In my Facebook group, The Hosting Journey, we discuss just everything you can think of in the vacation rental life. One of the big items we talk about is bedding, We go deep into the details of sheets, duvets, and comforters. The color, the thread count, and don’t get me started on trying to figure out how to remove that mystery stain and whether or not to charge our guests for them (we are all human, after all….). Today I have something new about bedding to discuss with you… Something that I have not encountered before.
Sometimes Target other times…
If you have been listening to me for a while you know I’m a Target Threshold lady… but on occasions, I stray. Believe it or not, today’s conversation isn’t about sheets. It’s about something else. I recently went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and whenever I’m there I go to the clearance aisle (hey, as hosts we’re always buying sheets and towels, and if they’re on sale…count me in!).
I found this lovely bed-in-a-bag set. It comes with a set of sheets, the comforter, and shams. I liked the design, but the price was what got my attention. Believe me, I almost bought two. Yes, I recommend buying white for that hotel pristine look and experience, but if the price is right and the design will match a few of the bedrooms I’ll sacrifice.
I know there is always confusion about the difference between a comforter, a duvet, and a cover. And of course, I know the names get interchanged and can be called by different names in other parts of the world.
Comforter & Duvet
So here it goes. A comforter is a blanket that is covered in fabric, filled with down or synthetic fibers, and all stitched together. It is usually part of a bed in a bag set. Care is easier, but you wash everything. Remember, it will take longer to dry as you’re washing the filling with it. When it comes out of the bag, you can use it right away. Well, I actually like to wash it before I use it the first time, but that’s me.
The duvet insert can be down feathers or a synthetic material. I don’t buy down because I’m allergic, and I figure that if I’m allergic some guests might be as well. There are other synthetic fabric inserts. A duvet insert is used with a cover, and it comes in different colors and designs. which is “easy” to change…
Yeah right…20 minutes later, I’m struggling and I want to give up. I don’t know how Martha Stewart grabs it from one corner and it lands on the bed perfectly. That’s not me.
So a duvet has a cover that you can change, and a comforter has a stitched covered. Ok.
Different Materials But Do this Every Time
Whether you use a duvet with a cover or a comforter, you are going to have to do some cleaning before each new guest arrives. Yes, every time. I know… but yes, every time. With a duvet, you don’t need to wash the insert (aka, the filling). You just wash the cover. There is no quick and easy solution. It’s a pain to put the cover back on the duvet, but it’s also kind of annoying having to wash an entire comforter.
Well, I have a little of both; some duvets and some comforters.
More Tips
Another tip is to use some CLEAN tennis balls (or now they have these wool balls for the dryers). You will think the dryer is possessed, but it’s just fluffing the filling of the comforter. Well, my dear hosts, I was getting ready to do the pre-use wash of the new comforter. It was a tight fit in my washer machine, but I managed to stuff it in.
I should have known better… Sometimes in life, we don’t need to force everything that is tight… Not everything. A word to the wise. If it doesn’t fit, don’t force it. I’m sorry to say, it got pinched and torn while being laundered… And yes, my pretty unused comforter has filling coming out from a few holes. It’s holy.
So today’s tips… Make sure whatever you get fits in your washing machine because if it doesn’t it will be a waste of time and money.
PS: Want more…
