Feather pillows: types of feathers, features, benefits and harm

Basic properties and features of goose down

Geese are migratory birds; in order to stay in the air and not freeze, they must have soft, lightweight insulation. Bird down is a unique material; there is no other material like it in nature. The fluff fibers are adjacent to each other and an air chamber is formed between them, so the fluff weighs little. The fluffs are easy to bend; after deformation, they quickly restore their shape. This is a soft and at the same time durable material.

Duck down has a stiffer, heavier frame and smaller downy appendages compared to goose, so it is inferior in quality. Chicken down is not used for the production of pillows, as it quickly loses its shape and becomes unusable.

Lifespan of feather pillows

The shelf life of feather pillows is on average 5 years.

The main feature and at the same time disadvantage of feather pillows is their special care. The pillow will serve you for 10 years or more if you fluff it regularly, dry it in the sun for preventive purposes or to kill parasites), and periodically take it to the dry cleaner for professional disinfection.

If these rules are not followed, the product will last a maximum of 3-4 years, after which the filler will need to be replaced.

Tips for choosing

When choosing a goose down pillow, pay attention to the following parameters:

Height. The pillow should not be too high, otherwise you will have to sleep with your head thrown back. This is harmful to the blood circulation in the brain. For an average-sized adult who sleeps on their back, a height of 12 cm is suitable.

Sleeping position. To sleep on your stomach you need a low pillow, and to sleep on your side, on the contrary, a high one, because the head in this position is high above the surface of the bed and needs support.

The pillow can be soft or medium hard. Choose what you like best.

Size. If you often turn over in your sleep, take a larger pillow, 68x68 cm, so as not to roll off it in your sleep. If you sleep peacefully, you can choose the 50x68 cm option.

Down is a nice flexible filler, but very soft. To give the pillow medium hardness, manufacturers add feathers to the down.

Which feather pillows are better?

The choice of pillow depends on your preferences. The more fluff it contains, the softer it is. Therefore, if you don’t like pillows that are too soft, choose ones with at least 80% feathers. The most suitable ones for sleeping are those filled with goose feathers. Sometimes duck feathers are added to reduce cost. If your budget is limited, you can buy a pillow with a mixture of feathers, although it is not so easy to find.

Care

1. A down pillow should be dry cleaned regularly, preferably at least once every two years. You cannot wash most models at home yourself. The fact is that down is afraid of moisture; after washing it must be dried quickly. It's not easy to do this at home. In addition, dry cleaning can not only clean down and feathers, but also treat them with an antiseptic against the appearance of pests.
2. The fluff must be whipped. Thanks to this, more air appears between the fluffs and feathers, making the pillow even softer and more comfortable.
3. In many models, the case is equipped with a pocket for a sachet. If your pillow doesn't have this, you can sew on the pocket yourself. Put a sachet with a soothing aroma in your pocket; you will fall asleep faster and with greater comfort.
4. The main thing is that the pillowcase of a down pillow needs to be changed every three days, at least. Actually, this rule applies to pillows with any filling. But for downy ones it is especially important. Down pillows are produced in a cover made of natural cotton; if the pillowcase is stale, sebum and sweat will penetrate through the fabric and stain the down. Washing a pillowcase is still easier than cleaning down.

How to wash

Sometimes the manufacturer writes that the pillow can be washed in a washing machine.

In this case, you need to select the hand wash mode and be sure to turn off the spin cycle. The washing machine, even on a gentle mode of 400 rpm, damages the fluff, so you will have to wring it out manually.

Choose a specialized product. Gel is preferable to powder granules as it dissolves faster and rinses out better.

Can bedbugs live in feather pillows?

In addition to ticks, there are other insects that can cause harm to humans. For example, bed bugs. These parasites most often live in the sofa, mattress, and bed. Fortunately, they are rarely found in pillows. Causes:

• the material is not suitable for the movement of bedbugs, it is difficult for them to cling to it;
• It’s difficult to get inside because of the thick cover; it’s even more difficult to get back out; Bedbugs, unlike ticks, whose main food is feathers and down, feed on human blood.
• bedbugs do not like to be disturbed (a person tosses and turns in his sleep, sometimes turning over his pillow);
• unsuitable conditions for egg laying.

If, after weighing all the pros and cons, you still prefer natural materials and cannot exchange a feather pillow for a synthetic one, take care of proper care of your textile product, and then your sleep will be as comfortable and safe as possible.

Top 5 popular models

Elastic pillow Natures Ruja down and down-feather

Natures Ruja down and feathers excellent quality for little money

Made from 50% down and 50% feather, it has a pleasant bounce. The twill pillowcase securely holds down and feathers inside the product, while allowing air to pass through, so the pillow is well ventilated. There is a beautiful contrasting edging on the side of the product.

Three-layer down pillow of medium hardness Natures Feminine

Natural three-layer down pillow of medium hardness Natures Feminine feathers inside, down outside

A two-layer design, in which there is a block of elastic feathers on the inside and soft down on the outside. Feathers allow the pillow to keep its shape and give it medium firmness. Down makes the product soft and comfortable.

Elastic down pillow 3d Aloe Vera Grass

Natural elastic down pillow 3d Aloe Vera Grass with antibacterial effect

Combined model. The base of the pillow is an inner chamber made of a mixture of 50% down and 50% feather. The outer chamber is made of only soft down. The cover is treated with Aloe vera extract, which has antibacterial properties.

Soft pillow Gray Familie Down

Elite soft Gray Familie Down pillow made in Austria

A soft, delicate pillow for lovers of increased comfort made only of Extra class down. The raw materials have been treated against pests and meet strict European standards. Made in Austria.

Orthopedic elastic pillow Natures Caring sleep

Modern orthopedic elastic pillow Natures Caring sleep with memory effect

A model for those who want to combine a traditional down pillow and modern material - memory foam. In the center of the product there is a memory block - it takes the shape of the body without resistance and supports the spine in the correct position. On top there is a layer of soft goose down, making the pillow especially comfortable.

How much does a feather pillow cost 70x70, 50x70

The price depends on the manufacturer, filler and size of the finished product. The ratio of feather to down also matters. The more fluff, the more expensive the products.

Despite the fact that, theoretically, a pillow can be filled with feathers from various birds, goose feathers are most often found on sale.

A good domestically produced feather pillow measuring 70x70 cm made from feathers and goose down will cost from 700 rubles. The minimum price for a pillow measuring 50x70 is 600 rubles. Pillows from well-known European companies cost from 1,400 to 13,000 rubles. Similar pillows measuring 50x70 cost from 1,200 to 10,000 rubles.{banner_serefs}

Patchwork technique

Using different pieces and cuts of fabric will help you create real masterpieces using the common patchwork technique.

This way you can create unique compositions and each pillow will be different from the previous one thanks to the exclusive design and thematic installations on decorative pillowcases.

Fabric dyeing

Having chosen plain textiles for the pillowcase, you can dye it before sewing, using environmentally friendly and durable paints.

Pattern drawing on fabric can be combined with the stamping technique, or by collecting the material in a certain sequence, coloring the folds, which will help reproduce a geometric pattern.

Knitting pillowcases

Incredibly beautiful decorative pillows are obtained through the use of knitting techniques, with the reproduction of certain patterns.

For a decorative pillowcase, it is better to choose patterns with large and voluminous patterns, braids and weaving; you can choose a crochet technique to reproduce an openwork pattern.