What is actually in duvets and pillows? We have given you a brief overview of the most important materials and their properties.
Duvets and pillows are available with a wide variety of fillings, and every material has its peculiarities, its specific properties. If you are about to buy a duvet or are looking for a new pillow, you are almost inevitably faced with the question of which material is right for your needs.
To make orientation a little easier, we have summarized the most common fibersand their characteristics below. This way, you can quickly get an overview and know the important details.
Comfort Cotton Pillow
Cotton is a textile classic. It is the most commonly used natural fiber, with a share of just over 30% of global textile fiber production. Cotton & best bamboo comforters performs well both as a material for bedding and as home textiles or clothing. Because the natural fiber is breathable, has good moisture management, and feels comfortable on the skin. Due to these properties, it is suitable as a cover material and filling for duvets and pillows and is also ideal as easy-care bed linen or for towels.
It can absorb its weight many times in water. In addition to a high dirt and oil absorption capacity, it can release the absorbed substances again. It is often suitable for hot wash and can therefore be washed in the washing machine at up to 95°C. The only downside is that it dries relatively slowly.
Cotton is an extremely easy-care and durable material that is generally perceived as pleasant.
Linen
Linen is also a classic in the bedroom. For a long time, linenwas an integral part of German bedrooms as a luxurious and, at the same time, easy-care bed linen until cheaper cotton pushed it out of sight to a large extent. In the meantime, however, the hard-wearing flax fiber is celebrating its comeback.
Linen lovers know about the longevity, good care, and washing properties (boil-proof) of linen. The plant fiber has a natural cooling effect in summer at high temperatures, making the airy and breathable material perfect for light summer duvets.
Microfiber, strictly speaking, microfiber or microfiber is a collective term for polyester. The hollow fibers with high bulking power can have extremely different properties – often depending on the price range. What they all have in common, however, is their good washing properties and longevity. Many microfibers are boil-proof and often also suitable for allergy sufferers. Microfiber duvets are available all year round.
If you tend to sweat, you should use breathable duvets.
Lyocell
Lyocell is obtained from rapidly renewable types of wood, consisting of 100% cellulose and, like cotton, is a fiber of botanical origin. Lyocell has a soft feel and falls fluently. Like cotton, it is very breathable, but in direct comparison, it absorbs up to 30% more moisture and releases it again quickly. The result: a pleasantly dry sleeping climate.
This makes Lyocell bedding attractive for allergy and rheumatic sufferers. The dry sleeping climate of the hypoallergenic material naturally reduces the growth of microorganisms. Best conditions for effective protection against bacteria and house dust mites. In addition, it can be washed in the washing machine at up to 60°C and is partially suitable for tumble drying.
The airy material is particularly suitable for summer or all-season duvets. However, it is usually quite “flat.” However, for example, an admixture of bulkier microfiber can compensate for this disadvantage.
Bamboo, Corn, and Soy Protein Fiber (Viscose)
Bamboo is characterized by properties similar to lyocell. The viscose fibers made from bamboo should also naturally inhibit the spread of microorganisms in the duvet or best bamboo pillowcases and ensure a dry sleeping climate.
We find corn on the label as polylactides, and it has properties similar to lyocell or bamboo but is much cheaper.
The protein fiber soy is characterized by its moisture and heat regulation through a similarly dry climate. In addition, environmentally friendly soy is very skin-friendly and has an antibacterial and antifungal effect.
Sheep wool
Sleeping wool provides excellent protection against cold but also against heat and has a climate-regulating and temperature-balancing effect. It is a bit firmer and less cuddly overall than other animal hair fillings, such as camel or cashmere.
Like all animal hair qualities, sheep’s wool has a high self-cleaning powerdue to the greasy coating of fine hairs. Regular ventilation in the (wet, cold) fresh air is sufficient. Pure new wool quality is beautiful and popular because of its high heat retention capacity.
The wool from the Argali sheep, known as the Marco Polo sheep, is particularly soft and fluffy. It creates a dry sleeping climate thanks to its temperature-regulating effect. It has a high thermal capacity and does not feel clammy, thanks to good moisture regulation. This makes Argali wool a real alternative to cashmere or camel hair.
Camelhair
Camel’s hair is a light and supple filling material ideal for duvets, from the light summer duvet to the warm winter duvet. Camel’s hair is particularly temperature-regulating and regulates during short-term changes and temperature fluctuations. This makes it ideal for “changeable heat” sleepers. The fluffy, soft hair permeates the air, so camel hair blankets are also suitable for water beds.
Thanks to the self-cleaning power of animal hair, washing is not necessary. Regular airing is sufficient, preferably in the dew-soaked morning air.
Cashmere
The hair of the cashmere goat is very fine and is considered very noble. Cashmere has properties similar to camel hair. It has an air-conditioning effect and is ideal for sleepers who prefer a dry sleeping climate; Rheumatism, for example, can benefit from a cashmere blanket. It counteracts temperature fluctuations less than camel hair but is noticeably warmer than the same filling weight. As a result, wonderfully light cashmere blankets with good warmth properties can be produced. Due to the very good heat capacity, cashmere beds can also be recommended for people with a higher heat requirement.
Silk
Silk is the only natural continuous textile fiber, and this extremely noble yarn is available in different qualities. In most cases, the slightly cheaper so-called wild silkor Tussah silk is used for bedding fillings. In contrast to cultivated silk, mulberry silk the fibers are shorter and are usually not (completely) degummed during processing.
Silk consists mostly of proteins and is very similar in structure to human skin. It is light, delicate, and cuddly with a flowing drape, yet very hard-wearing and durable.
Silk beds are particularly light and cool in summer thanks to the excellent moisture balance. However, silk can also score points in the transitional period with its pleasant warmth. Medium-warm blankets are ideal for heated bedrooms, even in winter.
Therefore, the exquisite silk duvets are particularly suitable for anyone who prefers an extra light duvet that nestles well against the body. The breathable blankets are very good at wicking away moisture and are also suitable for water beds because of their temperature-regulating properties.
Silk beds are often also suitable for allergy sufferers, as the fiber is very smooth and, therefore, hardly dusts and hardly absorbs dust. Airing keeps the duvets fresh. Silk should be aired or dried but never exposed to direct sunlight. Also, direct contact with perfumes and the like. It should also be avoided.
Down
Down is cozy and light. No other material is so fluffy and full with so little weight. The warmth of down is also enormous. Anyone looking for a warm duvet is always well advised to go with it. Since many down duvetsare washable at 60°C and have dust mite-proof covers (information on this can be found, for example, in the NOMINATE label), they are often classified as suitable for people who are allergic to house dust. However, washing too often can cause the quills to break and the duvet to lose volume.
During the drying process after washing, down duvets should be repeatedly shaken moderately to vigorously so that the duvet can dry completely. This also prevents the fine down and feathers from clumping together. Like silk comforters, down comforters should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Because the UV rays contained in sunlight cause the quills to dry out: they become brittle and fragile.
In the case of pillowswith down filling, the mixing ratio is decisive for its supportive power. The following applies: the more feathers are added, the more supportive the pillow is. On the other hand, the higher the proportion of down, the more frequently the bedding should be fluffed up.
By the way: The well-known half-down is a mixture of 15% down and 85% feathers. The so-called ¾ down consists of 30% down and 70% feathers.
Down lies densely on top of and inside one another, which optimizes the heat. However, moisture is only moderately removed and passed on to the ambient air. This creates a rather humid and warm sleeping climate, which is not equally suitable for everyone. For example, those who suffer from rheumatism or tend to sweat should prefer breathable bedding with a dry sleeping climate.
