How to choose a blanket by filler for all seasons

Household products

Sleep takes up about a third of our lives. Mood, well-being, the functioning of the immune system, performance and appearance of a person depend on its quality. Therefore, it is so important to choose the bedding that can provide us with the greatest comfort during sleep.

how to choose a blanket

The best blanket manufacturers – which company to choose

When buying a blanket, it is best to focus on trusted manufacturers. Choosing a suspiciously cheap item from the 'No name' brand can have negative health consequences.

It happens that unscrupulous manufacturers make bedding from low-grade materials that have low hygroscopicity (ability to pass moisture) and low air permeability. As a result, a person sweats a lot, and a microclimate with high temperature and humidity is formed under the blanket. In addition, when dyeing textiles, toxic substances can be used, which, getting on the skin and in the respiratory tract, cause allergies, and also increase the likelihood of developing respiratory and neurological diseases.

The best blanket makers are

  1. Ecotex;

  2. Togaz;

  3. Sluggard;

  4. German grass;

  5. Nature's;

  6. SN-Textile;

  7. Cleo;

  8. OL-TEX;

  9. Kariguz;

  10. Primavelle;

  11. Darger.

The products of these companies are tested in independent laboratories before entering the market. Blankets are tested for durability, hygroscopicity, safety, presence of toxic substances, etc. All products of these manufacturers are certified.

Types of blankets

Duvet

Duvet

Down bedding is soft and light. They retain heat well, provide optimal air exchange and absorb moisture.

The properties of the blanket are influenced by the ratio of down and feather in the product. The more fluff there is in the filler, the better the product is. The most expensive extra-class bedding contains 100% down, products of the first category – 70-90% down, semi-down – up to 70%.

Advantages

  • Low weight;

  • Durability (up to 20 years of use).

  • Allows the skin to breathe, create an optimal microclimate for humans;

  • Good thermal insulation properties;

disadvantages

  • Dust mites can live in the down – the cause of the development of allergic reactions: allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, etc.

  • Down padding absorbs moisture well, which can cause the blanket to become 'damp'.

Swan down blankets are a separate type of down products. Swan down is a synthetic fiber that is lightweight, resilient and hypoallergenic. Dust mites and other dangerous microorganisms will not start in it. In addition, it does not clump and keeps its shape well. But such a filler does not absorb moisture well (a person sweats more under it) and provides insufficient air circulation. If used in a warm environment, it may overheat.

Blanket

Blanket

Wool bedding is very popular. And no wonder – they are warm, durable and hygroscopic. In production, the wool of sheep, camel and cashmere goat down is most often used:

  1. Camel wool has medicinal properties. It is believed to help with stress, promote health, positively affect blood flow and help patients with skin and joint diseases. However, some brands refer to the product as 'camel wool', when in fact the fill is made of synthetic fibers. This 'minor' nuance is usually reported on the label in small print.

  2. Sheep wool, like camel wool, has medicinal properties, but it is heavier than camel wool and requires regular dry cleaning.

  3. The undercoat of the Kashmiri goat is an expensive and high quality filler. It is very warm and light, does not cause allergic reactions and is easy to maintain. Some cashmere blankets can be machine washed.

It should be noted that cashmere bedding is a premium product. They have the highest cost. The most budget models are made of sheep wool.

Advantages

  • Medicinal properties;

  • Sweat and odor disappear quickly.

  • Durability – wool products can be used for decades;

  • Good thermal insulation properties;

  • Woolen blankets absorb well (about a third of their weight) and remove moisture;

disadvantages

  • Dust mites may appear;

  • Camel wool blankets and Kashmir goat undercoat are expensive.

  • Such items are the favorite 'dish' of the moth;

Silk blanket

Silk blanket

Silk products are pleasant to the body, breathe well and remove moisture. They can be a good alternative to woolen and down bedding, as they do not harbor allergic microorganisms. The thermal insulation properties of such products depend on the amount of filler.

Advantages

  • Excellent shape retention;

  • Suitable for allergy sufferers;

  • With proper care, the service life is more than 10 years;

  • They are highly hygroscopic;

disadvantages

  • High price;

  • They require special care – they need to be dry cleaned and periodically ventilated.

  • Down and woolen blankets provide better warmth;

Bamboo blanket

Bamboo blanket

Bamboo fiber can be used as stuffing. It is resistant to mold, dust mites and other microorganisms, making it great for allergy sufferers. Bamboo blankets are easy to clean – they are designed to be machine washed.

