Down Comforter

The down comforter was once thought of as a luxury only for the super rich. They have since dropped in price and are used by nearly every class of customer. They also come in a variety of sizes, fill ratings, thread counts and quality levels. What you get will be determined by your own budget and needs (heavy or lighter weights). They are available in summer weights, winter weights, and everything in between. The fill is usually goose down, but can also be anything from synthetic materials to duck down, to feathers (not true down). You'll want to pay attention to the actual filler content during purchase also. Some people are allergic to true down and feathers so they go for a synthentic blend or 100% synthetic option which is more hypo-alergenic.

Where can I buy a down comforter?

Upscale home department stores such as Dillards, JC Penney, and Macys all sell them, as well as online retailers. Unless you catch a great sale at the department store you will often find the online retail has the better pricing and offer the most discount down comforters. The problem is you are unable to touch the bedding and accurately get an idea of its size and weight, you have to trust the listed numbers on the website.

How do I wash a down comforter?

First rule of thumb is to read the care and cleaning instructions on the tag. If it is machine washable you'll want to use a large washer (even go to a commercial laundromat and use those super big ones) to prevent hangups and wear and tear on your own machine. Many down comforters require commercial laundering by a dry cleaner, so check carefully.

If washing isn't easy, how else can I protect it?

We recommend that all owners get a down comforter cover, also known as a duvet cover. These will protect the comforter itself and those are easily washable as much as you want. The covers also give you the versatility to decorate as needed since most comforters come in white or off white. We have an entire page dedicated to covers and duvets.

Down comforters are often categorized by fill power, or fluffiness, and weight (how many ounces of down are in the comforter). They are very popular because of the way they regulate warmth and can have you wake up feeling refreshed instead of hot and sticky. You don't want to go too cheaply however, because a common problem can be having the interior down shift toward one end of the cover. When this happens you end up with either very lumpy bedding or having it super heavy and full on one end with almost no filling on the other. Be sure yours is sewn in such a way to keep the filling in its place.