Duvets are a must when hosting an Airbnb. Cleanliness is key to achieving a 5-star review. Duvets help ( you still need to clean everything else like a madman) to allow you accomplish this badge of honor. They do this by providing a barrier on your comforters so that the bed covers can be clean for every single guest. The duvet’s outer layer protects your comforter or blanket that is on the inside of this material.
What’s wrong a standard comforter when hosting an Airbnb?
Comforters are typically big and bulky covers of material people use when sleeping. They are the most commonly used items in households in America. A variety of colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes are offered making them a convenient choice. The problem with this approach is that many washers and dryers cannot accommodate the size of a comforter. Moreover, many of the materials chosen to create a comforter cannot withstand constant washing and drying in a machine. This causes bedding items to go for long periods of time without being cleaned. The potential for germ spread is completely unacceptable when hosting an Airbnb.
Think of that dingy motel
Most hotels still use comforters. They lay on top of your sheets and are usually dark in color. The dark color masks many of the stains that the visitors get on it by any method imaginable. Those dark covers do not get washed. They are the same nasty pieces of material person after person. If you are lucky, they will get changed out after a major stain, but I wouldn’t count on it. For those of us who have known this dirty little secret about the hotel/motel industry, we typically throw this outer layer off the bed onto the floor where it belongs. This leaves you susceptible to getting very cold as you sleep. Not a comfortable option.
Your guests deserve better!
When hosting an Airbnb, your home share should strive to be as comfortable and clean as possible. If you need tips on how and what to clean you can check out the article “How to Clean your Airbnb“. The duvet is a must in order to protect your comforter and more importantly, your guest.
Change your duvet cover in between every single guest that comes through. All newcomers deserve clean, fresh standards. Various styles are available to allow for either a zipper or button opening. Here are a few different examples so you may compare options:
Duvet with Button opening
These different options provide different advantages. The duvet with the button opening goes the full length of the duvet making it extremely easy to put the comforter back into the duvet cover after washing. Most duvets open for only a portion of the length of one side of the duvet. This causes one to have to bend the duvet and so some maneuvering in order for it to fit properly. Not a big deal for the experienced duvet user, but newbies may have a little trouble. After all duvet covers take some skill.
Duvet with Zipper opening
Duvets sporting a zipper down one side for an opening provides another option. The zipper is super convenient when hosting an Airbnb for the inexperienced duvet user looking to maximize their time. Button options require that you button each button along the entire side of the duvet. This may not sound like a big deal, but let me tell you after you get to the point of hosting multiple times, back to back, your time becomes precious. With the zipper option there is also less possibility of losing a button. Yes, this is a common occurrence after you have washed the duvet after multiple guests. Buttons have a higher tendency of getting caught on things and coming off.
The one downfall with the zipper option is that the zipper does not go the full length of the duvet. There may be a duvet out there with this feature, but I have yet to find it. If I come across one, I will be sure to post it here! The disadvantage of having an opening that is not as long as the full size of the duvet is that it makes it harder when prepping the duvet. With time (and skill), one gets used to the folding action that is required to make the duvet fit inside of the duvet cover. Again, I recommend watching the duvet video for a smooth and easy option for changing duvet covers.
What is the best way to put on a duvet cover?
Believe it or not, there is a trick! Inexperienced duvet users simply smash the innards of the covers into the duvet cover. Fighting every step of the way, hoping to get the inside comforter to reach the corners. Flatness also complicates matters. When you attempt to force the duvet into where you want it, lumps often arise It is super difficult to get your duvet looking professional with this approach.
Instead, a strange trick exists that may take you a few times to understand. However, after you remember all the steps in the process your duvet will not only look beautiful, but precious time will be saved.
Duvet steps made easy:
- Turn duvet cover inside out.
- Lay duvet cover on bed with the opening at the foot of the bed.
- Place the comforter on top of duvet cover. Make sure it lines up as closely as possible. Do not have any portion of the comforter laying beyond the duvet cover. (If it is not matching up, you either have a duvet that is a different size than the duvet cover Or you have the comforter going the wrong direction. Try turning it 25 degrees to see if that fits better)
- Starting at the head of the bed, roll both the duvet cover and comforter together toward the foot of the bed. Imagine a pig in a blanket.
- Once at the end, invert the duvet cover opening around the ends of both sides of the bundle. This part can be tricky and may take skill. The duvet video helps you to visualize how you will be completing this step.
- Make sure the ends of the roll (duvet and duvet cover combined) are fully straightened out. The inner comforter must reach the ends. Grab the corner of the comforter for good measure to make sure it is fulling the corner of the duvet cover at each end.
- Button or zip the duvet cover closed.
- Unroll the bundle in the opposite direction (back toward the head of the bed). It will unroll flat. No need
