Big Items. Small Problem

Washing duvets, pillows and curtains doesn’t have to be a chore. Here’s why.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 09 October 2018 – Remember when laundry day was a bad day? Today’s intelligent washing machines have transformed the traditional slog of gathering and seperating clothes and avoiding the dreaded ‘why is my favourite blue top this shade of shocking pink?’. But what about bigger items like duvets, pillows and curtains? With spring around the corner, it’s easy to accomplish the traditional annual clean up.

For some of us duvets, pillows and curtains tend to fit into the annual Spring cleaning event. You may just change your mind after reading this. Let’s start with pillows and duvets. Every night we shed millions of skin cells and on average, a litre of sweat. Combined with dust mites, it’s easy to see why a once a yearly wash is just not good enough. And then there are the curtains hanging around looking deceptively clean. Meanwhile their innocent demeanour masks the dust, pet hair, human hair and even mold spores. Feeling a bit uncomfortable? You should be. But fortunately it’s easier than you may think to clean these bigger items frequently.

Firstly, you need the right tools. Today’s washing machines are marvels of science. For example, Samsung’s 12kg capacity washing machines let you wash more laundry in a single load; which means a duvet or curtain is less of a challenge. Better still, features like Samsung’s Eco Bubble technology delivers powerful cleaning, even at low temperatures. Your trusty detergent is turned into bubbles, so it quickly penetrates and protects these bigger fabric items and removes dirt easily, while saving energy.

Tracy Gordon, Head of Digital Appliances for Samsung South Africa, says, “Innovative technology not only ensures that you can save energy while doing your daily laundry, but also that your fabric is treated more gently and cleaner than ever before.”

The best way to wash your duvets and pillows

• Firstly, aim to wash them every two to three months.
• Check the label to ensure that they are not feather or down fillings, which often need to be dry cleaned.
• Treat stains before popping the items into the washing machine.
• Folding a duvet in half before putting it in the drum ensures that the weight is spread evenly during the wash.
• Air drying is your best option afterwards as sun tends to kill micro-organisms. Mother nature definitely has you covered.
• Ideally, washing two pillows together keeps your washing machine better balanced.
• Synthetic pillows can be dried at the lowest heat setting.
• Quick tip: Throw in a few tennis balls covered in socks to stop pillows from crumping.
• For extra peace of mind you can also pop fluffy pillows into the dryer, once a week, to remove dead skin and moisture.

Curtains are just as easy

• Making curtains a part of your regular cleaning already helps. A light vacuum while you do your carpets goes a long way.
• Before putting your curtains in your washing machine, ensure that all the pins, rings, sliders and curtain weights have been removed.
• It also helps to shake them and use a vacuum cleaner to remove any coarse dirt and dust.
• As always, check the label before turning to your trusted machine to ensure the fabric is machine friendly.
• Opt for a delicate cycle to avoid damaging the fabric.
• Your normal detergent should be all you need to get the curtains back to their very best.

There you have it. Cleaning those bulky items is not just easy. It will transform your home and may just give you a better night’s sleep.