How to wash a doona, quilt or pillow, and when it's a job for the pros
By the Pacco Pacco Laundry team · Updated 18 September 2026 · 5 min read
The short answer
Most synthetic doonas and pillows can be machine washed on a gentle 30–40°C cycle if, and it's a big if, your machine is large enough for the doona to move freely; a queen doona realistically needs an 8 kg or larger machine. Drying is the hard part: the fill must be completely dry and de-clumped or it will smell and mildew. Feather and down, wool-filled doonas, and anything that won't fit your machine are better handled professionally.
First: will it actually fit in your machine?
The most common doona-washing mistake isn't temperature, it's cramming. A doona stuffed tight into a small drum can't circulate, so the middle stays dirty, detergent doesn't rinse out, and the strain is hard on the machine's bearings and seals. As a rule of thumb, a single or double synthetic doona suits a 7–8 kg machine; queen and king sizes want 8–10 kg or more, which is bigger than many household front loaders.
If you have to fold and force it, stop there. Squeezing it in is how doonas come out half-washed and machines end up needing repairs.
Washing a synthetic doona or quilt at home
Check the care label, spot-treat any marks first, then wash on a gentle cycle at 30–40°C with about half your usual detergent dose; fills hold soap and need less of it plus an extra rinse if your machine offers one. Use a slow to medium spin so the fill isn't compressed into lumps.
For wool quilts, follow the label exactly. Many are airing-only or wool-cycle-only, and a normal cycle can felt the fill into permanent lumps.
Drying is the make-or-break step
A doona that stays damp in the middle will smell musty within days and can mildew, so budget real time for drying. Line dry over two parallel lines in good airflow, turning and shaking it several times so the fill redistributes, and expect it to take a full sunny day or longer. In a tumble dryer, use low heat, plenty of room and a couple of clean dryer balls or tennis balls to break up clumps, and pause to shake it out along the way.
It's done when it feels light, even, and completely dry when you press your face into the middle. Any coolness means moisture is still in there.
What about pillows?
Most polyester and many down pillows are machine washable: two at a time to balance the drum, warm gentle cycle, extra rinse, then a long low-heat tumble with dryer balls until utterly dry inside. Memory foam and latex pillows must never go in a washing machine; the structure tears apart. Spot clean those and air them instead.
Wash pillows two or three times a year and replace them when folding one in half leaves it folded; no wash fixes a pillow that has lost its structure.
When it's a pro job
Feather and down doonas, wool quilts, anything oversized for your machine, and doonas with tears or fragile stitching are the ones we'd hand over rather than gamble with. Commercial machines have the drum size these items need, and proper drying rooms solve the dampness problem that catches most people at home.
Doonas, quilts and pillows can be added to any Pacco Pacco linen pickup: we collect, wash, dry thoroughly and return them ready for the bed, and we're happy to give you an estimate for bulky items.
Quick questions
How often should a doona itself be washed?
Two or three times a year is plenty if you use a doona cover, washed fortnightly, as the barrier. Air the doona itself in the sun between washes to keep it fresh.
Can I wash a feather doona in the washing machine?
Only if the label allows it, your machine is large enough for it to move freely, and you can commit to very thorough low-heat drying. Down clumps badly when damp, which is why feather doonas are the ones we most recommend professional washing for.
Why does my doona smell musty even after washing?
Almost always incomplete drying: moisture trapped in the fill lets mildew start. Rewash it and dry until the middle is genuinely warm and dry to the touch, using dryer balls and regular shake-outs.