Blankets, pillows, and duvets are the heart of home comfort. They keep us warm on chilly nights and provide a cozy haven for restful sleep. At least once a year, these hard working linens need a non-toxic, eco-friendly clean, and now’s the time! Winter is coming. Annual cleaning maintains their freshness, and extends their lifespan, and helps your family get the deep rest they need to stay healthy in the winter. In this guide, Spotless and I will walk you (Spotless’s ears perked up when I said the “w” word!) through the steps to effectively clean and care for your cherished bedding.
It’s not just people bedding that needs a wash. Don’t forget the dog bed! I’ll include instructions for getting your pooch nest ready for winter, too! And, I’ll even include a FREE bottle of Dog is Love all natural pet shampoo in case your dog is like Spotless and sleeps in your bed.
Gather Supplies
Have everything you need on hand before you begin.
- Earth Breeze Eco Laundry Sheets
- Pro-Tek™ spray bottle – FREE with your purchase!
- Pro-Tek™ Cherry, Pro-Tek™ Lemon, or Eco–Orange™ (Pick your favorite scent!)
- Clean cloths
- Rawhide chews and milk bones (Spotless!! He slipped that on the list.)
- Dog is Love Pet Shampoo (I’ll send you some as my gift with your next gallon Pro-Tek purchase. See below for the code!)
Blankets
1. Check the Care Label
Before tossing your blanket in the washer, take a moment to read the care label. Following the manufacturer’s instructions will help prevent damage to your blanket. If there is no label, most blankets are made from acrylic, polyester, cotton, fleece and wool blends, and most of these are fine in a cold water gentle cycle. If your blanket feels like 100% wool or is homemade (like your grand mother’s quilt or the afghan you crocheted in high school), look for an eco-friendly professional cleaner near you.
2. Pre-treat Stains
If you notice any stains on your blanket, Pro-Tek has you covered! Spot clean with a 3:1 dilution of eco-friendly Pro-Tek.
It’s easy to make a 3:1 dilution of Pro-Tek! Follow the measuring lines on your Pro-Tek spray bottle. Pour in 5.25 ounces Cherry, Lemon or Eco-Orange. Fill the rest of the bottle with clean water. For larger or smaller bottles, use this easy dilution chart.
It’s easy to make a 3:1 dilution of Pro-Tek! Follow the measuring lines on your Pro-Tek spray bottle. Pour in 5.25 ounces Cherry, Lemon or Eco-Orange. Fill the rest of the bottle with clean water. That’s it!
Clara
3. Machine Wash
Most blankets can be machine washed. Use one sheet of eco-friendly Earth Breeze in each load. Wash one queen-sized blanket per load. Don’t overload! Use a gentle cycle with cold or lukewarm water to prevent shrinking or damage.
For wool or special fabrics, take your blanket to an eco-friendly professional cleaner.
4. Rinse and Spin
After washing, give the blanket an extra rinse and spin cycle to help power out odors.
5. Drying
Air drying is the safest option for most blankets, although it does leave them a little on the stiff side. Lay them flat on a clean table or, if they’re not too heavy, drape them over a clothesline or shower curtain rod. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can cause fading.
If you’re using a dryer–which is what I always do–choose a low-heat setting to prevent shrinking. Instead of using a dryer sheet, which can add irritating fragrances and create trash, consider adding a few drops of lavender, lemon, and frankincense essential oil to a wool dryer ball. The ball helps fluff your blanket, and the oil blend promotes a peaceful night’s sleep for both people and pups.
6. Storage
Make sure the blanket is completely dry before returning it to your bed. Not cold enough for a blanket just yet? Keep it fresh by storing it in a cool, dry linen closet, away from direct sunlight.
Pillows
1. Check the Care Label
As with blankets, start by checking the care label on your pillows. The label will tell you whether they are machine washable or require special care.
2. Pillow Protectors
Consider using organic cotton pillow protectors. These covers act as a barrier against sweat, oils, saliva, dog hair, coffee, urine–you name it. Pillow protectors prolong the life of your pillows and make them easier to clean. If you have pillow protectors, remove them and wash them separately. You might just find your pillows are still pretty fresh and only need an airing out! If that’s the case, just pop your naked pillows in direct sun for a few hours.
3. Machine Washable Pillows
If your pillows are pretty manky and are machine washable, set the machine to a gentle cycle and wash two pillows per load with one full sheet of Earth Breeze. Washing two pillows at a time helps to balance the load.
4. Spot Cleaning Non-Washable Pillows
If your pillows aren’t machine washable, spot cleaning is the way to go. Lightly apply a 3:1 solution of Pro-Tek, let sit for 15 minutes, and gently dab the stained area with a clean, damp cloth and then a dry cloth cloth. Repeat if needed.
5. Drying
For machine washable pillows, tumble dry on low heat. For non washable pillows, place in full sunlight for a few hours to help kill germs, air out odors, and naturally bleach stains.
