Differences Between Down Comforters & Comforters

Comfort and Warmth

• Down comforters are filled with the light fluffy coating found on the bellies of waterfowl underneath their feathers. Just as this down acts as a natural insulator for ducks and geese, keeping them warm, a down-filled comforter will envelope you, serving as the warmest and most lightweight bedding available. Alternative to down comforters are most often filled with 100 percent cotton or a cotton blend, and are heavier, bulkier and not as warm as their down-filled counterparts.

Care and Upkeep

• Shaking and fluffing a down-filled comforter should be a daily ritual to keep the down separated and help retain its loft. Additionally, covering your down-filled comforter with a duvet will keep it from getting soiled. Dry cleaning is the preferred cleaning method for a down comforter. Conversely, an alternative to down comforter requires minimum care. It does not require daily shaking, can oftentimes be machine-washed and tumble-dried repeatedly without any shrinkage, pillage or special care handling, and the use of a duvet is optional.

Allergic Reactions

• Even though the down used to construct down-filled comforters has been sanitized, it still can harbor dust, dirt or other allergens. This gives down-filled comforters the potential of triggering an allergic reaction. To ease this issue, some manufacturers utilize a specific cleaning process that removes the impurities from a down-filled comforter, making it hypoallergenic. Allergy-prone individuals do not usually have any allergic reaction to down alternative-filled comforters.

Affordability

• The cost of a down-filled comforter depends on several factors. The size, construction, down quality and quantity, and any special embellishments all play a role in determining the comforter's final cost and longevity. Down-filled comforters can be quite expensive but they can last up to 15 years or more when taken care of properly. Alternative to down-filled comforters are significantly less expensive but lack the longevity of down-filled comforters. Overall, however, the absence of down and its processing costs makes the alternative down comforter much more affordable.