Cat has peed on the duvet.

[PyreneesPlot]

Any advice on the best way to clean an unwashable goose down duvet? Wretched kitten had only been in for half an hour.
Grumble, grumble, grumble...

[bubblewrap]

soak up the surplus wet then try sprinkling Bicarbonate of soda the offending patch.

[scarey55]

Oh dear That's really difficult.
I used to use something like this. They do deliver to France but I'm sure you could get something from Gamm Vert or Jardiland that is similar. Failing that, a good sponge down with disinfectant and Febreze or similar. As I'm sure you know, if you don't get the smell out, the kitten will carry on using it as a toilet. Good luck

[julesapple]

It isn't unwashable, even if the label says so. Try washing a circle around the offending patch with very dilute laundry detergent or even pet shampoo. Foaming upholstery cleaner spray is also good for this. Wash inwards toward the centre of the wee patch. Then blot as much liquid as you can; put the duvet on a clean floor, place a folded towel underneath the wet bit, and another on top and stand all over the duvet. Then leave the duvet somewhere to dry (if your weather is still eurgh the line outside is out of the question) and as it dries fluff up the feathers as much as you can, loosening any clumps. When it's totally dry, give it a danged good shake.

To prevent further accidents, try some citronella oil near the original wet patch.

[Alison]

Not sure what you can do but it does make me pose the question on (regardless of the untrained kitten ), how do you clean it normally. I wash my duvet a couple of times a year at the launderette to get rid of the sweat and general grime that will accumulate, not sure how you could do that if you can't wash. Can you dry clean and if so is this the way to go to get rid of the kitten pee?

[alldigging]

The biggest problem with a duvet is not the label saying don't wash it, but having a big enough machine. A single will just squeeze in our machine but my MIL2b has a bigger washer than us.

Feathers get wet in real life and seem to dry ok.

[VirginVegGrower]

Any advice on the best way to clean an unwashable goose down duvet? Wretched kitten had only been in for half an hour.
Grumble, grumble, grumble...

It can't help it blot with kitchen paper and I've washed down duvets. Are the feathers pocket stitched? Does it say it's dry cleanable? I would sponge at the cover with bio washing powder/liquid and water. Then air dry. That's if it really can't be washed. But most things can be. Geese get wet

[veggiechicken]

I've done the Jules sort of thing. Blot out what you can, then put the offending patch over a bucket or bowl and pour water through it, trying to keep the rest of the duvet as dry as you can. Rinse it out as much as possible. Blot it again in towels and by walking on it. You could even use a hair drier on it to speed up the drying.

[mothhawk]

Not sure what you can do but it does make me pose the question on (regardless of the untrained kitten ), how do you clean it normally. I wash my duvet a couple of times a year at the launderette to get rid of the sweat and general grime that will accumulate, not sure how you could do that if you can't wash. Can you dry clean and if so is this the way to go to get rid of the kitten pee?

Dry cleaning fluids will damage the down and shorten its life. UK dry cleaners wash down duvets in an industrial machine big enough to wash it properly and a dryer big enough to keep it fluffy when it's dried.

For spot washing, use warm water and non-bio liquid detergent,

[Nicos]

Have you got a wallpaper steamer?
If so fasten a T towel around the rectangular pad and steam away at it. Change the T towel for a fresh one once it gets smelly.

When you think it's clean- carry on a while longer.

You DO need to keep changing the T towels though so you are steaming clean vapour at the area.

It certainly works a treat- I know cos we has a 'pissie' cat for 2 yrs

Also works on mattresses, curtains, sofas,schoolbags,carpets

The protein neutralizer products are very good. Well worth sploshing the area with that before steam cleaning it

Good luck!

[Two_Sheds]

how do you clean it normally?

I have a Polti steam cleaner* for the feather bedding (it kills bed bugs and dust mites, if you have them), and I use Vanish soap or a spritz of white vinegar on offending stains (I once dropped a pint of hot chocolate on the brand new mattress *sob*, but Vanish and some elbow grease got it nearly all out.

White vinegar gets used for everything: it particularly neutralises pet wee. The vinegar smell goes when it dries


* half price on eBay

[PyreneesPlot]

Hi guys and thanks for all the advice.

What I did was -

Lots of blotting to get the urine out. Then lots more.

Put the offending end of the duvet in the bath and rinsed it through under the shower, making sure the water was running out and not in to the body of the duvet

Took it to the launderette this morning - yes it is washable but not in our all ready temperamental domestic machine.

It is now layed out over several chairs and the dryer and will go on the line when the sun returns this afternoon.

I think the kitten was making a statement to his sister as he went right in the spot where she likes to sleep....

And in terms of normal cleanliness of duvets and pillows, I've found that a really good fluff and shake - until your arms hurt - at least once every day keeps it unfestering. The bed doesn't get made but everything is folded back to allow the mattress to air, too. This also means when you get in its warm...

[Two_Sheds]

a really good fluff and shake - until your arms hurt - at least once every day

Surely, you mean once a month, yeah?

[Madasafish]

Prevention is better than cure.

Shoot the kitten


:-)

[shirlthegirl43]

Feather and down duvets can be washed - tumble dry with new (or at least clean) tennis balls to fluff up the feathers again afterwards.