Duvets
1. Check the Care Label
As always, start by checking the care label for specific instructions from the manufacturer.
2. Machine Wash or Professional Clean
Remove the duvet cover and follow the instructions for blankets to wash the cover separately.
If you have down filling, inspect your duvet for holes or tears and repair them before washing.
Most duvets can be machine washed, but for larger or delicate ones, take them to a professional cleaner.
3. Use a Large Capacity Washer
If machine washing is right for your duvet, use a large capacity machine at your local laundromat to allow the duvet to move freely. If you try to stuff an over sized duvet in your washer, it won’t get clean, and you might damage your washer! Better to be safe than sorry.
Use two sheets of Earth Breeze and a gentle cycle.
4. Rinse Thoroughly
Choose the extra rinse cycle to thoroughly wash away odors. Spotless says he doesn’t mind if you blame him for a stinky duvet. It just means he was in the bed!
5. Drying
Unless the label specifically says to air dry, pop your duvet in a large capacity dryer on the lowest setting. The dryer helps the duvet filling to fluff up and dry evenly. Air drying tends to leave the filling in clumps that are harder to smooth out after the duvet is dry.
Instead of using a few dryer sheets, which can add irritating fragrances and create trash, consider adding lavender, lemon, and frankincense essential oil to two or three wool dryer balls. The balls help fluff your duvet, and the oil blend promotes a peaceful night’s sleep.
6. Fluffing and Shaking
Once dry, fluff and shake the duvet to redistribute the filling and restore its loft.
You might need a few extra pairs of hands! Make it a fun game by placing some stuffed animals in the middle of the duvet, having two or three kids take the corners, and bouncing the animals around. You’ll get a load of laughs as well as a few whiffs of that warm, fresh-smelling duvet. Doesn’t that feel like home!
Be sure the duvet is completely dry before storing it. It’s a good idea to store it with the duvet cover in place so it’s ready for use the moment the weather turns.
Dog Beds
People beds are ready! Now, it’s time for dog beds!
1. Check the Care Label
As with human bedding, start by reviewing the care label for specific instructions from the manufacturer.
2. Spot Cleaning
Unzip the liner from the dog bed and remove. Check the liner for stains and spot clean with a 3:1 solution of Pro-Tek. Just spray the stain, wait 15 minutes, and dab with a damp cloth, and then with clean cloth. Repeat if necessary. Pro-Tek is non-toxic and pet-safe! You can use it on dog bedding with full peace of mind.
3. Machine Wash
Unless the instructions say differently, machine wash the liner in cold water with half a sheet of UNSCENTED Earth Breeze.
Canine noses are pretty sensitive, and they like the smell of other dog butts better than clean laundry. (Sorry to say it, Spotless.) But, don’t think you can’t improve the smell! There are some pet-safe essential oils dogs (and people) love, and you can use them in the dryer. More on that in a bit.
With the liner in the wash, place the pad outside in direct sun to air out just like you would for a non-washable pillow.
3. Rinse Thoroughly
Choose the extra rinse cycle to thoroughly wash away dog odors.
4. Drying
Unless the label specifically says to air dry, you can place the liner in the dryer on the lowest setting. No dryer sheets, but you can add a few drops of essential oils on a dryer ball to promote peaceful rest, soothe skin irritations, or repel ticks and fleas.
- Lavender helps calm dogs, especially if they are nervous or scared
- Frankincense helps to soothe doggie skin irritations
- Peppermint, cedar wood, and lemongrass all help repel biting critters
Everybody’s bed is ready now for winter cozy time! Oh, there really is no place like home. Here, Spotless, you can have a milkbone now.
Spotless?
He’s asleep in his cozy clean bed!
Maintaining Bedding Freshness all Winter Long: Tips from Clara
- Always use a top sheet under duvets and blankets. The top sheet catches sweat and body odors and keeps your duvet and blanket fresher for longer.
- Use pillow protectors to keep saliva and sweat from spoiling pillows.
- Wash your sheets and pillowcases at least once a week–more often if you’re like me and Spotless sleeps with you.
- Use Earth Breeze laundry sheets. No plastic waste and the freshness is unbeatable!
- Make your bed every morning. Straightening out the sheets and blankets helps them to air them out a bit, and it feels wonderful to have something accomplished first thing in the morning.
- No time to make the bed? Fold the sheets and blankets back and fluff the pillows for a “French-made” bed.
I promised you a free bottle of Dog is Love Shampoo! Use code DOGISLOVE with your gallon Pro-Tek order before September 22!
Get a FREE Dog is Love shampoo with your next gallon Pro-Tek purchase!
Use code DOG IS LOVE. Expires 9/22/23
Need Help?
Have a cleaning question? The friendly Pro-Tek™ Clean Team has answers! Give us a call toll-free at 888.776.8351.
