Down vs. Wool Bedding: Which Is Better

From the moment we wake up, we find ourselves running at a fast pace as we try to tackle all of the obligations and responsibilities in our life. Instead of getting to awaken peacefully we likely woke up to the klaxon call of an alarm clock, startling us out of sleep. The leisurely morning breakfast is a thing for weekends only, and we're lucky to even grab something to eat as we run out the door. Once we get to work we find there are endless tasks awaiting us, and more projects and meetings than one should have to face.

It's no wonder that we are usually totally exhausted at the end of the day. With the hectic pace of our life and all of the stresses we take on, getting a good night's sleep is priceless. Sleep helps your body recover, soothes your nervous system and is a true gift to your body and your well-being. One of the best ways to help assure that you get the restful sleep you need each night is to select bedding and quilts that give you comfort all night long.

Look for a Hypoallergenic Filling

If you are susceptible to or suffer from allergies or skin conditions, then wool can be a far better choice than down filling. A pure wool quilt is naturally hypoallergenic, and can also repel the dust mites that can trigger allergies.

This is especially helpful for individuals who suffer from asthma. Since down is not hypoallergenic, it can be the wrong choice for anyone prone to allergies or skin sensitivity.

Regulating Moisture and Temperature

With a pure wool quilt you'll be able to naturally regulate the thermal conditions as you sleep. The qualities of wool allow it to draw any perspiration away and move it into the atmosphere. This creates a dry environment for your sleep.

Down can keep the moisture trapped, and result in more humid surroundings. This can also degrade the down, and cause clumping. People who are naturally warm sleepers may find that down makes it difficult to fall asleep.

Consider Kindness to Animals

Much of the world's down comes from production in China. Some years ago, a documentary revealed that some of the world's best down from that country came from live plucking ducks and geese. During this practice, the feathers are pulled from the birds while they are alive.

Wool, on the other hand, can be sheared from the sheep without harming them. This is far more humane, and produces a product that is still all natural and yet does not hurt the animals. Shearing is typically done only once or twice a year.

What Fabric Types Are Best for Sensitive Skin?

Life can often bring some unexpected challenges our way. Most of the time everything is purring along fairly well or perfectly, but there are those moments when a personal health issue might arise. People with sensitive skin know that this condition can really disrupt their life and take a lot of the joy away. These allergic skin reactions or disorders can be caused by a range of different health and environmental factors.

For some, contact with harsh household chemicals or even skin care products can trigger burning, redness, stinging or itchiness. Others report that their skin is uncomfortable, although they don't show visible reactions. Chronic conditions such as eczema or rosacea may be occurring, and in some cases extremely dry or even injured skin may be the problem. If you are suffering from any of these conditions, it's important to find out which fabric solutions are good for your skin.

High Quality Wool

Wool is a naturally occurring fibre that is non-allergenic. With a reversible wool underlay your bed will feel incredibly comfortable, which will help those with sensitive skin get the rest and healing that they need. The perfect quality underlay can make your bed feel like it's from a 5 star hotel.

One of the other benefits of a reversible wool underlay is that it can help keep your body temperature at a perfect level while you sleep. With the right temperature, you'll have a lot less tossing and turning and more restful sleep.

Organic Cotton

With organic cotton, you get a fabric that is ideal for sensitive skin and is also friendly for the environment. It is very soft and breathable, and durable yet lightweight. Those suffering from sensitive skin will appreciate that it will not irritate their condition.

Organic cotton undergoes less processing, and there are no chemicals used. The fibres are therefore stronger, so your clothes will last for a longer time and feel wonderful too.

Silk

Silk is another natural fiber that is suitable for those with sensitive skin. It's hypoallergenic, and has a specific and unique structure to its protein that helps to support your irritated skin.

When you wear silk it is supple and plump, which greatly benefits those with chronic or short-term skin conditions. Silk shirts or blouses will be gentle on your skin during the day. And you'll often find silk sheets, pillowcases and sleepwear that will feel wonderful throughout the night.

How Often Should You Change or Replace your Bedding

There are a lot of things you have to do to keep your home looking great and feeling fresh. Some things you have to do each season, while others are done each year or in longer cycles. All in all, the simple tasks and keeping up with updates to your home space can keep your refuge looking beautiful and feeling comfortable for you and your family.

Some things you need to do for your home are important rituals that usher in a new time of year. For instance, there is spring cleaning which comes at a time or renewal and rebirth. It's the perfect opportunity to open the windows and let new air in and do a deep and thorough cleaning. It's amazing how that effort makes your home feel like new again. Even smaller changes, like replacing or changing your bedding, can make a big difference in how you feel.

With the Change of Seasons

As you transition from fall to winter, and emerge from the chill of winter to greet the spring, you may want to change your bedding. When the leaves fall from the trees and the first chill pierces the air, it may be time to bring out the flannel or smooth sateen sheets. As another consideration, the tighter weave of higher thread count sheet fabrics also helps with warmth.

