Author:
Natascha Wouterson
A good night's sleep depends not only on a quiet bedroom and a good mattress. An appropriate comforter with the right filling is also hugely important. There are many different comforters and the effects of the filling can vary from person to person. Think of perspiration, possible allergic reactions or a different heat requirement in winter and summer.
With these tips and facts, you are equipped to choose a new comforter and to find out for yourself what suits you best.
TIP #1: ORIENT YOURSELF WELL ONLINE IN ADVANCE
First, see what the offerings look like. Further on you can discover about the different materials for comforter filling. Since you know best how you sleep, you can already estimate where your preferences lie. Or maybe you'll suddenly learn about a new option. In any case, the key is to get your bearings. Perhaps there is a very special bed in your bedroom that requires a special comforter. Be aware of such requirements.
TIP #2: HOW IS A COMFORTER CONSTRUCTED
A comforter consists of two main components: the ticking such as batiste and the filling. Most comforters have a ticking that keeps the filling in and everything else out. Also, a ticking should be airy enough to allow air to pass through. Otherwise, the moisture that the comforter absorbs at night cannot escape. Cotton is the most common material for a ticking. A batiste, for example, is a ticking woven with the highest quality cotton.
The filling of your new comforter can take many forms. The best known and still most common is down, but there are also comforters with camel hair, cashmere, silk and a synthetic filling. Further on you can read more about the different fillings.
TIP #3: WHAT HEAT CLASSES ARE THERE?
The heat class designation of comforters can sometimes be a bit confusing because different suppliers do not use the same system. With one supplier, heat class 1 is the warmest and with other suppliers, class 1 is the least warm.
Duvets typically fall into one of four heat classes, with class 1 being the warmest in most cases. The least warm class of 4 is excellent as a summer comforter, for example. But your preference is purely personal, of course, and so it's all about getting a feel for comforters in different warmth classes in the store.
Duvets with a warmth class of 1 are usually comfortably warm. Comforters in this class are particularly good for sleepers who are easily cold at night or have a bedroom that just won't get warm. So especially suitable for people who crawl into bed with socks and thick pajamas.
For most people, a comforter with heat class 2 will be suitable. This best suits the climate in Belgium where the weather may be changeable, but where the highest and lowest temperatures are not very far apart. Normally, a comforter with a heat class 2 is fine to sleep under all year round. The fact that most new homes are well insulated also helps with this.
If you sleep in a heated bedroom or studio or are easily bothered by a blanket that is too warm, then a comforter with thermal class 3 will probably suit you better. A comforter in class 3 is also excellent for spring and autumn, the in-between seasons that are not necessarily hot or cold.
Finally, there is heat class 4 for comforters. These comforters are very thin and light and primarily intended for the warmest months. Even during those very hottest summer nights, such a comforter is often still comfortable. A class 4 comforter can also come in handy for complaints related to nightly perspiration. Think of comforters made of cotton, linen or even 'satin cotton'. Satin cotton comes from India and is used to make so-called Kasthos. Lovely to sleep under in the summer.
TIP #4: HOW DO I CHOOSE A HEAT CLASS THAT SUITS ME?
The heat class that suits you depends on a number of things. Most important factor is probably whether your bedroom is heated or not. And whether you sleep with the window open at night or not. As a rule, the lower the ambient temperature, the warmer the comforter should be. Your body weight can also play a role. By the way, the ideal room temperature is between 16 and 18°C.
In 80% of cases, a warmth class 2 is an excellent choice. If you are a cold-hearted person, then a heat class 1 and if you feel too hot in bed, heat class 3 is recommended. Are you always cold and is he often too hot? Then be sure to read tip 7.
TIP #5: DO I NEED A FOUR-SEASON COMFORTER?
This is definitely worth considering. Four-season comforters are only becoming more popular because many sleepers like to enjoy the comfort of a comforter all year round. A comforter suitable for getting through the cold winter months may not be as comfortable for summer six months later. A four-season comforter bridges that gap and ensures that you will not be too cold or too hot during the in-between seasons.
