Washing machines are great for freshening all of our most used fabric goods so that they always look and smell as good as new. The only problem is that it’s very easy to accidentally overload a washing machine by placing too much into the drum.

In fact, some individual objects can simply be too big to even fit in the drum of your washing machine. So how are you to know whether an item is too big for the drum?

Do you need to frequently wash your duvets and other bed linens? Want to make sure your washing machine has plenty of space for them? Let’s find out the drum capacity you need!

What Size Washing Machine Drum Should I Have For A Duvet?

The answer to this question will generally depend on the size of the duvet being placed into the washing machine. Naturally, the smaller the duvet, the smaller the drum will need to be.

The minimum drum size you should try and aim for when washing a single duvet is around 6kg. This will provide enough space for the duvet to move around during a given cycle. This helps to provide a more efficient wash.

Even the smallest of duvets can take up a significant amount of space in a washing machine. Ensure that your washing machine has a 6kg drum at the smallest, to have enough space!

If you want to wash a king-size duvet, you’ll need a significantly larger washing machine with a drum capacity of around 9kg. Again, this ensures that there is enough room for the duvet to move around while being washed.

What Happens If You Overload A Washing Machine?

You need to ensure that there is plenty of space for a duvet within your washing machine because overloading the drum can lead to larger issues.

Placing too much weight into the drum can easily lead to long-term damage to the drum bearings, and the motor, that help it to spin. These can be incredibly difficult and expensive to replace or repair.

Placing too much laundry in your washing machine will also have an impact on the machine’s ability to clean. In order to be fully cleaned, your laundry needs to be able to move about while spinning. The motion allows dirt and grime to be “Beaten” out of the fabric. If there is too much laundry placed into the drum, none of it will be able to move, and thus it will not clean as effectively.

Can You Fit A Duvet In A 10kg Washing Machine?

A 10kg washing machine would be perfect for cleaning all kinds of duvets. King-size duvets need a drum capacity of around 9kg, so 10kg would be totally sufficient.

10kg washing machines boast an incredibly spacious drum that can easily accommodate a king-size duvet. Washing machines of this size are great for larger households and families!

In fact, a 10kg drum would be enough to wash multiple single duvets at the same time. This makes larger washing machines with this drum capacity great for families or other large households.

Will A King Size Duvet Fit In An 8kg Washing Machine?

While you could technically fit a duvet into an 8kg washing machine and run a cycle, it may prove to be a little too tight of a fit. Again, you want to make sure that there is plenty of space in your washing machine for each laundry load to move around during a cycle.

If you need to wash a king-size duvet, we would recommend that you grab a washing machine with a capacity of 9kg or more.

An 8kg washing machine would be perfect for washing a queen-size duvet, or a few single duvets. This makes them great for average or medium size families.

What Would Happen If You Underfilled A Washing Machine?

It’s really easy to end up overstuffing a washing machine drum. But make sure you don’t underfill it just to compensate!

Underfilling your washing machine will cause the drum to spin off balance. This will have a severe impact on the health of the motor in the long term.

Underfilling your washing machine will also lead to a lot of wasted water and energy. Why set a full cycle going in your washing machine if the water isn’t going to be put to full use?

This is why it is so important to carefully consider the total size of your washing machine. You want to ensure that there is enough space in there with each laundry load, while also ensuring that there’s not so much space that water ends up being wasted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Size Washing Machine Drum Do I Need For A Duvet?

In order to efficiently wash a duvet of any size, you will need a washing machine with a 6kg drum. 6kg is plenty of space for a single duvet. If you plan to wash more duvets or much larger duvets, you should aim for a washing machine with a larger capacity than 6kg.

Can A 4.5 kg Washing Machine Wash A Duvet?

In order to wash a duvet, you’re going to need access to a washing machine with a total capacity of around 6 kg. 4.5kg would simply be too small to effectively wash a duvet. If you want to wash a king-size duvet or multiple single duvets, we would recommend that you use a 10kg washing machine or larger!

What Cycle Do You Wash A Duvet?

To effectively clean a duvet, you’ll want to make sure to wash it with plenty of warm water. Duvets can very easily accumulate bacteria and other germs from frequent use. Warm water is effective at killing these germs and keeping your duvets sanitised for future use. You’ll also want to set the washing machine to a delicate cycle, to protect the duvet from any damage.

What If My Duvet Doesn’t Fit In The Washing Machine?

If your duvet does not comfortably fit into your washing machine, then we would recommend against stuffing it in. Overstuffing your washing machine can easily lead to long-term damage. It will also lead to a very inefficient clean. Instead, take your duvet to a local laundrette, to make use of some of the larger washing machines!