How to store your doonas and blankets away until next winter

Nov 15, 2019. Now that spring is here and summer just around the corner in Adelaide, most of us are taking off the warm winter doonas and replacing them with summer alternatives. How you store your doonas and blankets will determine how fresh and clean they are for the following winter. Here’s some tips on storage to look after your own health and to maintain the quality of your doonas.

The first step is to give your doonas and blankets a good clean because you don’t want to store them away with winter debris. Did you know that your doona contains on average 20,000 dust mites?

Over the winter, dead skins cells, bug debris, oil residue and mildew collect in our bedding. You want to make sure your doonas and blankets are cleaned and fully dried before they get tucked away till next winter. Otherwise this debris attracts more bugs and moths, damaging your doona fillers and increasing the risk of allergic reactions next winter.

Storing and cleaning feather doonas

Feather doonas can be washed in our washing machines. Our machines are gentle on feather bedding but effective at cleaning, and our dryers will fluff up the feathers. If you have room at home in a linen cupboard, then store them in a cotton bag, or wrap them in an old clean sheet, with space and air around them.

The feathers can break if they are squashed under other items or stored in tightly vacuum sealed bags, causing clumps over time. If you’re limited with space and need to store under the bed, you can use a vacuum sealed bag but leave plenty of room around the doona so the feathers aren’t crushed.

Storing and cleaning cotton doonas

Wash cotton or cotton/synthetic doonas in warm to hot water and dry them well before storing. Again our laundromats will wash these for you quickly and effectively and our dryers will fluff up and air the cotton. Unlike feather doonas, these can easily be stored in vacuum sealed bags and stored away for the summer. Or you can wrap them in a cotton sheet and store away.

Storing and cleaning woollen blankets & doonas

Wool is a natural fibre that is breathable, water-resistant and has antibacterial properties. We recommend they are given plenty of sunshine and fresh air during the winter months to air them out. This reduces the need to clean them as often. But before they go into storage for the summer, we definitely recommend a good wash.

You can’t wash woollen doonas in a washing machine otherwise the wool fibres will change and clump. Best to take your woollen doonas and blankets to the local dry-cleaner.

Once cleaned, store them in the linen cupboard wrapped in a cotton bag or a vacuum sealed bag.

Alternatives to using mothballs

Traditional mothballs might be effective but they are toxic and leave unpleasant smells in your bedding that can hang around for a while. There are natural alternatives to consider:

• Place small open-weave bags of cedar woodchips in between the folds of your doona
• Make up sachets of cloves, bay leaves, cinnamons sticks and lavender, place  one or two in the folds of the doona
• Store properly in air tight bags to prevent bugs getting in
• Bring doonas out regularly for fresh air and sunshine – we recommend this through winter as well as bugs definitely don’t thrive with sun and air!

Summarising key tips for doona and blanket storage:

• Clean your doonas first – this prevents moths and other bugs from visiting
• Don’t store them in the garage or room where there is dampness
• Only use vacuum storage bags if the doona is clean and the filling can handle it
• Make sure the doona is totally dry before storing
• Use sheets to wrap doonas in where possible – they allow doonas to breathe and will absorb any moisture
• Use some natural moth/bug repellents just in case

To clean your bedding and store them away this summer, visit a Star Laundromat near you first!

Gentle on your doonas and blankets, fast and efficient, our modern laundromats will have your doonas and blankets done in less than an hour. With many locations across Adelaide, there is a Star Laundromat near you.

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"I'm sitting on my laptop doing my washing at Star Laundromat and charging my devices at the same time - being in the middle of moving it's been ideal! Not to mention using ezipay at the same time!! 🤩 #starbrighton #ezipay #happycustomer." Rachel Young.

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