A four-season comforter is a combination of two comforters, one of which has thermal class 4 and the other of which has thermal class 3 (attached to each other you then have thermal class 1). The comforter in thermal class 3 is ideal for the in-between seasons (read: spring and autumn). The comforter in thermal class 4 is very comfortable in the summer months. But if it gets really cold in the winter, you simply attach the two comforters together for more warmth. The extra layer of air between the two comforters provides more insulation and therefore more warmth.
It may be that the comforter becomes a little heavier, but with a high-quality filling (for example, Siberian goose down or cashmere) it will be a very small difference. So with this you are flexible and can completely control the sleeping climate in your bed.
So the main advantage of a four-season comforter is that you will sleep comfortably every night of the year. Whether it is freezing outside or just a bright summer day.
TIP #6: CAN I EXPECT AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO MY COMFORTER?
Not normally, because the main source of indoor allergy, the dust mite, does not nestle in your comforter. Most comforters are not an attractive environment for the mite, and your comforter's ticking will likely provide an impenetrable barrier. This is because a good ticking is so finely woven that no dander and salt crystals can get into your comforter. So no breeding ground for the mite. Good comforters are also often treated with 'Nomite' or 'Aegis-like' products. Plus there is the quick moisture removal of the comforter, especially if it is filled with a natural filling.
Moisture that collects in your comforter at night, the comforter releases it to the ambient air during the day. House dust mites actually prefer a place that is constantly moist-for example, cheap synthetic comforters. This is why it is so important to open up your bed well in the morning so that it can be aired. The mites "hate" this!
The mite lives on human dander in dust and prefers to stay in the mattress rather than elsewhere in your bed. A good number of people are allergic to these critters, or to be more precise to their feces. Fortunately, you can prevent the mites from accumulating by airing your bedroom properly every day and using a good mattress protector.
For those who are still worried about the dust mites, a synthetic comforter made of Thinsulate, for example, is a solution. These comforters are washable at 60 degrees Celsius, making regular washing and drying at home possible.
TIP #7: DID YOU KNOW THAT CAMEL HAIR IS VERY SUITABLE AS FILLING FOR A COMFORTER?
Down is probably the best-known filling for comforters, but other materials are gaining popularity these days. Take camel hair. As we all know, the temperature in the desert can vary enormously. Sometimes it freezes all night, while the mercury can rise to over forty degrees during the day. Camels, the vessels of the desert, are ideally adapted to survive in such conditions.
It is well known, of course, that they need little water, but their fur is also important here. The camel's slightly curly hair is tremendously good at insulation - not only useful against sand - but also against those huge temperature differences. The fur still allows the animal to sleep comfortably. This has to do with its insulating ability, as well as its moisture removal.
The camel's fine underhairs are excellent for use in quilts. An additional advantage is that it is much better heat regulating than down. So for two partners who both have different heat experiences, a camel hair comforter is a real godsend.
TIP #8: HOW DO I KNOW IF A CAMEL HAIR COMFORTER IS RIGHT FOR ME?
If you perspire fairly quickly or get hot easily, a camel hair comforter is a good choice. But because of its excellent handling of heat, a camel hair comforter is suitable for everyone. Camel hair adapts extremely well to its surroundings. It releases excess heat to the outside air while retaining your body heat comfortably under the comforter. Exactly courtesy of those unique properties that allow a camel to live so well in the desert. This also means that you will stay nice and warm in the winter and that it will not feel too hot under the camel hair comforter in the summer months.
Another advantage is that camel hair is wonderfully lightweight. Comfortable warmth under your comforter does not depend on a heavy filling. It is much more dependent on a quality filling.
A camel hair comforter is also suitable for people who suffer from house dust mites if the ticking is woven properly tight. Also in the case of camel hair, there are cheap versions of lesser quality. It is not uncommon for the more expensive camel hair to be supplemented with cheaper wools. This, of course, affects the properties of the comforter. So be careful to buy a high-quality comforter.
