How you wash a wool duvet depends on its care label. For many wool duvets, including our T215 wool duvet, the label says dry clean or spot wash only, not the washing machine. A wool pillow cover is different: our Merino M129D goes in the machine on a wool or gentle cycle. Both need cool water, a wool-safe detergent such as our Woolskin 1.0 L bottle, no bleach and as little heat and rubbing as possible. Down-Under Wool has supplied medical sheepskin and wool bedding since 1988.
Can you wash a wool duvet?
You can wash a wool duvet only if its care label says so. Otherwise, spot clean it and have it dry cleaned. The Woolmark Company, the Australian wool industry body, says to follow the item's care instructions and to machine wash a wool blanket only if the label allows it. Our T215 is filled with carded wool and should not be laundered regularly: dry cleaning is recommended (tell the cleaner it is wool filled), and small spills can be spot washed at home.
A cover does most of the work: the T215 instructions say regular use of a duvet cover removes the need for frequent cleaning.
Spot clean, wash or dry clean: wool bedding at a glance
| Item | How to clean it | Water | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our wool duvet (T215) | Dry clean; spot wash small spills with Woolskin | Warm to spot wash, cool to rinse | Drain in the tub, then hang |
| Wool duvet labeled machine washable | Wool or gentle cycle, wool detergent | Cold | Spread over several lines, out of direct sun; no dryer unless the label allows it |
| Our wool pillow cover (M129D) | Machine wash in Woolskin, wool or gentle cycle | Cool rinse | Air dry, or tumble dry on low; don't over-dry |
| Wool-filled pillow | Follow the label: spot clean, or wool cycle if allowed | Cold | Flat, turned and plumped until dry right through |
How to spot clean a wool duvet
Spot clean a wool duvet as soon as something spills. Woolmark notes that liquid starts to soak into wool after a few minutes, and advises blotting, not scrubbing. The T215 steps:
- Blot up as much of the spill as you can with a clean, dry cloth.
- In a laundry tub, wash just the marked area with warm water and a little Woolskin. Press the wet wool gently. Don't rub it.
- Rinse with cool water.
- Leave the duvet to drain in the tub until it is dry enough to lift without stretching, then hang it to finish drying.
- Make sure the filling is dry right through before you put the cover back on.
For a deep stain or a full clean, take it to a dry cleaner and say it is wool filled.
How to wash a wool duvet insert that is machine washable
If the label on your wool duvet insert or wool comforter says machine wash, use the wool or gentle cycle, cold water and a wool wash, as Woolmark advises for wool blankets. Then:
- Give it room. If you have to force it into the drum, have it professionally cleaned instead.
- Use a wool-safe detergent. Woolmark recommends a neutral, mild wool detergent. Avoid heavy-duty or enzyme ("bio") detergents and bleach. Woolskin is made without enzymes, phosphates, peroxide, alkali or bleach. Its directions are to use the recommended amount and double rinse in cool water.
- Dry it flat and supported. Wet wool is heavy and its fibers are weaker (American Wool fact sheet). Woolmark suggests spreading a wool blanket over the clothesline to carry the weight, out of direct sunlight, and keeping it out of the dryer.
How to wash wool pillow covers
Machine wash a wool pillow cover in a wool wash on the wool or gentle cycle, unless its label says otherwise. These are the care instructions for our Merino wool pillow cover (M129D), an 18" x 28" cover:
- Take the pillow out.
- Machine wash the cover in Woolskin on a wool or gentle cycle. Don't use bleach.
- Dry it naturally, or tumble dry on low heat with gentle agitation.
- Don't over-dry it. The care label says wool does best with about 15% moisture left in it, so finish the last of the drying flat or over a rack.
- It may also be dry cleaned. Air it well afterwards.
The label warns that excess heat and agitation will damage this fine wool. For why we suggest a wool cover over a foam or fiber pillow, see our guide to wool pillow benefits.
