Changing the duvet cover seems, in theory, an easy task, but it can be a real challenge to be able to fit a puffy, fluffy duvet into the small open space of the cover. The process is not that different from stuffing a pillow into the pillowcase, except that the duvet isn't as stiff as a pillow, so it tends to twist and twist. While it can be a complex job, there are a couple of methods that can make it easier, especially if you're doing it yourself.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Change the Duvet Cover the Traditional Way
Step 1. Spread the duvet on the bed
Lay it on the mattress so that it is wide open and flat. Make sure the short side of the quilt runs across the bed and the long side across the length. Also check that the label is near the headboard.
Keeping the tag at the top of the bed ensures that it will end up at your feet when the duvet is inserted into the cover
Step 2. Put the duvet cover inside out
Stand at the foot of the bed and lay the cover over the duvet with the opening facing you. You don't have to overlap them precisely, it is enough that the fabric is stretched out just enough to see the four corners. Insert your hands into the opening until you grab the two top corners near the head of the bed.
- Hold the right corner with your right hand and the left corner with your left. Pull the inner corners towards you and through the opening to turn the duvet cover inside out.
- At this point, lay it back on the duvet with the open side facing you.
Step 3. Take the corners of the comforter
When the duvet cover is inside out, put your hands back into the opening and reach for the top corners from the inside. Without releasing your grip, bring your hands down near the foot of the bed and grab the two bottom corners of the duvet as well.
- You should move your hands as if they are inside a pair of oven mitts and want to grab the corners of the quilt.
- At this stage you should close all the ties of the duvet cover or the duvet itself that allow it to remain firm inside the cover when you use it; it could be buttons or some kind of band.
- You may need to momentarily take your hands out of the duvet cover to close the fasteners; once you are sure, you can enter them again.
Step 4. Shake the cover over the duvet
Keeping your grip on the inside of the fabric, firmly grasp the two bottom corners of the duvet; flip the cover over with your hands without releasing your grip and shake everything.
- Remember to hold both the duvet cover and the duvet firmly as you do this to make sure all corners of the quilt fit into the respective corners of the cover.
- Shake both of you hard, as if you want to spread a blanket on the bed.
- You can also stand near the edge of the bed and hold the top corners of the comforter and duvet cover to shake the fabric evenly.
- You may need to pull the last piece of cover on the bottom of the quilt and tuck the corners into the opening.
Step 5. Spread the duvet on the bed
Once it is fully inserted into the cover, attach the ties to the inner ones of the fabric, if any. When you have tied and secured the quilt in the duvet cover, you can close the opening on the bottom.
Slightly shake the duvet and pull it along all sides to spread it out on the bed evenly
Method 2 of 2: Change the Duvet Cover with the Roll Method
Step 1. Put the duvet cover inside out
Just like you did for the first method, you need to turn the cover inside out. Put your hands through the opening at the foot of the bed and grab the top corners from the inside; then pull them down and through the opening.
- When the fabric is inside out, don't let go of the corners and shake the cover to spread it out on the bed.
- Make sure the duvet cover opening is always close to the foot of the bed.
Step 2. Put the duvet on top of the duvet cover
Unfold it completely on the fabric. Check that the two elements are well aligned, especially at the corners.
The long side of the duvet and cover should line up with the long side of the bed, while the short side should be parallel to the width of the mattress
Step 3. Close each tie
If your duvet or duvet cover has a system for attaching its respective corners, now is the time to tie it up.
It could be a system of small buttons and buttonholes, of elastics and buttons or pieces of tape to tie together
Step 4. Roll up the comforter and cover
Start at the headboard of the bed and roll both to the bottom. Move as if you want to close a huge burrito; do your best to make sure the cover and quilt always stay in line.
If you are working alone, you can proceed by placing yourself in the center of the bed; if you have a helper, each of you can stand on one side of the mattress and roll the fabrics together evenly
Step 5. Flip the cover over
When you have finished the roll, insert your hand into the opening of the duvet cover and grab the entire inner portion that has been wrapped around itself. Flip the side of the duvet cover over the portion you are holding. When you have turned the fabric over on one side of the roll, repeat the same operation on the other side.
When both sides have been flipped and the duvet cover wraps around the outer edges, unfold and even out the rest of the fabric; flip the central portion of the cover over the central portion of the duvet
Step 6. Unroll the comforter and duvet cover
Spread the fabrics back on the bed. Close the opening with the zipper or buttons, shake the corners and sides of the duvet to tidy up flattened areas or bumps.
You can use the same method to take off the duvet cover
Advice
- Make sure the duvet is no bigger than the duvet cover, not all of them meet a standard size.
- To change the large duvets you need the help of another person.