TIP #9: WHERE DOES CASHMERE COME FROM AND WHY IS IT SUITABLE FOR COMFORTERS?
Cashmere is a soft fiber from the hair of the Cashmere goat. This goat lives in the eponymous and very mountainous region between India, Pakistan and China. The fabric is called "cashmere," "kashmir" or "cashmere. The coarse wool fiber is collected by combing the goat's hair and picking it from the bushes where the goats have walked by. The fur of these goats - due to the extreme mountain climate with large temperature differences - consists of two layers: a coarse outer layer and a woolly underlayer, the cashmere. Cashmere is as much as fourteen times finer than lambs wool.
A limited amount of cashmere is "harvested" per goat each year. For people who seek a pleasant sleeping environment in both summer and winter, a cashmere comforter is ideal. Also, if you perspire easily, it is definitely a good thing to purchase such a comforter. Cashmere, like camel hair, consists of natural fibers that breathe well. So they are also tremendously moisture regulating.
Go for only quality brands when you go to buy a cashmere comforter. A low price often means supplemented with cheaper wools or synthetic fibers.
Compared to camel hair, cashmere is a lot softer and more supple. So a comforter with this filling will mold and fit around your body more easily. If you prefer a little more weight in your comforter, then you better choose camel hair.
[sleeptest_button]
TIP #10: SILK IS NOT ONLY GREAT AS PAJAMAS, BUT ALSO EXCELLENT AS FILLING FOR YOUR COMFORTER
Silk is perhaps the most beautiful fabric Mother Earth has given man. You may have pajamas or sheets made of silk, but silk can also work extremely well as filling for your comforter. It is an all-natural fiber, made from the cocoon of the silkworm. It has great absorbency: silk is one of the few fabrics that releases moisture directly back into the outside air.
Silk is therefore also ideal for women in transition or menopause. In addition, silk corresponds approximately 70% to the composition of our skin, which consists mainly of proteins. An additional reason why it is so pleasant to sleep under silk.
Silk is also particularly strong in insulation. A thin silk comforter can already feel as warm as a thickly filled down comforter. The advantage, then, is that silk is enormously light. At the same time, it is unpleasant for vermin to nestle in, making silk suitable for people with asthma or a house dust mite allergy.
There are 2 types of silk: wild silk and mulberry silk. Mulberry silk is much stronger and more durable than wild silk. This is because the threads of the mulberry caterpillar are much longer and stronger. This also translates into the price and lifespan of silk comforters.
TIP #11: WHAT EXACTLY IS THINSULATE?
Thinsulate is an artificial fiber that you may have come across before in gloves or clothing for winter sports, for example. It consists of high-tech synthetic fibers that are very durable and enormously strong. The fibers are also very light. This combination of good insulation capacity and light weight means that sleeping under a Thinsulate comforter actually feels just like sleeping under a down comforter. However, one of the main advantages is that you can wash this comforter at 60 degrees Celsius, unlike, say, a down comforter. Good to know in case you are allergic.
Thinsulate is thus about the flagship synthetic fiber. Unlike older synthetic fibers, Thinsulate's high-tech filling is much better at storing and wicking moisture and excess heat.
TIP #12: WHY DOES A DOWN COMFORTER SLEEP SO WELL?
Down retains your body heat well and warms up nice and quickly when you crawl under it. The warm-up time of a down comforter, for example, is three times faster than a wool or synthetic comforter, and you can tell.
And don't forget: We often turn over in our sleep, sometimes every twenty to thirty minutes. Then you want lots of freedom of movement and not a heavy blanket that restricts you in your favorite sleeping position. A down comforter and ticking of good quality is "feather light" because the filling consists of countless small down feathers. So the combination of heat retention and light weight is ideal. You stay warm while also being able to move smoothly.
