What is the first thing people look for when choosing a new duvet? Most people base their choice on the appearance of the new duvet and how it fits into the interior. Many people limit themselves to that. But in addition to appearance, the feeling we get from the duvet is also important. And these feelings depend on the materials from which the duvet is made. Comfort, warmth, breathability, softness and duvet weight are determined not only by the type of fabric, but also by the filling material.
There are many different fillings for duvets. They come in natural and synthetic, plant and animal origin. It is the type of filling that determines how often you have to care for your duvet and how difficult it is to care for.
The classic filler for good duvets is considered to be down. It has been used as a human bedding component for centuries. But like most natural materials, down has its own characteristics, which, if not properly cared for, can be a drawback. In addition, it is quite expensive. Now there is a synthetic replacement for down, which in many cases is a great alternative to the natural material.
Next we'll talk about the features of natural and synthetic down and compare their qualities. Perhaps this information will be useful for you and help you make the best choice.
Natural down filler.
It is made from delicate thin feathers, which grow in birds under a layer of thick durable feathers. The raw material for insulation is usually the down of waterfowl - ducks, geese, loons and others. This layer is the most effective in waterfowl birds, because it keeps them warm and dry even in icy water.
Advantages of natural down.
The most important quality of natural down is the combination of its properties to keep warm and air permeable. That is, down duvet is very comfortable - you are warm and cozy, but at the same time you do not sweat under it.
Another property of down is its undeniable advantage: low density, that is, the ratio of its weight to volume. This quality explains the high thermal insulation properties of down. The duvet section, which is filled with down, contains a large amount of air, which prevents heat loss.
Down fillings are quite durable. With proper care, they will last perfectly for 7-9 years or even more.
Disadvantages of natural down
Down is usually noticeably more expensive than synthetic fillers. It is a natural limited resource, the cost of its production is high, it takes time to produce. In addition, the natural origin and structure of down makes it vulnerable to dust and dust mites. The pollen of many plants can also penetrate down insulation. Such properties may not be acceptable for people suffering from certain types of allergies.
Down duvets cannot be washed in the normal way. During washing in the machine, down loses its water-repellent properties, down fibers are deformed and stick together in lumps. The down loses its volume, elasticity and ability to retain heat. To care for down duvets is suitable only dry cleaning, for them there is a special technology and special chemical cleaners. Frequent change of bed linen increases the interval between dry cleanings, but does not get rid of this necessity.
Synthetic down fillings.
Synthetic fibers of polyester and viscose have become an alternative to natural down. The fibers get properties close to those of natural down. They create a feeling very close to that of natural down, but devoid of vulnerability to dust and dust mites. Alternative down has anti-allergenic properties, which was its undeniable advantage.
It is worth considering another quality of synthetic down, important for many people. The production of synthetic fibers is not associated with the use of birds in the process, that is, it excludes cruelty in the treatment of animals. Mankind is more and more attentive and serious about its relationship with wildlife, with life in general. Synthetic materials here turn out to be the perfect alternative to the old technologies that cause suffering to living creatures.
Advantages of synthetic down.
Duvets down alternatives are much easier to care for. They tolerate machine washing and drying without problems and do not lose their properties. If you are worried about liquid stains on duvets, have young children and pets in the house, then synthetic down is a great choice.
The cost of synthetic fill is also an advantage over natural down.
Forming a synthetic fiber with given properties in a modern factory is much easier than plucking a lot of birds. This also means that the production of synthetic down does not cause harm or suffering to animals. Natural down is produced either by killing a bird or by plucking a live bird, which causes pain, stress, and trauma.
Disadvantages of synthetic down.
Synthetic down fillings are inferior to natural down in some properties. The air permeability of synthetic down is lower than that of natural down. Synthetic down retains heat somewhat worse. Hot people can sometimes feel increased sweating. If a person needs a very warm duvet, in some cases he may be cool under a synthetic duvet.
