Sukalac likes to run one washer cycle with soap and then a second, shorter cycle without soap, to be sure the comforter is thoroughly rinsed clean. The dryer is really the place where dust mites and pathogens will be killed off. And if you need to disinfect your comforter, Sukalac recommends that you dry it on high for 20 minutes and then lower the dryer temperature, leaving the comforter in until it is completely dry. If you have a strong allergy to dust mites, he said you could kill them off by putting your comforter in the dryer every three weeks, for 20 minutes on high heat, without washing it.
If you have a baffle-box comforter, Sukalac said you should take it out of the dryer a few times to shake it and try to redistribute the down as it dries.
In fact, we downgraded it from being a top pick to a runner-up in because of these supply issues. We contacted L. So if you do happen to see it in stock in the size you need, grab it as of this writing, it was available to buy with a three- to four-week wait time.
But if you live somewhere with milder temperatures or very chilly winters , Brooklinen makes Lightweight and Ultra-Warm versions that we also tested. The quality of the shell is just as high as that of the all-season version, and both are light and fluffy. The lightweight version is made with recycled down, and the ultra-warm uses goose down from Hutterite farmers in Canada the all-season version we recommend uses Hutterite duck down.
Riley has since expanded its customer service team and supply chain, and it has assured us things have gotten better Riley is a smaller company that grew quickly. We have seen improvements over the past year, with fewer and fewer readers notifying us of problems.
However, Garnet Hill has frequent sales throughout the year, and its return policy is one of the best out there a lifetime guarantee. If you can wait until this comforter is discounted, the Garnet Hill is an absolute steal for the quality.
If you need an affordable comforter that comes in different weights: The Target Casaluna Light Weight and Ultra Weight down comforters were just as well made as the Mid Weight.
They could, however, work for people who live in very cold or very hot places. The Light Weight version left us reaching for extra blankets on a ish degree Fahrenheit night, and the Ultra Weight comforter made us sweat uncomfortably.
But the LaCrosse is available in more colors, and many of them are brighter and change throughout the year. The Allied Home Deluxe White Down Comforter , another budget option, scored the lowest overall in our budget-comforter testing: It leaked clusters of down in our shake tests and lacked corner ties for attaching a duvet cover.
It is made with RDS-certified down a plus , with fill power. But nowhere on the packaging or the label did it specify duck or goose down. It was lofty but also heavy on our bodies. We retested the Snowe Down Comforter in late , after two years without testing it. But when we retested this comforter, it lacked a lot of the loft that made the earlier version a great comforter.
We liked how light and warm the Parachute Down Duvet Insert felt during our preliminary tests. The Casper Down Duvet is constructed with long, horizontal boxes that will almost definitely lead to uneven fill distribution and cold spots. Plus, its noisy shell bothered us.
The L. The Balichun Goose Down Comforter had a scratchy shell and so little fill inside that it felt like two pieces of cotton were just sewn together. The medium weight made us sweat, so consider the lightweight option, even if you live in a cold climate. Its shell was pretty noisy, though, and its polyester fill was flatter than those of other comforters. Nonetheless, this comforter felt light, a rarity for down-alternative comforters.
We tested both the Buffy Cloud and Breeze comforters, and we even slept for a night with the Cloud. Waking up drenched in sweat and trapped under the Cloud was awful. The Snowe Down Alternative Comforter felt too warm during our preliminary rounds of testing, and one of our testers noted that it had a slight vinegar smell.
Because we had many lighter-weight down-alternative options, we cut this one. We eliminated the Linenspa Down Alternative Microfiber Comforter early in our tests because its outer shell felt awful right out of the bag. Also, the comforter was heavy and felt flat. We eliminated it immediately. However, during testing in winter —20, we found that it was breathable while still very warm and cozy. Because of this, we thought it looked smoother and more polished when folded back at the foot of the bed.
Gary Peterson, general manager at Western Mountaineering , interview. Jackie Reeve is a senior staff writer covering bedding, organization, and home goods at Wirecutter since Her quilt patterns and her other written work have appeared in various publications.
Deciphering labels Fill power. Why you should trust us. Our pick. Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter Lofty and warm This high-quality down comforter is fluffy, lightweight, and very warm on a chilly night. Fill power and feather type: fill power, duck down.
