How to Clean a Mattress: Stains, Odours & Maintenance
Urine, blood or sweat stain on your mattress? Baking soda, vinegar, steam: methods by stain type + maintenance schedule (every 3-6 months).
How to wash
Complete guides to washing duvets, down jackets, curtains, shoes and specialty textiles
Every fabric reacts differently to washing — a down duvet can't take the same treatment as blackout curtains or a wool suit. Wrong temperature, excessive spin speed or improper drying can cause shrinking, deformation or loss of insulating properties. Our guides detail the right method for each material, with manufacturer-recommended temperatures (following GINETEX care labeling standards), required machine capacities, and common mistakes that damage fibers. Every protocol is tested on professional Speed Queen machines. Use our laundry weight calculator to find the right machine before you visit.
67 articles
Anti-Dust-Mite Mattress Cover: Full Washing Protocol
How often to wash an anti-dust-mite cover? Every 1-2 months at 60 degrees C, no softener, full drying. Complete protocol for allergy sufferers.
How to Clean an Awning and Shade Sail (No Pressure Washer)
Can you pressure wash an awning? No, it destroys the fabric. Soft brushing, black soap, vinegar for mold, re-waterproofing — full step-by-step.
Wash a Baby Car Seat Cover in the Machine
How to remove and wash a baby car seat cover? 30 °C, fragrance-free detergent, air dry. By brand (Cybex, Joie, Maxi-Cosi).
Wash a Baby Carrier Wrap: Woven Cotton, Jersey, Stretch
Can you machine wash a baby carrier wrap? Yes: woven cotton 40 °C, stretch jersey 30 °C, no fabric softener. First wash mandatory + drying guide.
Baby & Child Duvet: Temperature, Frequency, Drying Guide
What temperature to wash a baby duvet? 40-60 °C depending on filling. Hypoallergenic detergent, monthly washing, complete drying mandatory.
Wash a Baby Sleeping Bag: Temperature, Detergent, Frequency
What temperature to wash a baby sleeping bag? 40-60 °C depending on filling, hypoallergenic detergent, complete drying. Without damage or irritation.
Clean and Wash a Baby Travel Cot (Pack 'n Play)
How to clean a second-hand travel cot? Cover in the machine at 40 °C, mattress with a sponge, mould with vinegar. Complete cleaning after purchase or loan.
How to Wash Beach Towels: Sand, Salt & Care Guide
Sand and salt ruining your towels? Shake + rinse before washing, 40-60 °C, zero fabric softener. Terry vs microfiber, drying tips and freshness.
How to Clean a Camping Tent Without Ruining the Waterproofing
Can you machine wash a tent? Never. Sponge + warm water, mold treatment with vinegar, complete drying and re-waterproofing step by step.
How to Wash Chinos and Corduroy Without Damage
Chinos and corduroy: 30 °C delicate, inside out, liquid detergent, low spin. By fabric, crease, ironing, and mistakes.
How to Wash Cloth Diapers: Routine & Full Care Guide
What routine for cloth diapers? Dry storage, cold pre-wash, 60 °C, glycerin-free detergent. Percarbonate stripping and method by insert type.
How to Wash Cushions and Covers in a Washing Machine
Can you machine-wash a cushion? Synthetic and feather yes, memory foam no. Cycle, temperature, drying tips + covers at 40-60 degrees C separately.
How to Wash Gloves and Mittens (Machine or Hand)
Can you machine wash leather gloves? Never. Wool, ski, fleece, kitchen, gardening: washing method by material + drying without deformation.
How to Wash a Gym Bag in the Washing Machine
Gym bag that smells? 30 degrees C delicate in a mesh bag, baking soda pre-treatment. By material, frequency and deodorizing tips.
How to Clean a Handbag: Fabric, Leather and Faux Leather
Can you machine-wash a handbag? Canvas yes, leather never. Cleaning by material, lining, zippers and maintenance schedule.
How to Wash a Beanie or Hat Without Damage
Can you machine-wash a wool beanie? Yes, at 30 °C in a mesh bag. Felt hat, straw, polyester bucket hat: method by material and distortion-free drying.
How to Clean Kids' Toys: Plastic, Wood and Fabric
How to sanitise baby toys without toxic products? Plastic, wood, soft toys: method by material, daycare schedule and anti-mould bath toys.
How to Wash a Kitchen Apron: Grease, Stains, Hygiene
Grease or wine stain on your apron? Cotton 60 °C, polyester 40 °C, leather: wipe only. Stain removal, frequency, and care by material.
Washing Kitchen Towels: Temperature, Frequency and Hygiene
Did you know a kitchen towel harbours E. coli and Salmonella within 48 h? Wash at 60 °C minimum, every 2-3 days. Method by fabric (cotton, linen, microfibre).
How to Clean & Care for a Leather or Suede Jacket
Can you wash a leather jacket in the machine? No, never. Smooth leather, suede, nubuck: surface cleaning, stain removal, waterproofing and storage guide.