When the days get longer and summertime approaches, opt for more cooling sheets with thread counts in the 180 to 280 range. You might also consider a reversible wool underlay, which has wool on one side for winter warmth and cotton on the other for summer cooling.

When You Are Updating the Bedroom Decor

Another great time to replace or refresh your bedding is when you are updating your bedroom decor. A new duvet cover, sheets and pillow cases can bring a flash of color or soothing feeling to your sleeping sanctuary.

As you bring in your new design elements, you might also consider upgrading the comfort of your bed. With a new reversible wool underlay you'll sleep better through the night and will be comfortable all year long.

As Time Goes By

Even the best bedding products eventually wear down and need to be replaced. As a general rule of thumb, sheets will need to be replaced after two years of use although luxury sheets like percale and sateen may go an extra year.

New pillows should be purchased every year or two. If your duvet cover is separated from your skin by a top sheet, it could last five years. Quality duvets, especially with a cover, could last from 5 to 25 years.

How To Save Money When Buying Bedding

With inflation soaring out of control, it's more important than ever to keep an eye on our spending and make sure we get the most for our money. Everything, from food and fuel to household essentials seems to be going up in price. This leaves hard-working people looking for ways to save money while at the same time still getting to enjoy some of the finer things in life.

One of the ways you can keep spending aligned with your budget is to be smart about your buying habits. You have to be a savvy shopper in these trying inflationary times.

Buy Directly From the Manufacturer

When you buy an item at a department store or a specialty boutique, you are paying a high price for all the middlemen involved in the transaction. In addition to compensating the original manufacturer, you also have to pay for the services of a wholesaler or distributor, and then the department store itself. The store adds a big markup because it has to pay for all of its own physical overhead, employee costs and advertising.

If you want to save a lot of money on your bedding purchases, plan on buying directly from the manufacturer. You can get top quality items like a machine washable wool underlay online for a fraction of the money you'd spend for a highly marked up item at the department store.

Buy Quality Products That Could Last a Lifetime

Sometimes people try to save money by buying cheap products that don't cost much up front. Unfortunately, when you make a purchase like that you rarely get the quality you deserve and you just wind up throwing the item away all too soon.

By investing in a quality product from a well-reviewed manufacturer, you'll find that your overall cost of ownership will be much less since the item could last you for many years. Instead of buying cheap, poorly-made bedding that you'll just have to get rid of, invest your hard earned money in a machine washable wool underlay that could last you for a lifetime.

Shop the Seasons and Big Sales

You can save a considerable amount on your bedding purchases if you look for the big sales that often occur on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and in the month of November. During these times, there is tremendous consumer buying going on so manufacturers and department stores alike are incented to offer special pricing.

It's also possible to save a lot of money if you purchase items in the off-season. For instance, if you are looking for a heavy quilt or similar bedding items, see if there is a sale of them during the warmer, summer months.

4 Reasons why Bedding Makes a Great Gift

 

When shopping for gifts, it can be hard to find something unique, affordable, and practical. You want to give your special someone something that they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves. You want to give them something that they’ll use and appreciate. You’d hate to think of your gift being put in storage and left there to gather dust, right? With high quality bedding, you won’t have that problem, as it’s the most practical and beautiful gift you could give. Let’s find out why;

 

We all need bedding

 

We’re all guilty of not spending money on the things that we use every day. We’ll complain about having to buy an expensive pair of running shoes or a high quality mattress but we won’t complain about paying for Netflix. Sound familiar? This is the reason why gifting high quality bedding is such a great idea. It’s not something we’d normally buy for ourselves but it’s something we’ll use every day.

 

It’s easy to buy

 

As long as you know the size of the recipient’s bed, you can order the bedding online and get it delivered to your home/their home. Prices vary from store to store but you get what you pay for when it comes to shopping for underlays, sheets, doonas, pillow cases and covers. Top tip; look online for a wool quilt sale or end of season clearout and bag yourself a bargain.

 

It’s a unique gift 

 

Not many people give the gift of bedding so it can be quite a unique one. For the best impact, choose a colour and pattern that you know your special someone will love.

 

Bedding lasts a long time

 

Not only is bedding a useful and thoughtful gift, but it also lasts a long time. When it’s well-kept and washed regularly taking the right instructions into account, high quality bedding can last for years. This makes it a very good gift choice for newly weds, someone who is just moving into a new home and for someone who is re-decorating.

 

There are many reasons why bedding is a perfect gift, so why not hit the wool quilt sales and end of season sales and see what amazing finds are out there? You might just find the ideal gift for that special someone in your life. Birthdays, anniversary’s, Christmas, Mother’s Day – bedding is the way to go!