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Our Artisans’ Tips
Welcome to Piumarte’s Artisans’ Tips section. Here you’ll find useful tricks and advice on how to care for and wash your products and goose down duvets.
Not sure how to dry your duvet in the dryer? Want to know the difference between a quilt and a duvet? Or which drying temperature is ideal for your down duvet? You’re in the right place!
Our expert artisans will guide you on the best way to care for your duvet or quilt and help you understand which option best suits your needs.
Giulio
Autumn: How to Refresh Your Duvet
Taking your duvet out of the wardrobe and putting it straight on the bed because the weather has suddenly turned cooler is an emergency solution. However, for better results, we’d like to give you a couple of tips. First of all, you should NOT have stored your goose down duvet in a plastic or nylon bag/box, as moisture can become trapped inside.
We understand that those who lack storage space and need to use vacuum-sealed plastic bags may have little choice. However, if you are able to store your duvet without vacuum sealing, it is best to use a breathable cotton storage bag (usually the one supplied with the duvet).
Once you remove the duvet from its cover, leave it out in the fresh air for a day (not in direct sunlight). From time to time, gently shake or pat the quilted sections with your hands to help redistribute the goose down evenly.
To sanitise your duvet, spray it lightly using a mixture made of 90% water and 10% tea tree (Melaleuca) oil.
Giulia
Little Tips
“It’s a good habit to air out your quilt and/or duvet at least 2–3 times a month, allowing any moisture absorbed during the night to evaporate.
We recommend NOT exposing them directly to sunlight and shaking them gently without using a carpet beater, as the feathers and down clusters inside could break.
My grandmother taught me to lightly spray the quilt or duvet with a mixture made of 90% water and 10% tea tree (Melaleuca) oil using a spray bottle. It’s an excellent disinfectant and antiseptic. This process should be repeated approximately every two months.”
Valerio
Difference Between a Duvet and a Quilt
“We often tend to confuse them, but a duvet and a quilt are two very different products, each with its own characteristics. I learned this over time — at the beginning, to me, they were the same thing… First of all, they represent two different approaches — or rather, two different ‘philosophies’ — in terms of both functionality and bed decoration, from mid-season through to the coldest and dampest months.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal preferences in terms of comfort and aesthetics.
The technical differences, however, are as follows:
DUVET: white in colour, smaller than a bedspread; it must be protected and “decorated” with a duvet cover; a top sheet is not necessary.
QUILT: the same size as a bedspread and does not need a cover, as it is usually made with coloured or patterned fabrics; a top sheet should be used.”
Chiara
How Should a Duvet Be Washed?
“A Piumarte duvet is a true investment designed to last for years. Its quality ensures that all the product’s characteristics remain perfectly preserved over time.
However, the inner filling must be treated with care. A few simple precautions are enough to guarantee proper maintenance and lasting softness that neither time nor use will diminish.
My advice is to wash your duvet at the end of the season, before storing it away until the following winter. Keep in mind that the filling requires ‘plenty of water’ during washing, so I recommend following these simple instructions:
For single or small double duvets, you may use a washing machine with a minimum 5 kg capacity and a spin cycle of up to 600 rpm.
For larger sizes, it is advisable to have the duvet professionally cleaned at a laundry service, ensuring they follow the washing instructions provided on the care label.
If you prefer to wash it at home, regardless of size, I recommend using a mild, neutral detergent.
AVOID bleach.
To improve washing performance, it is helpful to place a tennis ball inside the drum.
Feathers do not fear high temperatures, but to protect the outer fabric and lining, it is advisable not to exceed 50–60°C (122–140°F) and to select a gentle spin cycle. As for the duvet cover, you may wash it as you would a regular bed sheet.
Dry cleaning must be strictly avoided."
"Special attention must be paid to the rinsing phase: all traces of detergent must be completely removed to prevent marks or stains from forming on the fabric.
Tumble drying is allowed, but only at low temperatures. The ideal drying method is outdoors, in a shaded area away from direct sunlight. During this phase, gently shake the duvet and pat the quilted sections with your hands, avoiding pressure on just one area.
When not in use, the duvet should be stored in a dry environment, inside its original storage bag or another breathable container. Before storing, make sure it is completely dry.”
Sara
How to Wash a Goose Down Sleeping Bag
“I love travelling and I often use a sleeping bag — of course, a goose down one.