How to Wash Linen in a Machine Without Wrinkles or Shrinkage
Does linen shrink in the washer? Not if you wash at 40 °C max, delicate cycle, 600 rpm spin. Full care guide: shirts, pants, sheets.
How to Wash Bras and Lingerie in a Machine Without Damage
Can you machine-wash a bra? Yes: mesh bag required, 30 °C, delicate cycle. Method by fabric (lace, silk, cotton, microfibre) + drying tips.
How to Wash a Mattress Protector or Pad in the Machine
How often should you wash a mattress protector? Every 1-2 months at 60 C for hygiene. Programme, drying and frequency by use (baby, allergy, adult).
How to Wash a Pleated Skirt Without Losing the Pleats
Pleated skirt in the machine: mesh bag, 30 °C, 400 rpm spin, hang dry by the waist. Complete guide by fabric (polyester, cotton, silk).
How to Wash Reusable Sanitary Pads: Full Routine
How to wash reusable cloth pads without odour or stains. Cold rinse, machine at 40-60 C, zero softener, percarbonate strip wash.
Satin and Silk Sheets: Wash Temperature and Care Guide
Can satin sheets go in the machine? Yes: cotton satin at 40 C, silk satin at 30 C, polyester at 40 C. Programme, drying and ironing by type.
How to Wash a Scarf or Shawl Without Damage
Can you machine wash a cashmere scarf? On a wool cycle at 30 °C, yes. Silk, wool, cotton, polyester: method and drying by material.
How to Wash a School Uniform: Frequency, Stains, Care
How often should you wash a school uniform? 2-3 times a week. Stain removal for ink, grass, paint + temperature by fabric and colour preservation.
Shower Curtain: How to Remove Mould and Limescale
Is your shower curtain mouldy or crusty? Machine wash at 30-40 °C with baking soda + white vinegar. Plastic and fabric, monthly cleaning guide.
How to Wash a Silk Dress: Hand Wash & Delicate Care
Can you machine wash a silk dress? Yes, on a delicate cycle at 30 °C with a mesh bag. Hand washing, pH-neutral detergent, drying and ironing by silk type.
How to Machine Wash a Ski Suit or Jacket
Does fabric softener destroy your ski suit's DWR? Yes. 30 °C delicate, liquid detergent, tumble dry low to reactivate water repellency. Guide by suit type.
How to Wash Slippers in the Machine Without Damage
Can slippers go in the washing machine? Felt and faux fur yes (30 °C, laundry bag), leather no. Method by material + drying without warping.
How to Wash Sofa Covers in a Washing Machine
Can sofa covers go in the machine? Temperatures by fabric (30-40 °C), 18 kg machines at the laundromat for large covers, and drying without shrinkage.
How to Wash a Swimsuit: Elasticity & Colour Care
Does chlorine damage swimsuits? Yes — rinse immediately. Hand or machine wash at 30 °C, flat-dry in the shade to preserve elastane.
How to Wash a Tablecloth: Cotton, Linen, Stain-Proof
Wine stain on the tablecloth? Pre-treat before washing. Cotton 60 °C, linen 40 °C, stain-proof 30 °C no softener. Large tablecloths need 18 kg machines.
How to Wash a Fleece Blanket or Throw in the Machine
Does fabric softener damage fleece? Yes. 30 °C max, zero softener, low-heat drying. Anti-pilling, static, 18 kg laundromat machines.
How to Wash Velvet in the Machine Without Damaging It
Can velvet go in the washing machine? Yes: 30 °C delicate cycle, inside out, 400-600 RPM spin. Method by type (corduroy, smooth, silk velvet).
How to Clean a Wedding Dress: Stains, Washing & Storage
Wine, makeup, or grass stain on a wedding dress? Spot cleaning, hand wash in the bathtub, dry cleaning: when to do what + long-term storage guide.
How to Clean a Wetsuit (Surfing, Diving, Triathlon)
Can you machine wash a wetsuit? Never. Fresh water rinse, hand wash with mild soap, shade drying and hanger storage — step-by-step guide.
Whiten Sneakers: Methods That Actually Work
White sneakers turning yellow? Baking soda + hydrogen peroxide, machine wash at 30 °C, magic eraser. By material (canvas, mesh, leather): what actually whitens.
How to Wash a Wool Sweater Without Shrinking It
Wool sweater shrunk or felted? Wool cycle at 30 °C max, enzyme-free detergent, flat drying. Method by fibre type (merino, cashmere, alpaca).
How to Wash Workwear and Work Overalls
How to remove engine grease from workwear? Fuller's earth, pre-soaking, 60 °C. Protocols for paint, cement, odours + laundromat 18 kg machines.
Machine Capacity for a Double Duvet: Full Chart (2026)
8 kg, 10 kg, or 18 kg? Full chart by duvet size and filling. Will your duvet fit in your machine? Find out here.
How to Wash a Backpack in the Machine Without Damaging It
Backpack smells bad? Wash on delicate 30 °C, inside out, no tumble dryer. By material (nylon, polyester, canvas, leather) + what should not go in a machine.
