A linen duvet cover is used as protection for a special kind of comforter. A duvet is specifically a comforter that’s stuffed with down, which are the soft feathers from the breasts of ducks and geese. Most down comes from China, but the best down is from Europe and Canada. The very finest eiderdown comes from a sea duck called an eider.

Goose down keeps the sleeper warmer than duck down because goose down is large and fluffy. Because the quality of the filling is so fine, duvets are expensive, especially if they’re filled exclusively with down and not down and feathers. Because the duvet is so warm, it’s used only by itself on the bed, while comforters can go on top of the other bed covers.

The Purpose of the Linen Duvet Cover

The duvet is placed inside the linen duvet cover to save it from spills, dust and dirt. Though a duvet can be washed, it’s much easier to take the duvet cover off and simply toss it into the washing machine. It’s undesirable to have to launder a duvet frequently, because the detergent can strip the down of its oils and eventually flatten it. Ideally, a duvet should never have to be washed if it’s kept inside a cover. It should just be aired outside a few times a year, without its cover, to keep it smelling and looking fresh.

Real linen is made from the flax plant and costs more than cotton. However, it’s one of the best fabrics for hot climates because linen bedclothes stay cool naturally and are sturdy enough to last for years and be passed down as heirlooms. The more linen is washed, the softer it becomes, and its colors are naturally neutral, like soft tan or ivory. This makes it go well with just about any bedroom decor. Linen is subject to much wrinkling, but people who prize it find this quality attractive. The best linen duvet covers have buttons so they can be taken off and put on easily. They should be the same size as the duvet, neither smaller nor larger.

Traditionally linen is made from a long, involved and frankly noisome process that can take months. The best flax plants come from Europe, and Ireland is known for its very fine linens. No quality flax plants are grown and harvested in the United States.

How to Care For a Linen Duvet Cover

A linen duvet cover will need its own care. It should be pre-shrunk an colorfast before it’s bought, then it’s perfectly safe to was in a washing machine on the gentle cycle. The water should be coolish but never hot. The detergent should also be gentle. If the duvet cover is embroidered, it should be put in a lingerie bag if that’s possible, but a linen cover shouldn’t be quite that delicate in the first place.

Then, it should be hung to dry on a clothesline or dried flat. It should be ironed on the “Linen” setting while it’s still a little damp. A linen duvet cover adds its own touch of elegance to an already elegant bed cover.