Whether you’ve just returned from a wonderful trip or you’re about to leave for a new adventure, remember to take proper care of your down sleeping bag (as you know, our products are made with goose down, the finest and most precious type of down).
Here’s what you should do:
• Wash it in the washing machine at 30–40°C (86–104°F) using a mild detergent.
• Absolutely NO BLEACH.
• Use a gentle spin cycle (400–600 rpm).
• Hang to dry in the shade. Avoid direct sunlight.
• It can also be tumble dried, but only at a low/warm temperature.
After sleeping in your bag, it’s helpful — though not strictly necessary — to leave it out in the sun for a short time before folding it and placing it back into its storage sack, allowing any overnight moisture to evaporate.
When returning from a trip, if you didn’t air it out in the morning, it’s best to let it breathe for a while before storing it in a closed wardrobe inside its bag.”
Giacomo
Warmth Rating
“The warmth rating is a measurement unit designed to help you choose the thermal level that best suits the room temperature where you will use your goose down duvet or quilt (we refer to it as a duvet).
The warmth rating scale ranges from 4 (for the coldest seasons) to 1 (for the first warmer days)
• 4 warmth level: for a room temperature of 15–17°C (59–63°F)
• 3 warmth level: for a room temperature of 18–19°C (64–66°F)
• 2 warmth level: for a room temperature of 20–22°C (68–72°F) or mid-season use
• 1 warmth level: for a room temperature of 23–24°C (73–75°F) or when using air conditioning
In our e-commerce store, you will also find four-season duvets, consisting of one 1- or 2-point duvet (for milder temperatures) and one 3-point duvet (for colder temperatures). These can be fastened together using buttons during the coldest season or used separately when temperatures are milder.”
Stefania
How to Wash Goose Down Decorative Cushions
“Down is a delicate material, but this doesn’t mean you can’t wash your filled products yourself without taking them to a professional laundry service.
Our THROW PILLOWS are machine washable at 30°C (86°F). It’s always best to use a mild or delicate liquid detergent. A small amount is sufficient, and choose a cycle with at least two rinse cycles — three is even better.
If you place a tennis ball in the drum during washing, it will help prevent the feathers from clumping in certain areas. You can also use it in the tumble dryer, provided you select a low temperature setting.
Drying: air dry outdoors, but in the shade. Avoid direct sunlight to prevent colours from fading over time.
Occasionally fluff and gently squeeze the cushions to help redistribute the feathers (a bit like stirring vegetables in the oven from time to time!). This will allow them to dry more quickly, evenly, and regain their natural shape.
If you have one, you may also use a tumble dryer. Remember: never store the cushions if they are still slightly damp — this will prevent unpleasant odours and small feather clumps from forming.
WATER WASHING IS THE BEST METHOD FOR DOWN/FEATHER PRODUCTS WITH 100% COTTON FABRIC, BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL NOT TO USE BLEACH.”
Francesco
How to Care for and Wash a Quilt
“A down-filled quilt can be your ‘best friend’ for a very long time — even more than fifteen years! However, this is only true if it is properly cared for and maintained.
It takes very little to keep it in excellent condition. Airing it outdoors on a sunny day (at least two or three times a month to allow any moisture absorbed during the night to evaporate) and shaking it gently without using a carpet beater (which could break the feathers and down clusters inside) are simple but essential steps for maintaining your goose down quilt.
During this process, Giovanna always recommends lightly spraying the quilt with a mixture made of 90% water and 10% tea tree (Melaleuca) oil to disinfect it. And I wouldn’t dare disagree with Giovanna!
At the end of the season, I recommend washing your quilt as follows:
For items up to 180 × 260 cm (approx. 71 × 102 inches), you can safely use a washing machine with at least a 5 kg capacity and a spin cycle of up to 600 rpm. For larger sizes, it is advisable to have the quilt professionally cleaned, ensuring the laundry service follows the washing instructions provided on the care label.
If you choose to wash it at home, use a mild detergent and place a tennis ball inside the drum to help maintain even filling distribution. The temperature should not exceed 40°C (104°F) in order to protect coloured fabrics.
Dry cleaning should always be avoided.
For drying, you may use a tumble dryer at a low temperature, although the best method is air drying outdoors in a shaded area. During the drying phase, gently shake and pat the quilted sections with your hands to help redistribute the filling evenly.”
