Frequently Asked Questions: Frequently Used Terms All you need to know about silk How do I care for my comforter? Things to Consider When Selecting a Down Comforter Down provides the best, most comfortable and restful sleep of any bedding insulation material available. It can effectively maintain your natural body temperature while providing a fluffy look and a lightweight feel. There are a lot of down comforters to choose from, so what do you need to consider when deciding which down comforter is best for you? There are many things to consider when choosing a down comforter. Below, is a list of some of the most important considerations that can help in making an informed purchasing decision: What is Fill Power, and why is it important? What is Fill Weight? What is more important, Fill Power or Fill Weight? What is thread count and why is it important? What is baffle box construction, and why is it important? What is Fill Power, and why is it important? Fill power is a measure of the quality of the down. It measures the number of cubic inches that a single ounce of down occupies. The finest down has a fill power of at least 750 cubic inches per ounce. This high fill power down is rare and more expensive than lower fill power down. The lowest is around 300 cubic inches per ounce. A higher fill power rating indicates that a single ounce of down occupies more space and is of higher quality. Therefore, less down is needed to provide the same level of warmth as lower fill power down. More warmth with less weight helps to creating a more comfortable sleeping experience. Higher fill power down is also fluffier in appearance for the same amount of fill used. Also, the higher the fill power, the more durable and longer lasting it will be because higher fill power down has larger and stronger clusters of down. Over time, they’ll retain their loft and fluffiness better than lower grade down. If down loses its loft, it loses its insulation value. The higher fill power down is also more breathable and thus more comfortable. High grade fill power down lofts up more, and allows for better air circulation, while feeling lighter. Thus you can be more comfortable at a wider range of temperatures with high grade down. to top What is Fill Weight? Fill weight is the weight of down and/or feather included in a comforter. As opposed to fill power, fill weight is a measure of the quantity of the down, not its quality. to top What is more important, Fill Power or Fill Weight? Fill Power and Fill Weight are both needed for a fluffy, high quality comforter. If you took the highest loft fill power down but only had 1 ounce fill weight, of course, the comforter would have essentially zero loft. Higher fill weight (ounces of down) will tend to make the comforter look fluffier when using the same fill power down. In other words, a comforter with 700 fill power down will look fluffier if filled with 50 oz fill weight compared to a comforter with 700 fill power down but only 30 oz fill weight. The higher fill weights tend to be warmer as well. At the same time, a comforter with 700 fill power down and 50 oz fill weight is going to look fluffier than a comforter with 600 fill power down and 50 oz fill weight. to top What is thread count and why is it important? Thread count equals the number of threads per square inch. Higher thread count means a tighter weave for a softer and silkier feel to the fabric. For down comforters and bedding, higher thread counts of at least 200 and above are required in order to prevent leakage of the down from the inside to the outside. It's important to buy a cover with a high enough thread count that is tightly woven to provide leak proof coverage. Then you will not have to worry that the down or feathers leaking out, or poking you through the comforter cover. Many companies take special care to seal in the edges. Cotton covers are generally recommended for down comforters. Egyptian, cambric cotton is considered the best for down comforters. The best cambric cotton downproof fabric is said to come from Germany or Switzerland. A higher thread count comforter will be softer, and may be more desirable, but as long as the comforter has a high enough thread count to be down proof, you may not want to pay extra to have the highest thread counts, since you will probably going to be using a comforter cover anyway. to top What is baffle box construction, and why is it important? A baffle is a wall of fabric perpendicular to the top and bottom layers of the comforter fabric. The baffled walls allow the down to expand to its fullest potential for the highest loft and no cold spots. In other words, baffles help to give comforters the appearance of depth. Baffle box construction is of a higher quality than sewn-through stitching. to top Comforter Care Gently shake your new Comforter to air it out and refluff the Down. Since they are packaged tightly for shipping, it will take several days for the comforter to reach its full loft. Use a Duvet Cover to keep your Comforter cleaner, longer. Professionally dry clean for best results. Store your Down Comforter in a breathable bag, avoiding all plastic which will trap moisture & mildew. The need to redistribute the fill in your Down Comforter is a natural occurrence not a defect. Simply redistribute the Down by shaking it toward the area where you want it, or by laying the comforter on a flat surface and pushing the down to that area. In addition, being sealed in a plastic packaging sometimes caused the scent of these natural products to concentrate to a disagreeable level. A few hours of airing usually removes the odor. to top