How to clean wool pillows
To clean a wool-filled pillow, follow its label. If it says spot clean only, treat the pillow like the T215 duvet: blot, wash the spot with a wool wash, rinse in cool water and let it dry completely. If it allows machine washing, use the wool cycle with cold water. The wool care guide from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) says to press out excess water with a towel, without rubbing. Dry the pillow flat. Turn it and plump it by hand as it dries, and pull apart any clumps of filling.
What damages wool in the wash?
Heat, rubbing and the wrong detergent do the damage. Wool fibers have a scaly surface, and agitation, friction and pressure with heat and moisture make the scales lock together. That is felting, and the American Wool fact sheet says felting shrinkage is irreversible. In a duvet or pillow, felting can leave the filling matted and lumpy.
- Hot water. QUT says wool should be washed in cool to cold water, because hot water leads to shrinkage and felting.
- The dryer. Its heat and tumbling also felt wool (QUT). Woolmark advises tumble drying wool only when the label says tumble dry, and then on low heat.
- Bleach. Woolmark says never use chlorine or oxygen bleach on wool.
- Fabric softener. Skip it. Woolmark says to keep any softener to a minimum, because too much can cause pilling, and Woolskin already contains conditioning agents.
- Radiators and strong sun. Woolmark advises against drying wool over direct heat or in direct sunlight.
Sheepskin has leather to protect too; see how to wash sheepskin.
How often should you wash a wool duvet, and what about sweat and odor?
Wash a wool duvet as little as you can and the covers often. Woolmark says wool resists odor and stains and needs less washing, and that wool blankets are best washed sparingly. The T215 instructions say it should not be laundered regularly.
Wool takes up sweat as vapor and can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp, according to the American Wool fact sheet. That is why it suits people who run warm (see wool duvet vs down duvet and sleeping on wool). It also means the moisture has to leave again:
- Air it. Woolmark calls airing the best way to freshen a wool blanket: shake it outside and hang it where air moves. Between bedding changes, drape the duvet over a rail or a chair back to air.
- Wash the covers for sweat and night sweats.
- Accidents. Spot wash urine right away. For a bed that gets wet often, washable incontinence bedding under the sheet protects the duvet and mattress.
- Musty or "sheep" smell. Air it outdoors in the shade and let it dry fully. The maker says Woolskin has been found to reduce wet wool smell.
How to store a wool duvet and pillows
Store wool bedding clean, fully dry and somewhere it can breathe. Woolmark advises cleaning wool before storing it and checking it now and then for damp or insects; it notes that vacuum bags don't let wool breathe and can trap moisture, while cotton bags breathe. QUT adds that wool is prone to moth damage and suggests cotton bags and cedar blocks. Fold the duvet loosely, keep it in a cool, dark cupboard and air it before use. For the rest of our wool range, see our Merino wool bedding.
Wool duvet and pillow washing FAQs
Can you wash a wool duvet in the washing machine?
Only if its label says machine washable; then use a wool cycle, cold water and a wool detergent. Our T215 is dry clean or spot wash only.
Can you put a wool duvet in the dryer?
Not unless the label says tumble dry. The heat and tumbling can felt the filling. Spread it out to air dry instead.
Can you wash wool pillows in the washing machine?
Our M129D wool pillow cover can, on a wool or gentle cycle in Woolskin; a wool-filled pillow only if its label allows it.
Can a wool duvet be dry cleaned?
Yes, if the label allows it; it is the recommended method for our T215. Tell the cleaner it is wool filled and air it afterwards.
Can you use fabric softener on wool?
It's best to skip it. Too much softener can cause pilling, and a wool wash like Woolskin or FleeceTech Xtra (the same formula, in a 250 mL bottle) already conditions the wool.
Why does my wool duvet smell like sheep?
Wool has a natural scent that is stronger when damp; air it outdoors in the shade and keep it dry.
The short version
Read the label first, keep covers on, and spot clean spills quickly. Dry clean a wool duvet that isn't labeled washable; wash a wool pillow cover on a wool cycle with a wool wash. No bleach, hot water or hot dryer. Air bedding often and store it dry. Not sure what your wool bedding can take? Contact us and we'll help.
