Buying a down comforter help...

cakana

calliecritturs

Duvet = comforter for the most part.  Cathy I think you'll find 'duvet cover' is the cover TO the duvet.  My British husband cringes mightily when someone says "comforter". 

Ha-ha, now how come I've known what a duvet cover is but never thought of the comforter as the actual duvet? Strange but thanks for correcting me Callie.

Actually this thread motivated me to look last night for myself -- cos I have to have one to take with me travelling next week.

Given that I know both the European and US terminology it is absolutely, completely 100% CONFUSING because it's obvious that no one is using the same terminology at all. 

Cathy, I ain't correctin ya ... it's just one of those crazy UK/euro/US English things that get completely fubared in the translation??  If you search for "duvet" and even duvet twin -- you STILL get half a million links for COVERS.  I discovered NO foolproof way last night to just search for the thingy inside and NOT the 'cover'.  Even if you search for "comforter feather" -- you STILL get the danged covers popping up -- I **think** because they ASSUME that if you buy one you're gonna buy the cover!!

cakana

I definitely agree about looking for one with quite a few baffles in it. I also agree about looking at stores like TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Marshalls, etc. They sometimes have them in stock and for great prices.

Zatchbell -- you can search right thru Amazon.  Pacific is a good brand.  But not cheap. 

But yeah -- what she said.  If you can shop you'll find a good deal -- then factor in all you spent on gas, etc.??

I was looking for a twin sized one last night AND I wanted it in a color (not just a white cover).  For ME putting a cover on it makes it too danged hot.  I found a sage green & beige one last night for $30.  BUT -- the 3 other colors were both $20 - $30 MORE -- so moral of the story is if you can take the time to check thru you may find exactly what you want for the price you want to pay.

I use Amazon because we have Amazon Prime (which pays for itself many times over during the year for us)

cakana

My SIL made her own duvet cover by taking to sheets and sewing three corners together and then putting buttons on the one end. If I had a sewing machine, I'd probably give that some consideration

I've done that MANY times -- and rather than mess with buttonholes I put string ties I made out of seam binding across the open end -- eventually I abandoned the cover totally -- cos it's just too hot.  Both DAvid and I have separate blankets.  I love sleeping with my husband but I HATE sharing blankets.  Life is too short to fight over them and then have the dog lie in the middle of them during the night.  LOL. 

A long time ago, when I was making good $$, I purchased a $400 duvet cover and although it looked great and was super soft, it was a bitch to put on and I only used it for a very short time.

For the actual comforter, I'm pretty picky and wouldn't trust buying online. I like mine heavy weight and even use it in the summer just to snuggle up with :)

Imo if you want one that will last (and I've had one for 15+ yrs) you have to spend at least $100. More like the $150 range, on sale. (For queen/king)

Regarding washing: I do wash mine in one of those jumbo machines at the laundry mat (or leave it for the staff to 'wash and fold' if I'm tight on time)--I don't do the "special down cleaning" (I don't want to think about the chemicals)--to get the loft back, just throw a couple of clean tennis balls in the dryer with the comforter (or down coat, vest, etc.) and it will be all puffed up when dry.

Jewlieee

Imo if you want one that will last (and I've had one for 15+ yrs) you have to spend at least $100. More like the $150 range, on sale. (For queen/king)

I agree. The one I have now and have had for years is Calvin Klein and I've loved it. I'm bored with it though and have been on a search for something new. I need Calif. King and so that makes it pricier too. Especially if you buy matching shams and the bedskirt.

Everyone in my house has a down comforter and uses them all year round.  The beauty of down is it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer.  I wash mine all the time in the washer and have never had an issue.  Use tennis balls or what not to fluff in dryer and make sure it is DRY, dry for a double cycle - the feathers can mold if it is not dried completly!

The key to down is the fill power. Fill power is a term used to describe the quality of down. The higher the fill power, the larger and stronger the clusters of down. Large clusters provide superior insulation, breathe better and last much longer than smaller, fragile down clusters used in many lower quality or imported comforters.

A decent down comforter is not cheap.

FrisbyPI

to get the loft back, just throw a couple of clean tennis balls in the dryer with the comforter (or down coat, vest, etc.) and it will be all puffed up when dry.

The nifty things you learn on your favorite dog board!!! RAH!!

calliecritturs

FrisbyPI

to get the loft back, just throw a couple of clean tennis balls in the dryer with the comforter (or down coat, vest, etc.) and it will be all puffed up when dry.

 

The nifty things you learn on your favorite dog board!!! RAH!!

I've used all sorts of objects to fluff stuff up, including tennis balls, and even new sneakers once for something that wasn't going to be hurt by it.  I got balls specially made for a dryer once at a flea market for a few bucks -- they have little nibbs on them that supposedly fluffs better, but basically is no different from a tennis ball (but for non-dog folks, not everyone has a zillion tennis balls laying around!)

Also, be a bit careful when drying -- I don't like to dry on high, so use low or medium heat but for a longer time.  Sometimes the more inexpensive stuff can kind of "melt" for lack of another word, when dried on too high of a temp.  At least try it first.

 I've washed my down comforter in a top loader, but it is risky. The danger is that it will get wrapped around the agitator, and the agitator will pull it too hard and rip it. The only reason I washed ours in the top loader is because it was very old and a certain tiny little dog had peed on it, which I wanted to wash out ASAP. For a new one, I'd recommend a trip to a laundromat.

Ditto about [edit: DRYING (not washing!)] for a looooong time on very low heat. I usually put it on low heat "delicate" cycles for once cycle, take it out, fluff it, refold it sort of (you'll notice that part of it is sort of dry, but whatever was in the middle is still quite damp) and repeat that as often as necessary. Usually takes about 3 cycles! (Eegads!) You don't want to put it on high heat, lest the heat damage the feathers.

Also don't use any fabric softener, because it will coat the feathers and spoil the loft...

Maybe others think it's gross, but I don't typically wash the actual down comforter part more than once every two years or so. We wash the duvet cover frequently, but every time I put the comforter in the wash I do so knowing that there's a risk it might ruin it, so we don't wash it often at all. We do use standard bed sheets though, in addition to the comforter and duvet cover - I know some people don't, and if you don't, you might want to wash it more frequently.

yep, laundromat is the way to go.  Even if it "fits" it won't really get cleaned since it barely has room for the water!

I also only wash it once a year or so... typically when I bring it out in the fall, I wash it, but I also use a cover and wash that more often.  I also have a colored, lighter, down alternative comforter that I will probably wash twice since I'll use it spring and fall, but we'll see.  It's one of the cheaper ones, anyway.  Our nice down alternative is now about 5 yrs old and still going strong!  our duvet set cost more, LOL, but it keeps it nice. we also use a normal set of sheets.

good to know about fabric softener, though, even though mine is down alternative I'll try to stay away.  I typically use more softener since I really really really love things smelling nice and fresh!

I don't know if you have one near you or not, but there was an ad on TV last night about one heck of a bedding sale at Macy's.  They usually carry some pretty high quality stuff so it might be worth checking out, even if you have to do it on-line.

Joyce

 In addition to not washing it more than you have to? A day out hanging on the line on a sunny day when it's good and breezy does a LOT to keep it fresh and fluffed. It won't help with stuff like getting peed on, but just for general funk, a spray down with febreeze (or vinegar water) and a day out on a clothesline does a LOT.