More and more households are choosing down pillows and duvets, and with good reason: down is soft, airy and keeps you pleasantly warm in all four seasons. In addition, down is also very light and therefore offers great comfort for sleeping.
A product must consist of at least 60% down in order to be called a down duvet or down comforter. In addition to the classic fillings made of goose or duck down, eiderdown duvets and pillows, which use down down from the eider duck are also available, although the price for these products is somewhat higher.
The advantages of down duvets
Many people opt for duck or goose down to improve the quality of their sleep. So, what are the advantages of down duvets and pillows? Down duvets are warmer, softer and lighter than synthetic fibres or feathers. Unlike feathers, down does not have a hard stem (quill) and has a more voluminous shape. Down is found on the belly of geese and ducks, beneath the feathers, and keeps them pleasantly warm in winter and cool in summer.
Down has a temperature-balancing effect: it is heat-insulating and at the same time particularly breathable. In addition, down can regulate moisture very well, which is particularly important during sleep, as humans release between 0.2 and 1 litres of sweat throughout the night. Down duvets absorb and retain a person’s body heat. At the same time, down transfers excess heat and moisture away from the body and thus ensures the perfect sleeping climate. Those who prefer somewhat heavier duvets can choose a combination of down and feathers when they choose their next duvet.
Duck down
Duck down and feathers are slightly smaller than those of geese. As a rule, larger down has better thermal power. Duck down duvets have a high insulating power and are very fluffy.
As it is a natural product, duck down is not completely odourless. However, the odour can be quickly eliminated by washing.
Goose down
Goose down has a higher thermal power because it is larger than duck down. Goose down duvets are extremely light and snuggly. The structure of the down clusters allows them to trap air inside, which is why they insulate so well.
When down gets wet, however, the clusters stick together, which limits their ability to store heat and air. To prevent this, it is very important to wash and dry the down down duvet correctly.
Down duvets for allergy sufferers
Down duvets and down pillows are perfect for allergy sufferers. People who suffer from an allergy to dust mites or animal hair can cover themselves with a down duvet with no problem. This is because an allergy to house dust mites is caused by the mites' excrements, not by the down.
However, mites have no chance of getting inside high-quality down duvets. In addition, the good moisture regulation of down provides an unfavourable breeding ground for mites and bacteria, and thus prevents them from accumulating.
Wool duvets are also ideal for allergy sufferers due to their breathability and moisture regulation. In fact, the moisture and temperature-regulating properties of wool are superior to those of down.
How often do you have to wash a down duvet?
As already mentioned, down can become lumpy when moist. This not only reduces the down’s insulating power, but also makes it less soft and fluffy. In addition, dust mites attracted by the moisture can penetrate the damp down and multiply. Down duvets should therefore be washed regularly.
Down duvets should be washed at least every two years. As the body gives off a lot of heat and sweat through the head, pillows should be washed a little more often, preferably once a year. In addition, bedding should be shaken up daily and left to air out well. This also helps to counteract bad odours.
How should you wash a down duvet?
First, research how your down duvet needs to be washed. Read the care label and make sure that the washing drum of your wash machine is large enough for your duvet. Most down duvets can be washed in the washing machine, but you should separate your duvet from other items to avoid damaging them.
A tumble dryer is essential for washing down duvets. After the washing process, the down duvet should be dried, preferably in a tumble dryer (to prevent it from clumping together again).
As a rule, down duvets can be machine washed at 60 degrees. You should select a fine or wool washing program. Under no circumstances should you select the hot or boil wash or any other hard wash programme. Fabric softener should not be used, as this can cause the down to clump or stick together.
Even heavy-duty detergents should not be used when washing the down duvet. Powerful detergents contain chemicals that break down proteins in order to remove stains from textiles. However, down consists of keratin, a type of protein fibre. These types of harsh detergents can therefore damage the down. Instead of a heavy-duty detergent, you can use a mild detergent or special wool or down detergent.
You should also put tennis balls in the washing machine, which will loosen the down even more.
How do you have to dry a down duvet?
Down duvets are best not dried out on the washing line. Compared to other materials, down duvets dry very slowly because they can absorb an extremely large amount of moisture and there is a risk of germs and mould forming.
Down duvets and pillows are best dried in a dryer at 30 degrees. Try three to four 20-minute drying cycles so that the down is thoroughly loosened.
Here are all the washing tips for down duvets:
- first read the care label
- separate down duvets from other textiles
- wash down at 60 degrees in the fine or wool washing programme
- Never use the hot or boil wash program
- do not use heavy-duty detergent or fabric softener
- the most suitable detergents are delicates or down detergents
- place your down duvet and pillow in a dryer
- afterwards the down duvet should dry at 30 degrees
- put tennis balls in the washing drum for additional loosening
Choose the right down
Many people rightly worry about animal welfare when buying down duvets or down pillows. In fact, feathers in the down industry are often obtained by live plucking. According to Stiftung Warentest, a German testing organization, many suppliers do not indicate where their down comes from. With such products, cruelty to animals and live plucking thus cannot be excluded.
So when you buy a down product, be sure to pay attention to the down’s place of origin. In addition, products from manufacturers who prohibit both live plucking and force feeding are labelled with a Global Traceable Down Standard (TDS) or the Responsible Down Standard (RDS).
Global Traceable Down Standard
The Global Traceable Down Standard is one of the strictest animal welfare standards in the down industry. It was created by the American non-profit organisation NSF International and is the result of a cooperation between industry associations and animal welfare organisations. During the inspection, not only the time between breeding and slaughter is monitored, but also the parent animals’ living conditions.
Responsible Down Standard
The Responsible Down Standard dictates minimum standards which are binding for the extraction of down and refers to the ethically correct origin of the down. This standard is voluntary and valid worldwide. A law that forces manufacturers to have their products certified does not exist at the moment.
According to RDS guidelines, the plucking of live animals and force feeding is prohibited. The welfare of the animals is monitored from hatching to slaughter.
Downpass
Another seal especially for down duvets and pillows is DownPass. Down and feathers used as filling materials in the textile industry are ethically produced according to the Zero-Tolerance Standard and are strictly controlled at regular intervals.
The products that have been audited with a DownPass seal can even be traced by means of an individual test number. This number consists of a letter and eight digits. The auditing process also includes announced and unannounced inspection visits to the respective duck and goose farms.
All of Zizzz’s DownPass products have the DownPass label.