Duvets and pillows are arguably the trickiest laundry items to clean, often putting people off attempting to cram them into the washing machine. However, with spring cleaning season well and truly upon us, now is the ideal time to tackle the task - and there is an alternative approach to freshening up your bedding. Steven Szary, of My Luxury Sleep Shop, suggests that rather than battling with waterlogged duvets and pillows, you simply let the sun do the hard work.

Steven advised: "Leave your duvet out for several hours (four to five is about right) and it's best to do it in the late afternoon or early evening when the sun isn't too harsh. A little bit of sun is good, though, as it helps to kill unwanted bacteria and germs." Harnessing sunlight's natural disinfecting qualities is an effective yet simple way to rid your quilt and pillows of bacteria and dust mites.

A build-up of sweat, body oils and dust can all become embedded within your bedding, making it essential to air it out regularly to prevent potential mould growth.

Hanging the duvet allows greater airflow and warmth to penetrate the fabric, banishing stale odours and reviving its filling, ultimately improving your sleeping comfort.

When it comes to airing your duvet correctly, timing and conditions are everything. Before giving your duvet a solar cleanse, choose a sunny, breezy day following a dry spell, Steven insisted. He noted: "If it's cloudy or has rained recently, the air will be more humid and will not be as effective for airing out your bedding."

Once you've found the ideal conditions, take your duvet outside during the late afternoon. The gentler sunshine at this time of day will help safeguard the fabric and stop your duvet and pillows from becoming stiff.

Before hanging everything up, give your duvet and pillows a gentle shake. Once your duvet is firmly in place, lightly beat the fabric. This will help loosen the duvet fibres and stop the inner filling from clumping together.

Ideally, your duvet should be hung on a clothesline. However, if one isn't available, you can also drape it over a drying rack, fence or any clean surface, provided it can be properly secured.

As for your pillows, these can be placed on an airer outside or on a clean, flat surface.

Simply leave both items out in the sunshine for four to five hours. After this time, your bedding will be thoroughly refreshed and sanitised, leaving you ready to enjoy a far more comfortable night's sleep.