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Goose Down Goose Feather Positive Qualities of Down Very effective insulator Naturally breathable Very light Low bulk when compressed Long lifetime Negative Qualities of Down High capital cost Not considered easy-care, as washing down bedding in a domestic machine is not recommended

• The region from where the down is grown. For example, Hungarian goose down is considered to be amongst the finest down available.
• The mix of pure down clusters and small feathers. All down duvets and pillows contain some fine feathers in the fill. Indeed, the only way to produce 100% down is to extract the small feathers by hand, which is virtually impossible, and cannot be achieved under the normal commercial manufacturing process.

The fillings of the three Goose Down duvets, available from The Fine Bedding Company, comprise of the following down to feather percentages:

• The Goose Down Duvet: 60% white goose down with 40% fine white feathers – soft and light.
• The 80% Premium Goose Down Duvet: 80% white goose down with 20% fine white feathers – very soft and light. Please note this goose down duvet is only available with the following insulation ratings: 3.0 tog or a 10.5 tog.
• The Lysoft® Hungarian Goose Down Duvets: 90% white Hungarian goose down with 10% fine white goose feathers – the softest and lightest natural duvet available, making it the most expensive of the 3 qualities of goose down duvet.

Exactly the same grading applies to goose down pillows. The ultra soft down fill of a Hungarian Goose Down Pillow (90% white Hungarian goose down with 10% fine white goose feathers) is considered better quality and therefore more expensive than standard Goose Down Pillows (60% white goose down with 40% fine white feathers).

How to Care for Down

Down duvets and pillows should be carefully maintained to keep their performance. If down bedding is kept clean, you'll get unparalleled performance for many years.

Before you use your natural duvet, shake it well to loft up the down. By doing so, you will eliminate any cold spots.

What’s the best way to protect my down duvet / pillow?
Keep your down duvet or pillow covered with a duvet cover or pillowcase to protect them from the oils in your skin; these break down fabric, making it brittle and staining it yellow. Using a quilted pillow protector will give your pillow an extra layer of protection and help prolong the life of your pillow. Wash your bed linen once a week. If, however, you use a flat sheet as well as a duvet cover, you won't have to wash the duvet cover quite as often. Should your duvet have a problem area, you can spot-wash it using a mild liquid detergent. But be sparing, for if you use too much detergent you won’t be able to get the suds out.

What’s the best way to protect my feather and down mattress topper?
A mattress protector, whether pure cotton, fibre-filled, anti-allergy or waterproof, acts just like the fitted sheet you place over your mattress. These enhancers and/or protectors keep body oil, dust and dander from dirtying your feather and down mattress topper.

Bedding protectors are easy to pull off and toss in the wash, giving you fresh, clean bedding every night.

Allergy Questions

Are allergies to dust mites more prevalent in down bedding?
Contrary to popular belief down bedding is not a preferred habitat for house dust mites. Nor does down or feather provide any nutrients for mites. So with normal care, hardly any dust mites are found in down bedding due to the following reasons:

• The tightly woven cotton cover fabric represents an almost impenetrable barrier for dust mites (though they are still able to penetrate through the stitching holes, and do so).
• The humid climatic conditions required by dust mites for survival and growth are not provided by down bedding, i.e. the rapid accumulation of warmth, whilst the person is sleeping, with the rapid decrease in humidity when the room is aired.

What is the white dust-like powder that appears when I shake my down duvet?
Dust mites, dander and feather dust (produced as the feather and down gradually break down with use) are what make up the white, dust-like powder that appears when you shake your down duvet. It is this dust that is the cause of most allergies and irritations. By giving the bedding a quick shake, the irritants that can make you feel stuffy and itchy will be removed.

Why are those allergic to dust mites generally advised against using down bedding?
The reason allergy sufferers are advised to use fibre-filled bedding, rather than down bedding, lies primarily in the easy-care qualities of the synthetic equivalents. As far as practicality is concerned, it is difficult for a down duvet to compete with a duvet such as the Spundown duvet, where the micro-fibre filling is so highly compressible that all sizes of duvet fit into a domestic washing machine. It may also be washed at 60°C, the temperature that kills dust mites. Unfortunately, down bedding is not easy to wash and dry at home.

Cleaning Down Duvets and Pillows

Through careful washing you can extend the effective lifespan of your down duvet or pillow and enjoy a clean and fresh feeling every night.

How often should I have my down duvet cleaned?
Once a year should be adequate. But if you use the same duvet all year round then twice a year would be more advisable.

What's the best way to clean a down duvet or pillow?
Although many manufacturers claim that you can wash down duvets and pillows in your machine, we do not recommend you do so as it is very difficult to achieve a good result. Down filled duvets and pillows aren’t easy to dry properly, so they tend to lose their loft, that’s their wonderfully light, fluffy shape. So, unless you have an extra-capacity washing machine, like those available at laundrettes, we strongly recommend you have your down bedding commercially laundered.

Should you choose to wash your down duvet or pillows, do not use regular laundry detergent as this can harm the downs’ natural construction and loft. Liquid detergent is the best product to use as it removes oil and dirt without harming the natural fill. A good idea is to wash down pillows covered in about 4 pillowcases (to stop any small feathers from escaping and getting into your washing machine). Down bedding should definitely not be washed on a hot cycle, but in warm water on a gentle cycle.

Whatever method you choose, be certain that all items are thoroughly dry before returning them to the bed or storing.

How do I dry my down bedding?
Down bedding products should be dried slowly and thoroughly. Using too high a temperature setting can scorch the cotton cover. Place bedding in the dryer for at least two full runs, shaking between cycles to make sure all parts of the bedding are being dried. Do not remove from the dryer until you are sure the item is dried. If you take it out of the dryer before bedding is fully dried the down won’t smell very pleasant and can mildew.

How do I clean my feather and down mattress topper?
Feather and down mattress toppers cannot be washed at home and if properly protected using a mattress protector and sheet should not require cleaning.

Would it be better to dry clean my down bedding?
We DO NOT recommend dry-cleaning ANY down product. The chemicals used within dry-cleaning fluids can damage down and shorten its life.

Storing Down

One of the great things about down is that it is highly compressible when packed. However, tight packing of down products for routine storage should be avoided. Down duvets, pillows or mattress toppers should be stored well aired in a ‘breathable’ cotton bag, never in plastic.