How to Shop for a Down Comforter

When autumn’s chill turns to winter’s cold, consumers seek ways to stay warm and toasty. Down comforters trace their history all the way back to Ancient Babylonia when poultry and bird feathers were stuffed into crudely woven flax cloth for warmth. Today’s down comforters are luxuriously soft and depending upon the construction and type of down feathers, they offer an excellent bed cover for cold nights. When shopping for a down comforter, you need to know the industry lingo in order to get the best deal.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Find the Fill Power number on the consumer label. This indicates the amount of space one ounce of down occupies within the comforter. Not all down is equal. Higher quality comforters typically have higher Fill Power numbers. Fill Powers above 650 are desirable.

2. Choose a thread count of 400 or higher. Thread count indicates how many thread stitches are within one square inch of fabric. A thread count of 200, or lower, is loosely woven and the tiny down feathers may work their way out of the comforter, leaving a feathery mess in your home. At a thread count of 400 or higher, fewer feathers will find a way to escape.

3. Select a down comforter for warmer nights by choosing a lighter weight and use a heavier one on cold nights. The overall weight of the comforter indicates how many ounces of down are stuffed into the fabric. The more down, the warmer (and heavier) the comforter will be.

4. Look for baffled construction in better down comforters. This method of sewing the comforter keeps the down from shifting, resulting in uniform warmth and loft. The manufacturer may list this feature as “baffled boxes” on the label.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy a quality duvet to cover your down comforter. A duvet is like a giant pillowcase, and the comforter fits inside. The duvet protects the comforter and you need only wash the duvet as you would other bedding.
• Most down comforters must be dry cleaned only.

Resources

• Royal Velvet Majestic Gold 1200-Thread-Count Siberian White Down Comforter