As sitters, we usually always wash the bedding and remake unless the homeowners were to arrive home too early in the morning for us to do so. I have a question though which has haunted me for years about duvet covers. When there are top sheets on a bed, do you wash the duvet cover? I’m really curious what other people think about “duvet etiquette” . I’ve actually watched a Youtube video on an easy method to get the duvet back into the cover - it didn’t work. It’s the bane of my housesitting experience 
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Good question @Globetrotter … I will be very interested to hear the responses regarding personal “Duvet Etiquette”
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This american figured out a trick that works for me @Globetrotter.
I turn the duvet inside out and put my hands inside to a corner and grab the corner of the insert like a gloved hand and hold it while ungloving my hand slowly pulling in as much of the insert with me and allowing the duvet cover to turn back right side as much as possible. Then I repeat the process with the other corner. Once I have it started, I continue to bring the duvet cover over the duvet.
And for the record of this thread, I use my judgement and I discuss with owner. Every situation is different, people are different. I’m in a sit now with plenty of time to wash and she just won’t hear of it. My intention is always to leave everything as it was if not better.
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I use the burrito method as described here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRPfudNNd8Y I only wash the duvet cover if there is no top sheet.
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@Amparo and @Globetrotter I tried this method and got so caught up in the duvet cover that I had to stay an extra week the HO found me as a lump in the bottom of the bed and it took some explaining I can tell you…approach this technical task with caution as its not for the faint-hearted or for those lacking common sense!
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To wash or not to wash?
So many tough life decisions 
@carpediem
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In Germany the duvet (very often it’s what we call a featherbed) is not for decoration but to sleep under, so of course, the cover needs to be washed😉
We don’t use any sheets between us and duvets. I never understood what they were for anyway.
The worst I experienced was: sheet, duvet (in cover), sheet. I get so tangled up in all those items! Why not simply use a covered duvet or blanket?
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I think the question has surfaced because in many countries the top sheet IS used beneath the duvet. Not authentic perhaps, I know, but nevertheless is done. If there was no top sheet used, then it seems obvious to most that the duvet cover would need washing.
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I know 
, but I never understood why…
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I think my hubby and I have finally figured out a method as well
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Thanks for the chuckle
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It’s actually much easier to do with two people 
Using a sheet under the duvet, but over the person (a top sheet) makes a lot of sense to me. You only need to wash the sheet, not the duvet cover. It makes life a lot easier.
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Urrrgh, I would want them both washed…
It still doesn’t make sense to me. Where’s the difference if you wash a sheet or a cover? For me it would be double work instead of only washing the cover.
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We use a top sheet here too, in fact, I’d venture to say most people in Canada do (but not all). The reasoning is always that it’s easier to wash sheets than take duvet cover off, wash it, and put it back on again. I wash my duvet cover maybe every 4-6 weeks, but my sheets every 1-2 weeks.
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I am a sitter. If my departure has enough time I wash sheets and towels in the morning. If I leave very early and there is not a comfortable couch to sleep that I can wash at night and sleep on the couch. I will ask HO. Can I put the sheets and towels in the machine , wash and put in dryer. Than she has to make bed, i will be gone.
When we arrive to your house, put the subject on the table. HO ask for a clean house, ask for clean bed.
They are so many etiquette. This is the reason, HO has to realize all those little things are up to sitters. So specify your requirements. I am clumsy, i ask, if I break which of their glasses easier to replace. I will by the new ones and everybody happy.
Good luck.
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@ELNF Yes I have been told already. Been told on this conversation : thank you.
As I said I only do it when HO is Ok for that and ready to arrive : it happened when we left before HO arrival but we knew they were on their way (less than 1 hour from the house) and we ask if it was ok to let the dryer finishing.
We don’t have dryer at home (yes there are still some people using the sun and air to dry their washing ! Even in Brittany ;-)) and rarely use it when I can do otherwise.
As people says in this conversation : the best to do is to communicate and find a way suitable for both.
Thank you again for your advice.
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It is a lot easier to just replace a top sheet than to wrestle a duvet into a duvet cover.
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SNAP! I don’t have a tumble dryer either. I rely on those new, renewable energies - sunshine & wind! Though they have been in short supply this summer in central France!
I do apologise for the warning message @Françoise-et-Youn I realised that there had already been posts further down the thread after posting my message.
I don’t know why non-Germans have so many problems with replacing a duvet cover
It’s so easy.
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