It's Time To Think About Comforters!
If you're thinking about buying a comforter for your bedroom,
don't shop without this information! Knowing what to look for in
a quality comforter can save you money in the long run by making
your purchase the best quality for the money.
By saving yourself from some of the common mistakes made by
bedding buyers, you will be much happier with the selection you
purchase.
When choosing comforters, it is important to understand the
materials used to construct the bedding as well as the
construction methods used. Let's take a look at some of the
factors you need to be aware of before making your purchase.
Feathers or down are commonly used as filling material. There's
a really big difference between the two, however. Down is the
inner plumage of ducks or geese. It has a great many tiny, very
fluffy "miniature feathers" and no long feathers or quills.
Check the product information carefully to be certain of what
the contents of the bedding you are considering really is. Both
feathers and down are effective insulators against the cold, but
down is the more efficient of the two. Down is much softer and
warmer than feathers.
However, people with allergies can have problems with either
filler and may need to resort to allergy-proof bedding. Some
down products are created to be hypoallergenic and may be used
by any except the most severe allergy sufferers. Quality bedding
will be made of down rather than feathers, but is very expensive
when used as the only fill. So comforter manufacturers
compromise abit by adding some feathers into the mix as well to
add to your comforter's insulating ability.
Another fill that may be found in bedding is polyester fiber.
This filling is not as luxurious feeling as down but can make an
effective insulator nonetheless. Preferred by allergy sufferers,
a very good quality selection using polyester fiber fill can
make a great bedding choice.
An important factor to consider when purchasing your bed
covering is fill weight. Fill weight is the amount of filling
used between the top and bottom covering of your bedding.
The greater the fill weight, the more filling is contained in
the bedding and therefore the more body heat will be held in
through the insulating factor of the bedding.
If you live in a cold climate and reduce your home's thermostat
at night, you'll want to purchase products with a high fill
weight.
If you live in a more temperate climate or want bedding for
summer use, you will probably want to choose a lower fill weight
or remove the top bedding from the bed at night to sleep in cool
comfort.
Fill power refers to the amount of space which 1 ounce of down
or fill material covers. Because top quality down expands, this
number is generated by taking 1 once of fill and compressing it.
Once it is freed again, it will expand to cover a specific area.
The fill number 575 fill power means that 1 ounce of the filler
covers 575 cubic inches of space. 650 is a very high fill power.
The loft of the bedding is directly related to the fill power,
as is the insulating properties.
If you live in a warm climate, you'll be happy with a much lower
fill power. A fill power of 575 or below would be great for
winters in the Mid-South. Lower numbers would be best for
Southern California and Florida while the cold northern state
will enjoy a fill power of 650.
Thread count is a factor to consider as well. Especially with
down/feather bedding, low thread count fabric can result in
filling materials working their way through the fabric and
escaping.
Higher thread counts of 330 or more provide a more dense fabric
with a close weave that will prevent filling materials from
working their way out of the bedding. Higher thread count also
provides a silkier, luxurious feel to the bedding. Thread count
is much more important when buying bedding that contains filling
than if you are buying sheets.
The actual construction method of the shell of the bedding is
also very important. Inexpensive bedding that contains filling
will be constructed with the "sewn-through" method.
This means that the bedding is divided into sections by sewing
through the top and bottom and coming back through the fabric,
much like the way a quilt is constructed.
Top quality bedding, which is more expensive but will last much
longer, uses baffle box construction.
Fabric is used to create walls inside the bedding in which the
fill is placed. This provides the fluffiness of true luxury
bedding. The bedding fill product is allowed to expand to the
maximum fluffiness and you will find no cold spots when sleeping
under this type of bedding.
For the very best bedding, be sure to look for the "closed
baffle box" or "true baffle box" construction. Closed box
construction means the filling can not move from section to
section. An open box construction or partially open box
construction means the filling can move and create bunches and
lumpiness.
Care of your bedding investment is important too! Even if a
luxury bedding item that contains fill material says it may be
machine washed, you will not want to wash it in your home
laundry equipment.
When large pieces of filled bedding get wet, they are simply too
heavy for the home machine. Washing and drying can cause lumping
even in good quality products. Dry cleaning is the best method
to preserve your quality bedding that contains fill.
For only a little more cost, you can insure that your bedding
will last longer so you can enjoy it for years and years to
come.
About the author:
Patricia Bowlin is an entrepenuer, writer and researcher who
loves to share her tips, sense of humor, advice and ideas on
creating the perfect bedroom sanctuary. Get hundreds of Free
useful tips, advice and ideas now by visiting
http://www.best-in-bedding.com
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