Down serves to insulate the nests of geese or ducks and speed up the breeding process. So it makes pretty good sense that it also comes in handy for sleeping under. At House of Sleep, all down comforters bear the DIS TÜV label. This shows a number of essential characteristics. Among other things, the label contains information about the type and quality of filling (e.g. whether the down content is 15 or 100 percent), model, size, ticking material, fill weight, heat rating, weight class, washing instructions, instructions for use and the guarantee.
And what is especially important is that the DIS label also guarantees "animal-friendly" treatment of the birds. Because with cheaper downs from China or Cambodia, for example, this unfortunately often leaves much to be desired.
TIP #13: WHY ARE THE PRICE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DOWN COMFORTERS SO GREAT?
The quality differences between different down comforters are great. The price changes according to the level of quality. Which in turn depends on a number of factors. For example, cheaper down may be used to fill the comforter, too little down may be filled into the ticking, or the ticking itself may be made of a heavier and cheaper material.
First, down is a fairly scarce commodity. Each duck or goose has only 12 grams of down to deposit on its nest each year. So note the difference between feathers and down. The main difference is that feathers have a hard shaft from which all the hairs spring. Down, however, has no such shaft. All the hairs start at one point, making down many times softer than feathers.
Good down comes from slightly older geese, but ducks also produce down. By the way, the most famous and exclusive down comes from the eider duck that can be found in Iceland, among other places. This down has an enormous "attachability" due to the many tiny barbs on the feathers. It blows quite a lot and hard in Iceland, which is why the down of this eider duck has developed in this way. Even though this down is naturally very light, it does not blow away easily. The reason that eider down is so exclusive is because only 3,000 kilos are "extracted" annually from abandoned nests of protected eider ducks in Iceland.
Lesser down often comes from much younger, bred ducks or geese. Especially large companies in China and Cambodia produce this type of down, including from animals that are destined for slaughter after only a few weeks. But because these birds are too young, their down is too small. The too small size give too little volume and therefore the insulation is poor. In addition, the carrying capacity of this down leaves much to be desired and it collapses after a short time. Finally, the down shifts too easily in the ticking because the cohesion and "adhesion" is too low.
From Poland, down comes from geese that are a lot older. These animals are plucked twice between February and December for their down, and this creates a beautiful, voluminous down. Much of the Polish down comes from the region of the Masurian Lakes, a beautiful natural area that is very rich in waterfowl and thus also in geese. Here you will also find the oldest forests in Europe. Who wouldn't want to sleep under that?
Other quality down often comes from Siberia, the Czech Republic or Hungary.
TIP #14: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FILL WEIGHT OF YOUR COMFORTER
You won't notice it so quickly when you lift a comforter, but fill weight is of great importance to how warm you feel during your nights. By filling a comforter with 200 to 300 grams less down, the price can already go down considerably. But be warned: the down will then also shift more easily in the ticking, creating cold spots. All in all, the result is that your comforter will not last as long because its ability to retain heat goes down. While a good comforter can last a very long time, in this case you will find that you get cold after only a few years.
Also important to keep an eye on is the percentage of down in a comforter. A minimum of 90 percent down is recommended because more larger feathers in the ticking leads to more "openings" in the down and therefore heat loss. However, a minimum of feathers is also necessary to ensure that the comforter remains resilient and the down does not clump together too much in larger accumulations.
TIP #15: AND SO WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TICKING WITH MY DOWN COMFORTER?
The ticking is, so to speak, the "cover" that holds the filling of your comforter. One of the advantages of a down comforter is its light weight. That way you can easily turn over in your sleep and your comforter doesn't get in your way. But if the ticking is made of heavier material or in a cheaper way, chances are that this advantage is negated. A good quality ticking is light and emphasizes the properties of the down instead of getting in the way. A heavier type of cloth for the ticking also affects the volume of the comforter as a whole, with the risk of losing down density.
TIP #16: WHAT DO YOU RECOGNIZE A GOOD DOWN COMFORTER FROM?
