What do Americans call duvets?

Question

I'm confused! I'm off to work in Florida soon and I have to provide my own bedding. I'm planning on buying it all out there but when I had a look online, no american store seems to sell duvets. They sell duvet covers. I think comforters are duvets but they all look decorated. Do you not need to cover them? How do you wash them? I'm really confused! Please, can anyone help me out?

Answer 1

they call them quilts

Answer 2

Eiderdown's?

Answer 3

Duvet covers go over down (or down alternative) comforters,  you can find them at places like Bed Bath & Beyond: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/stylePag...

Or Target: http://www.target.com/gp/search/602-9039...

Comforters like this http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/stylePag... you do not need to cover.  Some are machine washable, many are dry clean only.  But because you use both a fitted sheet that goes over the mattress and a flat sheet that goes over you and under the comforter you don't need to wash the comforter very often.

It's confusing because there really is a wide variety of terms used by various stores, and also depending on which region of the country you are in.   Wikipedia has an entry you might find helpful however: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedding  see the terminology section.

Best wishes on your move.

Answer 4

quilts

Answer 5

Duvets are plain white and can be filled with anything from feathers to foam chips, depending on how much you want to pay. They're sold almost all major department stores. A duvet cover, usually comes with the entire set of matching bedding, like sheets, bedskirt, ruffled pillow shams etc.

A duvet cover has a zipper at one of the narrow ends of the rectangle. It slides overtop the duvet like a slipcover, which you an take off and wash - following the tags instructions.

It's a lot easier washing a duvet than a whole bedspread.

I hope this helps.

Answer 6

I thought we called them quilts in the UK?

Answer 7

Here we call a feather-filled blanket a "down comforter"

and the thing that covers the comforter is called a "duvet"...it's like a giant pillowcase

Answer 8

They call them.............'Duvets'!

WE call them  'Quilts'!

Answer 9

we call them duvets over here as well!!! they are quilts

Answer 10

comforters.