How to Buy Down Pillows

How to Buy Down Pillows

Down Differences

There are two main types of natural down: goose and duck down. Down is the soft cluster of fibers found beneath the feathers of a goose or duck. It is lightweight, retains warmth and is perfect for making soft and supportive fill for pillows. Many down pillow manufacturers will use different grades of down, from those with mostly feathers to those with a combination of feathers and down, or those completely made with down. Those pillows made completely of down will be the most expensive; those made mostly of feathers will be much cheaper. This is because more down is required to fill one pillow than one filled with feathers alone.

• Duck Down: Duck down is often cheaper than goose down. Duck down may also retain a strong odor longer than goose down does. All down needs to be aired out after purchase before it is used.
• Goose Down: Goose down is more expensive and will insulate blankets, comforters and pillows better than duck down.
• Eiderdown: Eiderdown is the most expensive and lightweight of all downs.

Fill Power

Fill power will determine the firmness of the pillows that you purchase. The higher the fill power, the longer the firmness or fluffiness will last.

• 500 Fill Power- this number represents a good quality down
• 600-700 Fill Power – a higher quality down that will retain heat and firmness longer
• 800 or Higher Fill Power – the highest quality down you can buy

Cleanliness

The cleanliness of the down is also of great importance when you're learning how to buy down pillows. Cleaning down and preparing it for use in pillows, blankets or a comforter is expensive. There are two types of tests that are done on products filled with down, and the ratings should be displayed on the product packaging.

• Oxygen Test – the oxygen test will show how much organic matter is left in the down after it has been washed. For products manufactured in the United States, the rating has to be 10 or lower. The lower the rating, the better quality the down is.
• Turbidity Test – this test shows how many suspended solids are in the down. In this case, the higher the number is, the better the quality is (density in down is a good thing and will provide the best insulation). If the turbidity test is 550 or higher, the quality of the item is high. If it is under 100, the item has probably not been washed and is of a low quality.

Sleep Comfort

If you have never used down pillows before, the following guidelines should help you select a down pillow that meets your particular needs.

• Soft – a soft down pillow is the right choice for someone who sleeps on their stomach
• Medium – a medium down pillow is perfect for the person who sleeps on their back, is petite or has small shoulders
• Firm – a firm pillow is the best choice for people who sleep on their sides
• Standard Size Pillow – the best size of down pillow for sleeping on
• King Size Pillow – the king sized pillow is good for using as support for your back when sitting up in bed. It isn't the best choice for sleeping on since it will tend to depress more in the middle due to the longer size.

Knowing how to buy down pillows will help you make a wise investment that should last for years. Down pillows are considered extremely comfortable for all kinds of sleeping positions, making them a popular choice for people wanting the most restful sleep possible. While down pillows are more expensive, they should last for years before they need to be replaced. Pillows stuffed with foam or fiber-fill will only last 6 months to 1 year.