You know you want a bed that promises a night of great sleep, warmth, and comfort, but you know that it can cost a lot of money, not to mention the time and willpower to maintain the beddings, pillows, blankets, and comforters.

But sometimes the best way to get a good night’s sleep is a little sacrifice of your money and time. You don’t have to buy the top blankets and pillows; all you need is to get the best queen down comforters you can afford.

But how do you care for it when you get one? And how do you choose the one that is well-suited for you? Let’s look at your options that will help you make a good decision and teach you how to care for such an important investment in your bedroom.

Know More About Down

The first step is to understand what is down. This is a filling of feathers found under the protective layer of upper feathers on a duck or goose. Often down is softer than the outer feathers, and they have a fluffy filament that can trap air and heat.

On live ducks and geese it acts as an insulation that is light, which allows these animals to fly. They also help to allow perspiration to breathe out of the animals’ skin, allowing them to feel cooler.

Down when used in pillows and comforters are classified according to quality, known as fill power. A higher fill power, such as 650 and above, indicates a high quality of the down, while a lower one indicates lower quality.

High quality down would exhibit very little lumpiness, and could stay more durable as it can trap more air as insulation. Low quality down would have more clumps and exhibit less loft and insulation.

Choosing the Right Comforter

A down comforter is also called a duvet, often filled with down or feathers to help you stay warm and comfortable in your bed. Queen down comforters are meant for queen sized beds, and often have the best down filling for better comfort and insulation, without feeling heavy on the bed or body.

People prefer down comforters as they provide more warmth during the winter season, and are quite breathable and light. The highest quality of down, such as Eider down, can be quite expensive, as it can be used even in warmer months as it is breathable.

There are three types of filling you can choose for your queen down comforter. They are:

Goose Down

The highest quality and the most popular, goose down can come from several goose species, the most popular of which is Hungarian goose down.  Goose down has clusters that are larger, and they can be difficult to collect, which accounts for the higher price.

Adult goose have the softest and most comfortable dow, which provides the high fill power needed for a comforter. Check the label for the source of the down, choose a fill power that is 800 or above.

Duck Down

Though it has smaller clusters than goose down, certain species of duck are very popular and more affordable. Eiderdown comes mostly from Iceland, and is considered the highest quality when it comes to duck down.

Down and Feathers

If you want a more affordable comforter, there are down and feather combinations that are still comfortable and soft. The softness is similar to a feather pillow, but insulation and warmth might not be as much as those with down filling.

Choose a down filling that will suit your budget and bed.

Maintaining Your Down Comforter

Read the instructions on the tag and repair holes.

Before you wash your comforter, you need to read the instructions on the labels or tags. Look for stitching that is worn or any holes along the edges, and repair them before you wash the comforter. This will prevent down from leaking out of the comforter.

Use the gentle cycle when using a washing machine.

Use a gentle or delicate cycle when laundering down comforters, and only use a small amount on your load. Use lukewarm water, and take another rinse cycle to remove all detergents from the down. It’s also best to choose detergents that are specifically made for down items.

Make a Down Comforter Worthy of Your Investment

Once you know what is your down comforter of choice, you can make it a part of your bedroom investment and know how to care for it property. Know which kind of down suits you, and choose one with the fill power that suits your budget and comfort level requirements.