Construction: baffle box. Certifications: Oeko-Tex, Downmark. Other weights: Lightweight, Ultra-Warm. Fill power and feather type: fill power, white goose down. Certifications: none. Construction: sewn-through. Fill power and feather type: fill power, European white goose down. Certifications: Responsible Down Standard.
Fill power and fill type: fill power, duck down. Certifications: Oeko-Tex. Available colors: 12 solid colors, including some bright, kid-friendly options. Fill power and fill type: siliconized fiber-fill. Available colors: nine solid colors mostly dark colors. Who should get this. How we picked and tested. We prefer comforters with to fill power. We explain more about fill power below, but higher numbers mean fluffier, more-voluminous down, which makes a comforter warm but lightweight.
Our experts recommend plain weaves cambric or percale , sateen, or jacquard fabric. We looked for comforters with a generous return policy and a long warranty. Ideally a comforter will have mostly positive owner reviews.
A comforter should come in a decent size at least 88 by 88 inches for a queen bed. We looked for ones with corner loops, for attaching a duvet cover. We had a slight preference for:. The comforters we tested varied in their loft, or fluffiness. Just take note that it can be tricky to clean, with detailed instructions that need to followed precisely.
However, you're paying for quality materials that will last for years. The quality and fill power of the Bavarian are hard to beat. Nash , Product Tester. Boasting a fill power, it's a little on the heavier side, but you can count on unbeatable fluffiness and cloud-level comfort. This comforter is filled with premium European white down that meets RDS standards. The sateen shell is woven from long-staple cotton for a silky-smooth finish and double-stitched with baffle-box construction to ensure the fill stays put.
It can handle machine-washing, but you can also take it to the cleaner's if you're nervous—although the double stitched piping seam means it's extra durable. That does not happen with the Parachute. The square baffles stay puffed and fluffed. Not once did I wake up to a cold spot. The Company Store's Alberta Down Comforter comes in your choice of five versatile colors, including Cloud Blue and Alabaster as well as your classic white. You can use it with any duvet cover or as-is for a low-maintenance bedding option, especially since it's machine-washable for extra convenience.
Even better: The breathable sateen shell features baffle-box construction and a double-needle stitched finish for ultimate comfort and durability. Our medium level comforter gave off plenty of warmth, even with the fan on.
The comforter also had really great temperature control and was able to simultaneously satisfy one hot sleeper and one cold sleeper. Neither of us woke up sweating. Stuffed with Hyperclean down to a fill power, it's pleasantly lightweight but still plenty warm and snuggly. Not only that, but the shell is made of thread-count cotton with box stitching and convenient corner loops.
The baffle box design is supposed to prevent the down from shifting or pooling at the bottom or in the corners. It has a percent GOTS-certified organic cotton shell with stitch-through box construction to ensure even distribution, plus a fill power for all-season warmth.
As for the fill, the double-washed down is sourced from humanely raised ducks on an Indiana farm. While this comforter is more expensive than most others on our list, the luxurious quality is tough to beat.
Finally, no more blanket wars! Down comforters are surprisingly great for year-round use—as long as you choose the right weight. If you're not switching yours out seasonally, you'll want to look for a medium-weight option, like the Down Comforter from Snowe. With a fill power, this duvet insert is the perfect balance of insulating and breathable, keeping you cozy and comfortably cool every month of the year.
It comes in both Lightweight and All-Season weights, and either one is a good choice for year-round use depending on how hot you sleep. You just have to be careful that you're not purchasing one that is on either end of the weight scale.
Choose a comforter in the middle, around fill power. The best down comforter overall is the Brooklinen Down Comforter , a luxurious duvet with a lofty Canadian goose fill and your choice of three weights view at Brooklinen. However, if you're looking for something a little more wallet-friendly, you can't go wrong with the Egyptian Bedding Siberian Goose Down Comforter , an affordable duvet with a fill power view at Amazon.
When down comforters list their "fill power," they're referring to the amount of space one ounce of down feathers takes up. Fluffier feathers take up more room—and they also tend to be better insulators. That means that the higher the fill power, the fluffier your blanket will be, and the warmer it will keep you. A typical down comforter will have a fill power of about , so if you're a hot sleeper or live in a warmer climate you should look for a fill power between If you want something really warm and fluffy, look for a comforter with a fill power closer to According to Ruthie Osswald, Senior Associate of Design and Product Development at Brooklinen , "the industry standard for filling down comforters is 75 percent down clusters, as these are soft and long-lasting.
