CHRISTINA LYNN - EARLY SPRING NEWSLETTER
Basically Down
Confused by comforters, frazzled by feathers or dizzy by down, take comfort in learning a few basic principles about purchasing quality down products.
Clearly, down is not as sexy to think about compared to luxury linens, but this utility portion of your bedding is one of the most important foundations for a good nights sleep. The principles in purchasing down products that will last for years are simple and consistent no matter if you sleep warm or cool, on your back or side.
“ Fill power” is the leading word in the down world. Fill power is the measure of down clusters within a comforter. It is the number of cubic inches filled up by each ounce of down. The higher the fill power, the more lofty the comforter and the warmer you shall be. Larger clusters provide the best insulation of heat and also create the lightest weight possible. Whereas thread count may not be the determining factor in luxury linens, fill power most definitely is, and is also regulated by law.
So what is a down cluster anyway? Down is the fluffy under feathers of a goose. Generally speaking, the highest quality of down is formed by the bigger clusters found on larger and more mature birds. Down does not have a stem on it as
feathers do. Basically, it looks like a fuzzy nucleolus with small fuzzy tentacles extending from the center. When the clusters in a comforter overlap they trap a protective layer of air that insulates. So the larger the cluster the higher the fill power, the more heat can be insulated between the overlapping layers of down.
Yet the unique aspect of down comforters is to be comfortable. This means that your comforter should be light and fluffy and the fill power should work to your body’s temperature to insulate heat as well as wick away moisture. If your comforter feels heavy and crunchy, it won’t be working for you or with you. The direct relationship of how much fill power you should have is dependent on how warm you sleep and in what climate. For example: If you sleep warm in Siberia, you won’t need a comforter with as much fill power or total ounces in it. If on the other hand, you sleep cool in Siberia, you will need to consider a comforter that has a higher fill power and more ounces of down.
The other important factor in having a quality down comforter is the type of fabric used as well as the comforter’s construction. This fabric should be made of fine cotton or silk and should be of a tighter weave than found in sheeting. This fabric most commonly is referred as “the ticking.” The construction of the comforter should include reinforced stitching or piping around the sewn finish of the comforter and a tight small stitch should be found holding the baffles of the down together.
Baffles you say? Yes, these are the channels of cloth that are sewn in between the top and bottom of the comforter. These baffles hold the down in smaller sections of the comforter so the down does not migrate from one side of the comforter to the other, keeping the down in the comforter more evenly distributed.
Down pillows share some similar considerations as comforters in construction and fill power. Fabric ticking should be of fine thread and tightly woven so down clusters do not leak from the casing. The edges of the pillow should be double stitched or piped to also prevent leakage.
Whereas the comforter’s fill power has a direct relationship on heat, the pillows fill power has more to do with comfort. Pillows that contain a higher fill power generally have more loft and plumule memory. Plumule memory is the ability of the pillow to return to its original shape. Soft pillows have less ounce weight of down and are recommended for stomach sleepers. Medium pillow are recommended for back sleepers, and firm pillows are best for side sleepers.
FAQ
Q - What is the difference between goose and duck down?
A – Goose down does not have any odor and is by comparison more expensive than duck down. If it does not say goose down, it probably is duck, less expensive and will in a short time develop a distinctly gamey smell.
Q – My spouse sleeps warm and I am always cold. How do I find a comforter to suit both of us?
A – A common problem: we recommend using a higher fill power down (800 to 850) and a lower ounce weight comforter. This way the heat you need will be held in, yet the lightness of the comforter will be cooler for your spouse.
Q- How do I properly care for my down pillows and comforters?
A – Clean down as little as possible, once a year at most. Cleaning eventually breaks clusters down and will shorten the life of your down. Air your down products outside to extend its life and always use a duvet cover on your comforter and pillow protectors on your pillows.
Q - How long should a down comforter and pillows last?
A – With proper use, a down comforter can last as long as 15 years. The lifetime of pillows generally is shorter because the down breaks down quicker from the continuous weight of a person’s head.
Q – I think I am allergic to down. Would you still recommend a down comforter and pillows?
A – Depending on the severity of your allergy, good quality down pillows can still be considered with the use of pillow protectors. The same can be said of down comforters; use with a fine linen duvet cover. Poor quality down is dusty and usually is sewn in poor quality ticking that can leak. This may be the problem. Exercise caution if you think there may be a health problem, and try a high quality down free product as an alternative.
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