the down, the percentage ratio between down and feathers, and the quality class (class I to V).
Depending on the finish of the cover, you can easily have down duvets cleaned and refilled when necessary. The video above is a promotional film from a professional company in Belgium that specializes in down cleaning. We recommend having your duvet professionally maintained every five years. In that case, you can extend its lifespan to 15 years or longer.
Natural hair duvets, 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 duvets in sheep’s wool (Texeler or Merino are well-known examples), camel hair, or cashmere (goat’s wool).
Wool contains lanolin, a dirt-repellent and antibacterial substance. When you wash the duvet, it loses some of the lanolin. So, only wash when necessary.
Ensure regular and thorough airing. Over time, your duvet will become thinner through use. Don’t throw your natural hair duvet away then. Use it as a summer duvet; it can easily last another round.
What is the lifespan of cotton duvets?
Cotton duvets are excellent at absorbing moisture. However, because cotton absorbs moisture faster than it releases it, it can feel clammy. That’s why airing is extra important with this duvet filling. Cotton duvets can be washed well, but be careful because the filling usually consists of carded cotton.
When carding cotton, impurities are removed and the fibers are aligned. Thanks to the stitching in the casing, these fibers stay in place well, but they can come loose during washing. So, choose a gentle program at low speed and let the duvet dry hanging or lying flat after spinning. Often, these duvets need replacement after 4 to 5 years.
How long do silk duvets last?
Silkworms are farmed, and the larvae are very well cared for and fed with specific food, namely the leaves of mulberry trees. However, they never grow into moths because the cocoons are boiled to obtain long silk fibers. A process the silkworm does not survive.
After collecting these cocoons, the silk is reeled and joined into a silk thread. A duvet filled with silk feels very soft. The fabric is hypoallergenic and also causes hardly any skin irritation. The filling is highly heat-regulating.
With good care, you can use a silk duvet for quite a long time. Therefore, choose hand washing or steam cleaning, and avoid hard wringing and twisting. Preferably let it dry flat and always use a mild detergent for delicate fabrics. This way, the duvet will easily last 10 years or longer.
How long does a synthetic duvet last?
A synthetic duvet lasts 5 to 10 years. A brief explanation: when a product is made from synthetic raw materials, we are referring to the filling. The fibers are therefore industrially man-made.
The raw materials are usually not natural—think of petroleum or natural gas derivatives, for example. Sometimes they do come from nature, like wood pulp. The goal of these synthetic fabrics and fillings is to mimic or improve upon natural materials. Often, these duvets are cheaper due to mass production.
The lifespan of synthetic duvets is strongly linked to quality. Because even though a fiber itself can be durable, usage has a major impact. Not every synthetic fiber handles perspiration or heat regulation well. The better a duvet fabric and filling are suited to the person sleeping under it, the longer the lifespan.
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 get rid of it. Is the duvet no longer as warm as when you bought it? Then consider using it as a summer duvet. If you don’t feel like doing that and the duvet still looks fine, consider donating it to a thrift store or putting it in a textile container. Contact the thrift store in advance to see if they will accept it.
When a duvet finally ends up in the trash, it basically belongs with the residual waste. There is one exception: down duvets. There are initiatives that recycle down, such as down return in the Netherlands.
In recent years, many duvet manufacturers have become increasingly conscious of collecting all types of duvets with the aim of targeted recycling. In that case, it is important to follow the producer’s instructions carefully and, above all, to offer the duvet in the right conditions and dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do down duvets wear out faster?
No, down duvets do not wear out faster. Because you can usually have down duvets professionally cleaned (ideally every 5 years), the duvet actually lasts longer than average.
How long does a duvet cover last?
That depends heavily on the quality and composition. Naturally, you wash a cover regularly, and as a result, it will show wear and tear faster. Usually, you see this sooner on the pillow. Therefore, you can assume that a pillowcase is best replaced after about three years. A cover generally needs replacement after about five years.
Why has my duvet gone flat?
Usually, the inside of your casing has become dirty and there is more damaged down present in your filling. As a result, your down does not fill the casing beautifully and powerfully. Or the duvet is poorly shaken and always slept under 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. This is highly dependent on the chosen filling materials and the casing. When the duvet matches your characteristics regarding perspiration, moisture regulation, and warmth perception as a sleeper, it will often last longer. How you maintain the duvet is also inextricably linked to its lifespan.