Look for a tightly woven yet breathable material like cotton to keep your investment in top shape for years to come. It's advisable to look for a down comforter that's RDS-certified. RDS, or Responsible Down Standard , certifies that down and feathers come from animals that have not been subjected to any unnecessary harm. The International Down and Feather Laboratory is the largest down testing lab in the world, and regularly collects samples from retailers and manufacturers to ensure that the down they're using meets global standards for cleanliness and quality.
Down comforters should be washed at least once a year to remove dirt, dust, and body oils, although those with allergies should wash them several times per year. Most can be washed in a large-capacity, front-loading washing machine using mild detergent on a gentle, warm cycle. Adding clean tennis balls or wool dryer balls to the wash cycle can help increase agitation and prevent down from bunching up.
After the wash cycle is complete, check for any soap residue on the comforter. If any is present, wash the comforter again without using any detergent. Then, place the comforter in the dryer and dry on the lowest temperature setting for 30 minutes at a time, taking time to fluff the comforter between cycles. Expect this process to take hours. Of course, always check the care instructions on your comforter before washing. You can expect most down comforters to last between 10 and 15 years, but with proper care a high-quality down comforter can last up to 20 years.
Using a duvet cover will greatly extend the life of a down comforter, as it will allow you to wash it less frequently. Down is a fragile material that breaks down over time, so washing and drying down comforters on the gentlest cycles possible is imperative.
Also be sure your comforter is completely dry before replacing it into a duvet cover, as a damp down comforter can develop mildew easily. Ideally, down comforters should get a good fluffing every day when you make the bed. There are several stitching types that are commonly used.
Down comforters can be expensive, but there are a range of price-points available. Budget-friendly down comforters may include a percentage of feather fill for added structure and lower costs. Price is not the only way to tell if a down comforter is high-quality, but certain types of down fill and shell materials will be more expensive. Shoppers should compare comforters to get an idea of different price-points and construction methods. When cleaning a down comforter, it is crucial to follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.
Some down comforters can be machine washed, while others require professional cleaning. When machine washing a down comforter, mild detergent and cold water is often recommended. The comforter should be air dried or tumble dried with low heat, and purchasers should make sure the comforter is completely dry before placing it back on the bed or storing it.
Use caution when dry cleaning a down comforter, as this cleaning process can strip the down clusters of natural oils and cause them to break down more quickly.
A duvet cover helps protect the down comforter and extend the time needed between cleanings. Down comforters are popular and widely available, and they can be purchased online and in stores. Those who want to shop for a down comforter at a physical location can look at department stores and home goods retailers.
Bedding and mattress companies that operate online tend to have down comforter options available, and some offer generous sleep trials or return policies that allow the purchaser to test out the comforters in their homes. When shopping online, customers should look for return policy requirements and warranty coverage. Down comforters are durable and can last 10 to 15 years or longer with proper care and maintenance. Down is a natural material that needs to be fluffed regularly to maintain its loft and it should be carefully cleaned when needed.
A duvet cover can extend the lifespan of a down comforter by preventing normal wear and tear. When selecting a comforter size, shoppers should consider their mattress size and how much coverage they want. Down comforters are available in standard sizes that correspond to mattress sizes. Confirm the sizing and measurements provided by the manufacturer to ensure compatibility, as dimensions can vary slightly between brands. Some down comforters are oversized to hang more over the edges of the bed.
Down is an animal byproduct that can be sourced sustainably and ethically. Responsibly sourced down is harvested without causing undue harm. While there is a history of unethical treatment within the down industry, including live-plucking and force-feeding, there has been closer scrutiny that has led companies to seek out ethical suppliers. Shoppers can look for certain certifications, such as the Responsible Down Standard , that indicate a traceable supply chain and humane treatment of the ducks and geese from which the down is sourced.
Danny is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with an in-depth knowledge of sleep health. He has tested hundreds of mattresses and sleep products. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
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Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias.