How to Wash a Cap Without Losing Its Shape
Can you wash a cap in the dishwasher? No, that is a myth. Hand wash or machine wash (mesh bag, 30 °C), dry on a form. Method by fabric.
How to Wash a Coat or Parka in the Washing Machine
Can you machine wash a wool coat? Yes, at 30 °C on a wool cycle. Polyester, waterproof, parka: cycle, temperature, and drying by fabric.
How to Wash a Feather or Down Duvet in a Washing Machine
30 °C, mild liquid detergent, no fabric softener, 15-18 kg machine. Full step-by-step method to wash a down duvet without damaging loft.
How to Wash Jeans in a Machine Without Ruining Them
Should you wash jeans after every wear? No, every 4-5 wears is enough. Raw, stretch or stonewashed: temperature, cycle and anti-fading tips.
How to Wash a Sleeping Bag in a Machine (2026)
Sleeping bag losing its loft? Front-load 18 kg machine, specialist detergent, tumble dry with dryer balls. Down & synthetic method + storage tips.
How to Wash Stuffed Animals in a Machine (Safe Guide)
Can you machine-wash a stuffed animal? Yes: delicate cycle at 30-40 °C in a mesh bag, gentle drying. Full dust-mite protocol at 60 °C included.
How to Wash a Weighted Blanket in the Machine Safely
Can your machine handle a weighted blanket? Max weight, glass vs plastic beads, the right cycle. An 18 kg laundromat machine is often the answer.
Is Your Duvet Machine Washable? How to Check
Care label, GINETEX symbols, drum size, filling, volume: how to tell if a duvet can really go in the machine without damage.
Duvet Cover: Washing Temperature and Frequency Guide
40 to 60 °C depending on the fabric, twice a month as a routine: the practical guide to washing a duvet cover without wearing it out or wrinkling it.
How to Wash Ski Gear: Guide by Fabric Type
How to machine-wash Gore-Tex without losing waterproofing? Gore-Tex, fleece, merino: protocol by ski fabric + drying and end-of-season storage.
Rough Towels: How to Make Them Soft Again
Rough towels after washing? White vinegar, proper rinsing and tumble drying: the real steps that work to get fluffy towels back.
How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets? Full Guide (2026)
Wash sheets every 1-2 weeks. Frequency chart: summer/winter, temperatures by fabric (pillowcases, duvet covers, mattress protectors). Dust mite tips.
How to Wash Baby Clothes in a Machine
What detergent and temperature for baby clothes? 40-60 °C by item, hypoallergenic detergent, wash frequency, and eczema tips.
How to Wash Curtains in a Machine: Fabric & Temp Guide
What temperature to wash curtains? Sheers at 30 °C, blackout at 40 °C, linen air-dry only. Fabric chart, frequency, sofa covers, and mistakes to avoid.
How to Wash a Pillow in the Washing Machine
Can you machine wash a pillow? Synthetic and feather yes (40-60 °C), memory foam no. Program, drying and frequency (2-4 times/year).
How to Wash a Puffer Jacket in the Washing Machine
Flat puffer after washing? 30 °C delicate, low spin and tennis balls in the dryer to restore loft. Method for down and synthetic.
How to Wash a Rug in a Machine: Which Rugs Can Go In?
Cotton, synthetic, bath rugs: which ones are machine-washable? Temperature, cycle settings and drying. 18 kg machine for large rugs.
Machine Wash a Suit or Blazer Without Dry Cleaning
Can you machine wash a blazer? Yes, on a delicate cycle at 30 °C. Suit, trousers, jacket: guide to cleaning without dry cleaning.
Silk, Cashmere, Lace: How to Wash Delicate Fabrics
Can you machine-wash silk and cashmere? Yes -- delicate cycle at 30 °C with a mesh bag. Temperatures, laundry bags and drying tips by fabric.
Smelly Sportswear After Washing: Causes and Solutions
Stubborn odours on sportswear? Why synthetics still smell after washing and how to kill bacteria. 30 °C, zero fabric softener.
Washing a Duvet in a Machine: Size & Temp Guide (2026)
What machine to wash a double duvet? 18 kg at the laundromat, 40-60 °C by filling type. Down & synthetic guide + drying + costs.
How to Wash Sneakers in a Machine: Program & Mistakes (2026)
Can you machine wash sneakers without ruining them? 30 °C, mesh bag, gentle spin: the method by material (canvas, mesh, leather) + 5 common mistakes.
FAQ
Can you machine wash a king-size duvet?
Yes, but you need a machine with at least 40 lb (18 kg) capacity so the duvet can tumble freely. Standard home washers (15-18 lb) are too small for king-size duvets (approx. 86 × 94 in).
What temperature should you use for delicate fabrics?
Delicate fabrics (silk, wool, cashmere) should be washed at 86 °F (30 °C) maximum on a gentle cycle with reduced spin speed (400-600 rpm). Always check the care label first.
How do you prevent clothes from shrinking in the wash?
Follow the temperature on the care label, avoid tumble drying natural fibers (wool, fine cotton), and use a moderate spin speed. Shrinkage mainly occurs when heat is too high.