In addition, the density of synthetic down is higher than that of natural down. This means that if you compare two duvets of equal warmth, the synthetic duvet is heavier than the natural one. Of course, this property will not seem a disadvantage to all people. Many people like a duvet to be heavier, this is due to the peculiarities of the nervous system. There are even special weighted duvets that can solve the problem of slow falling asleep and restless sleep for some people.
The durability of synthetic down is less than that of natural, which means that the service life of a duvet on synthetic down will be less. Synthetic duvet loses out to natural down in elasticity and suppleness, which means that you will not experience the sensation of sleeping "under a warm cloud" under a synthetic duvet. Only a duvet filled with natural down can give you that feeling.
FAQs
What is a duvet ?
A duvet and comforter is bedding that serves to keep you warm. Comforters are pre-padded and sewn in different ways to distribute the insulation evenly. Down duvets are not sewn or quilted. In fact, a down duvet is a bag that is placed inside the duvet cover. Due to the structure of the bag and the properties of the down filling, the duvet has a flat shape, softness and suppleness.
The design of duvet inserts and covers, unlike a comforter, allows you to change the appearance of your bed by changing the number of duvet inserts for the desired thickness and covers to change the color and pattern of your bed.
How often does a duvet need dry cleaning?
Unlike comforters, duvet inserts are used with duvet covers. This minimizes the duvet's contact with the body. Duvet covers need to be changed and washed regularly. If you care about freshness and cleanliness of duvet covers, your duvet inserts do not need dry cleaning more than once or twice a year.
I spilled something on the duvet. What should I do now?
The best thing you can do in this situation is to take the duvet insert to a dry cleaner. This will guarantee a good result and the duvet insert will stay intact. If you can't do that, you have to be quick but gentle.
The first step is to gently squeeze the part of the duvet that has absorbed the liquid. After that, you can apply a cleanser to the soiled area. Do not use bleach, it can cause damage to your duvet insert. Use "homemade recipes": the stain can be removed or reduced in intensity by using baking soda. A mixture of baking soda and lemon juice works well in this situation. You can also use white vinegar, but it must be diluted by half. Dab the stain until its brightness weakens as much as possible. After that, you need to gently rinse the treatment area with water. Try to wet as little of the duvet insert as possible, ideally just the treated area. It is important to dry the duvet as quickly as possible, this will minimize changes in the filler.
Is there a down filling produced without cruelty and can I buy it?
With all the complexity of modern life, humanity as a whole is becoming more merciful. Many people are concerned that meeting their needs may involve inflicting suffering on living beings. In the case of down fillers, this concern exists as well.
Ducks and geese experience stress and pain from live plucking. Birds that are raised for meat are often subjected to live plucking several times before slaughter. At the same time they are force-fed, which also involves discomfort and stress. After the slaughter, the birds are plucked for the last time.
Some producers do not use live plucking, considering it unethical as well as force-feeding. If you have no problem raising birds for meat, the down that comes from plucking a slaughtered bird should satisfy you.
For those people who do not accept the idea of slaughtering birds for meat and down, there is one acceptable option. This is "harvested" down. It is obtained by collecting the down and feathers of birds after the natural molting cycle, when the birds have almost completely changed their feather cover. This down has one disadvantage: for natural reasons it is produced very little and therefore it is usually much more expensive than other types of down.
Are there down substitutes on sale that do not contain synthetics and are made from natural fibers?
There are plant-based alternatives to bird down. These insulators use fibers from linen, bamboo, hemp, eucalyptus and other plants. If you do not want synthetics, you can also buy duvet insert made of cotton or natural wool.
In summary
Natural down duvets are your best choice if you want a warm, lightweight and durable duvet insert that feels like a "warm cloud" and offers exceptional comfort.
However, if you are looking for duvet inserts that are easy to care for, comfortable, warm, and inexpensive, you may want to consider synthetic duvets.
The key to choosing duvet inserts is to choose a quality product. Duvet serves you every night and the quality of your rest, and therefore your life, depends on it. You probably shouldn't skimp too much on this choice.