Updated November 5, Written by Daniel Noyed. What Types of Down Comforters are Available? Product Details. Who it's best for: Sleepers who use duvet covers Animal-conscious individuals Shoppers looking for a comforter with a wide color selection.
Who it's best for: Those who prefer the smooth feel of a sateen weave Value seekers Hot sleepers who like the fluffy feel of down. Highlights: Cotton sateen cover has a shiny finish White down with fill power Sewn-through construction distributes fill evenly.
Most Comfortable Brooklinen Down Comforter. Who it's best for: Those who tend to sleep hot Sleepers who want a comforter they can use year-round Shoppers who want a generous sleep trial and warranty coverage. Highlights: Choice of three weights for comfort in all seasons Made in Canada with ethically sourced down night sleep trial. Who it's best for: Customers looking for a comforter with a shiny finish Sleepers who use duvet covers Those living in cooler climates.
Highlights: Smooth and breathable cotton sateen cover fill power European white down fill Retains heat well in colder months. Who it's best for: Those wanting a comforter to use year-round Customers who use duvet covers Hot sleepers. Highlights: Breathable cotton cover fill power Canadian duck down Available in all-season and lightweight options.
Softest Slumber Cloud Down Comforter. Who it's best for: Hot sleepers Those seeking a comforter suitable for year-round use People who live in warm climates. Highlights: White duck down cluster fill Lined with a proprietary cooling fabric day sleep trial. Who it's best for: People who reside in warm or temperate areas Hot sleepers Animal-conscious shoppers.
Highlights: 2 weight options to accommodate sleepers in different climates RDS certification ensures humane animal treatment night sleep trial. Who it's best for: Value-minded shoppers Those who want multiple color options Sleepers who want a down comforter with a high loft.
What is a Down Comforter? Related Reading. How to Choose a Down Comforter A down comforter feels cozy and soft while adding warmth to the bed, but how do you know you are picking the right one?
What to Consider When Purchasing a Down Comforter Purchasing a down comforter can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options to choose from. Pros Cons Durability: Down is highly durable when cared for properly, and a down comforter has a longer than average lifespan. Warmth: Down acts as insulation, keeping sleepers warm. The range of fill power and weights available ensures there is an option for most sleeping preferences and climates.
Breathability: Down comforters tend to be breathable. Soft Feel: Many sleepers find the lofty, pillowy feel of a down comforter to be cozy. Cost: Down comforters tend to be one of the most expensive varieties, especially when made with high-quality or luxury materials.
Maintenance: To preserve the loft and integrity of the down fill, the comforter should be fluffed regularly and professionally cleaned. Limited Color Options: Most are designed to be paired with a duvet cover , so color options can be limited.
Not Suitable for Vegan Shoppers: Down is an animal byproduct. Duck Down vs. Goose Down Down comforters will be filled with either duck down or goose down.
Duck Down: Duck down forms in smaller clusters, resulting in a soft and lightweight feel. Mature ducks form larger down clusters, which can result in a higher fill power. Goose Down: Goose down tends to form in larger clusters and have a higher fill power and loft. Fill Power It is essential for shoppers to compare comforters beyond duck vs. Lower Fill Power: The lower end of this spectrum indicates smaller clusters of less insulating down.
Fill power below can indicate that the down was harvested from younger birds, rather than mature ones. Mid-Range Fill Power: The mid-range is ideal for hot sleepers and warmer climates, as it provides insulation without retaining too much heat. Shoppers looking for an all-season comforter often select one that is to fill power.
High Fill Power: Fill power of and above can provide ample warmth and insulation for winter months. The higher the fill power, the larger and more insulating the clusters of down are. High fill power typically indicates the down was sourced from mature birds.
Cover Materials The cover material of the down comforter impacts temperature regulation and price. Cotton: Cotton is often used, as it is highly breathable and moisture-wicking. Long-staple cotton, such as Egyptian cotton, results in a smoother, softer fabric.
Silk: Silk is also used for its lightweight, breathable feel, but it tends to be pricier and harder to maintain. Wool: Wool is another natural fiber that can be used, as it wicks away heat and moisture while increasing airflow throughout the comforter. Synthetic blends: Synthetic fibers, including polyester, can be used for the comforter shell but they may not be as breathable.
Stitching The stitching on a down comforter serves a functional purpose, as well as adding design interest.
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