Feather Comforter Vs. Silk Comforter

Construction

• Silk comforters are made with a layer of silk floss batting contained by casings, usually silk fabric. Silk comes from the salivary glands of caterpillars of the mulberry silkmoth, Bombyx mori. Caterpillars spin the silken cocoon to pupate in. The silk filaments are carefully unwound and used for batting or to weave into fabric. Feathers for feather comforters come from geese or ducks and can consist of flight feathers, which have a stiff central shaft, or down, which is a light, fluffy feather that grows under the flight feathers next to the bird's skin. Sometimes a combination of feathers and down is used. Down is the preferred filling. There are different qualities of down, with some of the best down coming from Europe and Canada. Feather fillings are enclosed in cotton casings, and the comforters are sewn in patterns to keep the feathers from migrating or bunching up with use.

Care and Maintenance

• Both kinds of comforters should be contained within duvet covers to prevent accumulation of body oils, dust, stains and wear. Duvet covers are like large pillowcases and can be removed and laundered as needed. Both silk and feather comforters need professional cleaning. Store feather comforters in a cloth bag without compressing the feathers. Silk comforters are traditionally renewed by sun cleaning. Put the comforter, still enclosed in its duvet cover, in the sun for an hour or two.

Allergy Considerations

• Feathers and down should be carefully cleaned by the manufacturer before being used as fillings, because dust and residue contained in them can cause allergies. For those sensitive to dust mites, feather comforters should be encased in dust mite covers, since feathers are susceptible to dust mite infestation. Silk comforters are naturally hypoallergenic and do not cause allergies or attract dust mites.

Weight and Loft

• Feather comforters come in a variety of weights, depending on the quality of the filling and the minimum temperature the user encounters. Comforters meant to shield against temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit are heavier than those built for warmer conditions. The loft of good quality down-filled comforters is excellent, but comforters filled with down from immature birds or with a combination of flight feathers and down can lose their loft. Silk comforters are lighter than feather comforters of similar insulating values. They are also available in a variety of weights, from one to six or more pounds per comforter, so choosing a comforter depends on the temperature in your bedroom. Silk comforters can lose some loft over time, and sun cleaning or tumble drying at very low heat for not more than 30 minutes can restore loft.