There are European rules for the filling of a down comforter. Consumer organizations in the various EU member states monitor compliance with these rules. If you are looking for a new comforter, you will most likely come across the following divisions between down and feathers.
10 percent down: a filling consisting of 10 percent down and 90 percent feathers.
65 percent down: mostly down! With another hefty 35 percent share of feathers.
90 percent down: predominantly down because only 10 percent feathers have been added
100 percent down: it doesn't get any fluffier than this 😉
Since down is not a cheap material and is created entirely naturally, a comforter with 10 percent down is logically (much) cheaper than one with 65 or 90 percent. But the comfort will also be different.
As you can also read in tip 18, the region where the down comes from is a particularly important indication of its quality.
TIP #17: WHAT DOES FILL POWER OF A DOWN COMFORTER MEAN?
Fill power is the term the sleep industry uses to indicate the insulating power of down. The higher the fill power, the more insulated you are from the cold outside world at night. The better the down, the less it takes to keep you nice and warm. Special equipment can be used to measure how much air down can hold. Under pressure in a cylinder, down achieves a value of between 70 millimeters per 30 grams to 220 millimeters per 30 grams. A higher fill power value means that the down can contain more air and is therefore of better insulation quality.
Now, fill power is not necessarily a decisive factor when choosing a down comforter, but it does give an idea about the broad scale for quality down. If you get cold easily and would still like to buy as light a down comforter as possible, it is advisable to choose a down with a lot of fill power. Because the more fill power, the less down is needed to keep you warm and therefore the lighter your comforter ends up being.
Only the high-quality brands in comforters have strong fill power because they use the best down. All comforters at House of Sleep have down with excellent fill power because we work with the best brands.
TIP #18: WHAT DOES THE ORIGIN OF DOWN HAVE TO DO WITH QUALITY
Much. The life of the goose or duck is important, as an older goose or duck usually produces better and softer down. After all, young slaughter animals are not yet mature enough to lay eggs and thus yield different down than their older counterparts. It also affects whether the animals can roam freely and wash on their own. Birds are very clean animals and there is a complex process going on between their plumage of water and fats. The better that balance is maintained, the better for the down. Therefore, down from Europe or Siberia often has the best quality, while Chinese, Cambodian and other Asian down is of much lower quality.
TIP #19: WHAT ARE SQUARE AND CASSETTE BLANKETS? OR BODY STITCHING?
Not all comforters are constructed the same way. To ensure that the down does not shift from one end to the other, comforters are stitched. Square comforters are easily recognized by square compartments where the down is contained. The biggest advantage, of course, is that the down will not shift, but at the same time it is more difficult to remove the down from this system to clean or replace it. Refilling is less much less easy and washing as a single unit is therefore often the only option for maintenance.
Cassette duvets are almost the same as the square comforters, but have a little more ease of use. Instead of being fully quilted, there are small, narrow recesses between the stitching. This makes it easy to remove down from the ticking and refill, which is necessary if the down has clumped together a bit over time.
But there is also a difference when you sleep. The advantage of a cassette comforter is that the down is contiguous across the board. So no so-called "cold zones" are created where the sections are joined together, which can happen with a square comforter.
In addition to the square and cassette comforters, there are also "body stitching" comforters. Especially if you sleep on your side, a 'body stitching' down comforter is highly recommended, because this model of comforter prevents you from getting cold on your back when you lie in the side position.
TIP #20: WHY SHOULD YOU NEVER TAKE A DOWN COMFORTER TO THE DRY CLEANER/DRY CLEANER?
Down and feathers of geese and ducks naturally have a very thin layer of fat on the hairs. This keeps these birds dry and warm when they dive underwater or swim around in cold water all day. The water droplets slide off their feathers, instead of soaking into them. In a down comforter, this property comes in handy for good moisture removal. The layer of fat also protects the down from pulverization.
