Snuggle up with a duck down duvet

Last year I decided to take the plunge and invest in a down and duck feather duvet. Why have I not taken this step before? I always thought that they were a bit pricey. Now you will find it very hard to part me and my duvet!

 

 

 

A natural form of insulation, duck down traps small pockets of air to create a thermal layer that literally floats on top of you as you sleep. Down is not only very warm but very light and compressible, which means that you don't feel smothered or weighed down as you would with a synthetic equivalent. Plus, if looked after properly, down duvets and pillows will last a lot longer than synthetic duvets and pillows.

Goose or Duck?

Goose down duvets are more expensive than duck down duvets as the down clusters from a goose are bigger and lighter than those from a duck, which means they can trap more air in between them, making goose down duvets even more wonderfully warm yet incredibly light. Goose down is therefore the right choice for you if you are looking for high quality bedding. Duck down is the down of choice if you are looking for a cost effective down duvet.

 

 

 

 

Caring for a down duvet

Down duvets and pillows should be carefully maintained to keep their performance. If down bedding is kept clean, you'll get unparalleled performance for many years. Keep your down duvet covered with a duvet cover to protect from the oils in your skin; these break down fabric, making it brittle and staining it yellow.

Wash your bed linen once a week. If, however, you use a flat sheet as well as a duvet cover, you won't have to wash the duvet cover quite as often. Should your duvet have a problem area, you can spot-wash it using a mild liquid detergent. But be sparing, for if you use too much detergent you won’t be able to get the suds out.

 

Cleaning and drying your down and duck feather duvet

Although many manufacturers claim that you can wash down duvets in your machine, it is not recommended. Down filled duvets are also difficult to dry properly and tend to lose their fluffiness, unless you have an large-capacity washing machine. It is preferable to have your down bedding commercially laundered.

Storing your duvet

One of the great things about down is that it is highly compressible when packed. However, tight packing of down products for routine storage should be avoided and they need to be stored in a breathable cotton bag, never in plastic.