There is nothing better than a comforter on a cold winter’s night. They are so soft, puffy and cozy. A comforter is a type of bed covering or blanket that is intended to keep you warm. Comforters come in many sizes to fit all sizes of beds and sometimes run slightly larger than the actual bed size to be able to drape over the sides of the bed.
Normal bed sizes in the US are:
twin 64″ wide by 87″ long
Full or Queen 87″ wide by 87″ long
King 101″ wide by 90″ long
You can also find all of the above sizes in extra long lengths.
Sometimes comforters are used as mattress pads as they are so soft and pluffy. They are typically large and rectangular shaped and filled with natural or synthetic insulative material encased in a pretty shell covering. Comforters go over a set of sheets. A true comforter sets includes the comforter, bed skirt and pillow shams although most sets come with just the comforter and pillow shams.
Comforter Filling
Comforters are filled with layers of material such as polyester batting, down feathers, organic wool, alpaca or silk. They also can be made out of fur, for heavy warmth, and usually have a backing of satin or silk. The loft of the filling determines the weight, as well as, the level of insulation and is stitched or quilted to secure the filling and keep it evenly distributed.
Hypoallergenic down comforters are also available and are filled with goose feathers and syriaca for allergy sufferers. This blend keeps moisture away from your body more quickly than down or synthetic down, is lightweight and helps with circulation.
What is Natural Down and why is it so great?
Natural down consists of clusters of filaments from the underbelly of a waterfowl bird such as a duck or goose. Because of its three dimensional structure and ability to “loft”, each down cluster traps more air for its weight than any synthetic. The filaments interlock and overlap naturally to form a protective layer of still air that keeps warmth in and cold out. Natural down comforters consist of a mix of down material and feathers. As long as the comforter contains 75% down, it can be labeled in America as being “All Down” by manufacturers (Europe has higher standards). Because of this, it’s important to be aware of the down to feather content ratio.
Synthetic down comforters provide a cost savings over natural goose or duck down comforters, but there are noticeable differences. A natural down comforter breathes more effectively than synthetics, provides more thermal warmth, and is usually more durable.
What you need to know when buying a comforter or down comforter.
What Birds Provide the Best Down?
The best downs come from mature birds. Down from an immature bird tends to have poor filling power and collapses in a relatively short time. However, when age and maturity are equal, goose down is considered better than duck down.
What is Fill Power?
Fill Power (or how fluffy the comforter is the number of cubic inches one ounce of down will fill under laboratory conditions. A higher number on the fill power (typically a range of 600-800) means the comforter will be fluffier, warmer and last longer. Even though higher fill power costs more, in the long run it is worth having.
What is a Cleaniness Rating?
The cleaniness of a down comforter is measured by an Oxygen test that indicates the amount of organic matter left after washing and a Turbidity test that is a measure of suspended solids in the material. The government standard for Oxygen is 10 but superior comforters have numbers lower than this. The scale for Turbidity goes from about 60 being unwashed to 550 being the best. Try to purchase a comforter that has a lower Oxygen number than 10 and a rather high scale Turbidity level.
What is Thread Count?
Thread count is another feature you need to know about. Thread count is the number of threads that are contained in one square inch of fabric. The higher the thread count, the lighter and smoother the comforter tends to feel. But keep in mind the highest number thread count of 360 for premium comforters may not be as durable as a 220-260 count comforter that is fine for most people.
Why is Sewing Construction Important?
Comforters are generally sewn through or baffled. Baffling is an internal fabric wall that allows the fill to loft (puff up) more and adds strength to the comforter. Comforters that are sewn through are better for lightweight comforters only. Finally, the tightness of the weave on a comforter also prevents leakage of the fill to the outside world – commonly referred to as downproofing. Downproofness is measured in millimeters with the industry standard being 10 for air porosity.
A comforter is sometimes covered with a duvet cover for protection and prolonged use and help to keep the comforter clean. Duvet is French for “Down”. Comforter covers are similar in principle to pillowcases, usually closed with zippers or buttons. In the United Kingdom, they are known as a special type of padding Duvets.
Outer Covering
The outer shells of comforters are typically constructed using cotton, silk, or polyester fabrics or blends, of varying thread counts. Comforter shells vary in design and color, often designed to coordinate with other bedding. Washing a comforter should not be done with a top loader; minimum capacity to wash a comforter is 3.7 m³.
I hope this information from http://www.twindowncomforter.net/ has helped you in finding the perfect comforter. Mentally take into consideration these facts about a comforter and you will find the one that is right for you.