When to Replace Down Pillows?
Choosing a pillow is an important part of creating a comfortable and healthy sleep environment. In fact, it's almost as important as choosing a mattress, and you need a pillow that will adequately support your head and neck. Down pillows are a popular choice because of their softness and flexibility; but like any pillow, they need to be replaced on a regular basis. Does this Spark an idea?
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Timing
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In general, down pillows provide adequate neck support for approximately four to five years. After that time, the down and filler tends to bunch together; and your pillow becomes lumpy and uncomfortable, which could cause neck pain and discomfort. It could even prevent you from getting an adequate night's sleep. Some manufacturers claim their pillows last longer---a dozen years or more---but you should gauge whether your pillow needs to be replaced on its condition and comfort, not how long the label says it should last.
Tests
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How well you sleep on a down pillow, and whether it is still comfortable or not, is the most obvious test of whether you need a new pillow. However, other indicators exist as well. If you can fold the pillow in half and squeeze out all of the air, and it stays folded without springing back to shape, it's not going to provide adequate support and should be replaced. Also, pillows that have stains or odors that bother you and cannot be cleaned mean that a new pillow is in your future.
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Care
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Although no pillow will last forever, properly caring for your down pillows can extend their lifespan. Throughout the years of use, dirt, skin cells and allergy spores can build up inside and outside of the pillow. Without proper cleaning, this build up can exacerbate allergies, which will also interrupt your sleep. Depending on the brand of pillow you purchase, the care instructions vary; but in general, you can dry clean down pillows. Using pillows cases and regularly fluffing your pillows helps extend their lifespan.
About Down Pillows
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Down pillows should not be confused with feather pillows. Down is usually found on ducks and geese, and is the layer of plumage underneath their feathers. It's softer than feathers and does not have the quills that can poke through the pillow cover. In general, manufacturers consider a pillow "down" if it contains at least 75 percent down filling. The remaining 25 percent is usually feathers or a synthetic filler. Prices for down pillows vary, but goose down tends to be more expensive than duck down; and down pillows overall are more expensive than other types of pillows. Despite the increased price, though, down pillows do not last longer than other types, so consider the replacement cost when choosing your pillows.
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