Homeowners need to put their duvets and pillows outside this weekend

BRITS are set to bask in scorching temperatures once again this week as the sun returns.

The weather turnaround comes after a miserable weekend of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

While many may be planning to host garden parties and BBQs to make the most of the sun.

You could also take your duvets and pillows to the garden for a bit of a natural spruce up when you have time.

The Sunning technique

Duvets and pillows need to be cleaned like the rest of your bedding.

But no one wants to risk damaging the washing machine or having a wet duvet drip water throughout the house.

But you actually don’t need a washing machine to get rid of the germs and bacteria that are most probably lingering on your duvet.

Instead, you can take advantage of the upcoming sunnier weather, and simply hang your duvet outside.

The laundry experts at Resthouse Sleep have shared that a simpler way to clean a duvet and bedding is to simply stick it outside so it can get “a beautiful dose of sunshine.”

They explained: “Heat, bright sunlight and the fresh summer breeze all have the ability to naturally deodorize, disinfect and bleach natural fibres, restoring and bringing back their splendour.”

You might not even think they are dirty but the fabric will absorb sweat which can create a breeding ground for germs.

Pollen, dust and hair can also settle on a duvet which can make sleeping in your bed uncomfortable especially if you have hay fever.

Ultraviolet in sunlight can kill bacteria that can be living in your bedding to help clean it without putting it in the wash. 

Sunlight will also remove dirt, dust mites, mildew and even mould spores to freshen up your duvet or pillows with almost no effort according to Resthousesleep

This cleaning technique is called ‘sunning’ and all you need is a few hours on a hot day to get your bedding feeling and smelling a lot fresher. 

The laundry expert said: “For generations, people have hung their bedding outside for a revitalizing measure of nature’s best cleaner and deodorizer, the sun!

“Walk down any street in Europe on a warm sunny day, and you’ll see puffy pillows and quilts piled on windowsills catching the morning rays.”

How to naturally clean your bedding

On a sunny day, hang your pillows and duvet outside on a clothesline.

You can drape them across chairs or a fence if you don’t have one available.

The best time to hang up your bedding is at around 11am so you get the maximum exposure of the sun at noon, when it is strongest.

It is best to hang bedding out for no more than four hours, as ultraviolet rays can kill bacteria quickly, but prolonged sun exposure may cause the fabric to fade and become discoloured.

Duvets and other thick bedding like mattress toppers will need to be flipped after two hours in the sun to make help fluff up the stuffing inside. 

When you bring your bedding back inside, lay it flat on your bed for an hour.

This helps get rid of any outdoor humidity that can become trapped in the fabric. 

Then you can make your bed and enjoy a good night’s sleep knowing everything is fresh and clean.

As for how often you should do this – you can try to do it every few months, or when the sun is out.

But you will also need to do a more thorough wash twice a year.

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