How To Wash Your Bedspread

Wondering how to wash your bed spread without shrinking it, or the best way to wash a linen bedspread safely? This simple guide takes you through washing a bedspread from start to finish.

Keeping a bedspread clean doesn’t need to be a faff. If you’re searching how to wash bed spread without shrinking it, washing a bedspread that’s bulky, or you specifically want to wash a linen bedspread, this guide shows the right way — label first, gentle products, and careful drying.

What You’ll Need When Washing A Bedspread 

• Mild liquid laundry detergent (ideally fragrance-free / non-bio for sensitive skin).
• Stain remover or a little extra detergent for pre-treating.
• Wool dryer balls or two clean tennis balls (for tumble drying bulky items).
• Access to a large capacity washing machine and tumble dryer, or a nearby launderette for oversized bedspreads.
• A clothes line / airer for line drying.
  
  

Why large capacity? Bulky bedding needs room to move so it actually gets clean and rinses properly. If your home washer is small, use a commercial machine at the launderette.

How To Wash A Bedspread: Step-by-step

1) Read The Care Label

Check whether your bedspread is machine-washable, hand-wash only, or dry-clean only. Follow any fibre-specific notes (down, wool, silk, linen) on temperature, spin and drying. If it says “dry clean only,” don’t risk it in the machine.

2) Check Your Washer Size

A king or extra-thick bedspread can overwhelm a standard drum. If the drum looks more than ~¾ full once the bedspread is inside, use a commercial machine at the launderette so it can circulate and rinse properly. 

3) Pre-treat Marks

Lay the bedspread flat. For any stains, push filling away from the area, dab on a little detergent or stain remover, give it a few minutes to work, then gently blot. This reduces “halos” and helps avoid set-in stains.

4) Choose The Right Cycle, Temperature And Detergent

Use a Bulky/Bedding or Delicates/Gentle cycle to protect stitching and any filling, and add an extra rinse to clear soap residue. Unless the label says otherwise, wash cool or warm (30–40°C). Hot washes can clump fillings and fade colours. Use a small dose of mild, additive-free detergent and skip fabric softener — softener coats fibres, reducing breathability and absorbency.

5) Re-check Before Drying

If any marks remain, treat and re-wash. Heat sets stains, so don’t tumble until you’re happy they’ve lifted.

6) Dry Low And Fluff

Tumble on low heat with wool dryer balls or tennis balls, pausing every 20–30 minutes to shake and redistribute filling. Repeat short cycles until it’s dry through the thickest sections. If you prefer, line dry, outdoors in fair weather or indoors on an airer, reshaping and fluffing as it dries.

7) Check For Damp Spots

Squeeze thicker areas; they should feel completely dry and room temperature. If anything’s cool or damp, run another short low cycle or finish on the line. Storing a bedspread that’s even slightly damp invites musty odours or mildew.

What Not To Use When Washing Bedding 

Avoid chlorine bleach on colours and prints — it can weaken fibres and strip dye. Steer clear of optical brighteners on delicate fibres. Skip fabric softener entirely; it leaves a coating that traps odours and makes natural fibres feel clammy. Heavy stain pastes and vigorous scrubbing can roughen fabric or shift filling, so spot-treat gently and rinse well.

How Often Should You Wash A Bedspread?

It depends how you use it. If your bedspread is decorative over a duvet, aim for every 1–3 months, with quicker refreshes after illness or during high-pollen season. If you sleep directly under it, or you have pets or allergies, wash every 2–4 weeks. Always air it between washes and spot-clean promptly — little and often keeps full washes easier.

Special Care: Washing A Linen Bedspread

To wash a linen bedspread, choose a gentle cycle at 30–40°C with a mild liquid detergent, low to medium spin, and no softener. Linen likes space in the drum and dries best on a line; if you tumble, keep heat low and remove slightly damp, then smooth by hand. Expect a natural, soft crumple—over-drying or high heat can make linen harsh.

Ready to put this into practice? Explore our bedspread range on the MFI site to find the right size and fabric for your routine, then keep the momentum with two quick reads: How To Make Your Bed Like A Five Star Hotel and How To Make Your Bedroom Smell Good All The Time. If this guide helped, share it with friends or family so their bedspreads stay fresh too.