Doona Wash

A doona wash at Nina’s Laundrette costs $8. Professional dry cleaning of a doona typically costs considerably more, which is why a self-service commercial washer is the option most people land on once they compare.

A queen doona will not fit in a domestic machine, which is the single most common reason people end up at a laundromat with a doona under one arm. Our 27 kg front loaders handle doonas comfortably, including king sizes, heavy winter weights, and multiple items in one load. Cramming a doona into a machine that is too small is what causes uneven washing and clumped filling.

Check the care label on your doona first, since it will specify whether the filling is machine washable and at what temperature. Most modern wool, feather, down, and synthetic doonas can be machine washed provided the drum is large enough for the doona to move freely. Our Dexter front loaders are gentler on filling than a domestic top loader with a centre agitator, which is what tends to damage a doona.

Three things matter. Use a machine large enough that the doona can tumble rather than sit compressed, which is where the 27 kg washers earn their keep. Dry the doona thoroughly, since damp filling is what clumps and stays clumped. Break up any bunching by hand partway through drying and give the doona a shake before folding it away.

Allow a couple of hours from arrival to walking out. The wash itself is the quick part, and drying is what takes the time, since a doona holds far more water than a normal load and must be dried right through to the core. Our large and extra-large dryers are built for this, and it is worth running an extra cycle rather than taking a doona home that is still slightly damp inside.

Not easily, and this is the part most people underestimate. Domestic dryers do not have the drum volume to tumble a doona properly, so the outside dries while the core stays wet, and line drying a heavy doona can take days in Melbourne weather. Damp filling develops odour and can go mouldy. If you are washing a doona at home, plan for the drying rather than the washing.

Most doonas need washing two to three times a year if you use a washable cover and launder that regularly. Wash more frequently if you have allergies, pets on the bed, or anyone in the house who is unwell. A cover does most of the protective work, and washing it weekly means the doona itself needs far less attention.

Our machines take laundry powder or liquid. Bring your own from home, or purchase some from our vending machine when you arrive. For doonas, use less detergent than you think you need rather than more, because excess detergent gets trapped in the filling and is difficult to rinse out.

Doona washing at $8 is a self-service option at our Northcote laundromat, so you bring the doona in yourself. Nina’s Laundrette does provide a pickup and delivery service, though it is built for local businesses handling commercial volumes rather than one-off household items.

Nina’s Laundrette is at 267 St George’s Road, Northcote. We are open from 6:00 AM until midnight, seven days a week, including public holidays. You can pay by cash, card, or credit, and there is a change machine on site that accepts $5, $10, and $20 notes, including the new Australian bank notes.