But steaming a down comforter results in the loss of this equally fragile and crucial layer of fat. So one of the most important properties of the down would be affected or lost altogether. The effect takes a while, but a year after treatment at the local dry cleaners or dry cleaners, some of your down will already be pulverized. A mortal sin! Always have your down and down pillow professionally cleaned at firms that specialize in down cleaning. Just as you have detergent for wool or colors, there are also special detergents for down.
TIP #21: COMFORTER MAINTENANCE: WHERE TO START?
One thing is very easy. Because no matter what filling your comforter has: shake it up every day so that the filling distributes itself evenly throughout the duvet again. Regularly hanging out the window and airing your bedroom ensures that the breathability and moisture-regulating properties of your comforter are maintained for a longer period of time. The beauty of most comforter fillings is that they can last for many decades if properly maintained. Quality down even boasts a lifespan of forty years!
This sounds nice, but don't be fooled because every 10 years your ticking needs replacing and every 5 years it makes sense to have your down cleaned and refilled if necessary. The cost of this often comes pretty close to buying a new down. So always have an estimate made beforehand as to whether it is still worthwhile having your down refilled and cleaned.
A down comforter should not be placed in the sun because the fibers can dry out too much and lose their elasticity. On a cloudy winter day, however, it is good for the down to put the comforter outside. This is because frost kills any critters in the comforter.
Last but not least, it makes sense to hang your down outside once in the winter when it is freezing outside. This will kill any possible bacteria. Or a large tub freezer is useful in this case.
TIP #22: CAN THE COMFORTER GO IN THE WASHING MACHINE?
Your comforter's laundry label probably says it can be machine washed, yet this is not always recommended. A Thinsulate comforter can be machine-washed. But certainly natural comforters with a filling of down, camel hair, cashmere or silk are vulnerable if they get completely wet. The main problem is that it is very difficult to get your comforter dry again after a program in the washing machine. The various downs or hairs will clump together and start clumping in the ticking. The insulating and moisture-wicking capacity of the filling is lost as a result.
Airing once in a while is sufficient, but again, only when it is dry outside. Do not use a beater or vacuum cleaner, as these can damage the fabric structure of the ticking.
During the lifetime of the comforter, it is advisable to have it washed by a professional every now and then. For most comforters and type of filling, this only needs to be done once every 5 years. The ticking should be replaced every 10 years.
TIP #23: IS IT ADVISABLE TO HAVE A DOWN COMFORTER PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED?
Sure. It requires special techniques to properly clean a down comforter. To ensure that the qualitative properties of your comforter and especially the down filling are preserved, the professional uses chemical methods. This is a very precise and labor-intensive process. Especially if you want the filling of your comforter cleaned separately, there will be a lot involved.
The price is very acceptable. Especially when you realize that in most cases such an extensive cleaning is not needed very often. Once every 5 years is sufficient. If you compare this to a pair of pants that you take to the dry cleaner or dry cleaner every two weeks, the price of a down cleaning every five years is absolutely acceptable. For a double down comforter, you should think about about €150. Divide this by the number of years, it's €30 a year.
Cashmere, Camel and Silk comforters are best taken to the dry cleaner or dry cleaner every 5 years. Too much cleaning reduces the natural function of the duvet and that is a great shame. If you take good care of these comforters, they will easily last 10 to 15 years.
TIP #24: NOW THAT I KNOW ALL THIS, HOW DO I CHOOSE WHAT I SLEEP WELL UNDER AND WHAT I NEED?
An open door, but just stop by House of Sleep! We have samples of all types and sizes of comforters in our showroom and can give you in-depth personal advice. And in our stores you can take your time, because the investment in a new comforter - whatever filling it may have - is not one you make every year and has a big impact on your sleep quality. After all, being too hot or too cold in bed is determined as much as 80 percent under which you lie and only 20 percent on which you lie.
Our motto: ⅓ of your life sleep well with House of Sleep to experience the remaining ⅔ extra intensely. Invest in better sleep for a higher quality of life.