It should be noted that the replicated beneficial properties of bamboo fibers (rejuvenation, reduction of muscle pain, the penetration of useful vitamins and amino acids under the human skin, etc.) have not been scientifically proven.

What's more, most of the bamboo blankets on the market are not bamboo at all. The 'Bamboo' or 'Bamboo' label is used as a marketing ploy, and in fact the products are composed of polyester and rayon fibers, or a combination of synthetic materials and bamboo.

Advantages

  • They are lightweight;

  • Absorb and release moisture well;

  • They have high strength;

  • Kills about 70% of bacteria;

  • Do not lead to the development of allergic reactions;

disadvantages

  • Down and wool blankets provide better warmth;

  • Combined products made of bamboo and synthetic fibers have a short service life (no more than 3-4 years);

  • It's hard to find a blanket on the market with a filling that really consists of 100% bamboo fiber.

Cotton blanket

Cotton blanket

Cotton or cotton filling is an environmentally friendly material. It does not cause allergies and warms well in winter.

Advantages

  • Warms up quickly and retains heat well;

  • Differs in high hygroscopicity;

  • Has an affordable price;

disadvantages

  • Cannot be machine washed;

  • Large weight – from 1.5 kg. The warmer the blanket, the heavier it is. For example, a 140×205 product with 4 layers of batting will weigh about 5 kg, and a blanket of the same size with 2 layers will weigh about 3 kg.

  • Poorly keeps its shape;

  • Over time, the filler gets lost in lumps;

  • Dries for a long time;

Synthetic blanket

Synthetic blanket

Such products are absolutely harmless to health, as they do not get dust mites, mold, fungi, etc. They have high wear resistance, unpretentious care. Most often used in the production of blankets:

  1. Holofiber – 100% polyester. It is very soft, lightweight and keeps its shape well.

  2. Eco-fiber is an environmentally friendly filler. resembling holofiber in its properties. It also consists of polyester, but differs from holofiber in the density and thickness of the fibers.

  3. Comforrel – similar in properties to 'swan's down'. Has the longest service life of all synthetic fillers.

  4. Thinsulate (artificial fluff) – has a small weight, but it warms very well. It should not be used during the warmer months.

Advantages

  • Durability;

  • Products can be machine washed, they dry quickly and do not damp;

  • Little weight;

  • Good thermoregulatory properties;

  • Affordable price;

  • Hypoallergenic;

disadvantages

  • Can be electrified;

  • They have low hygroscopicity.

The main criteria for choosing a blanket

blanket selection criteria

The size

Blankets are available for children, one-and-a-half and double.

  1. One and a half sleeping models are designed for one person, as a rule, their width is 140 cm, and their length is 205 cm (according to GOST). If the one-and-a-half blanket is Euro standard, then its width will be 155 cm, and its length – 215 cm

  2. For two people, you should choose a product 200×220 or 172×205 – these parameters correspond to GOST, which means that it will be easier to buy bed linen for them.

  3. Children's products are most often 120×120 and 110×140 cm.

Despite the existing standards, the sizes of blankets from manufacturers can vary greatly. Therefore, when buying, pay attention not to the marking 'one and a half' or 'double', but to the actual dimensions of the product.

Case

Choose a cover made from natural fabrics (cotton, linen, silk). This will increase the durability of the product, and the blanket itself will be more pleasant to the body. It is important that the cover is breathable and moisture absorbing.

For winter or summer

When choosing a blanket, it is important to determine the degree of warmth. It corresponds to the density of the filler per square meter and is indicated on the label in the form of suns or dots. The more filler, the more suns.

  1. One sun means that the blanket is suitable for summer.

  2. Two dots mean the duvet is breathable and suitable for warm environments.

  3. Three suns show that the product can be used at any time of the year.

  4. Four dots mean the product is suitable for use in poorly heated spaces.

  5. Five suns indicate that the blanket is very warm. It will warm you in the most severe frosts.

Which blanket to buy – tips for choosing

When buying a duvet, pay attention to the type of filler. In production, goose down is most often used. It is weightless, fluffy and warm. Sometimes cheap models contain duck down and feathers. Such a filler is quite heavy, it often rolls into lumps. Loon down is considered the most expensive, rare and of high quality – it has excellent thermal insulation properties, good hygroscopicity, softness and lightness.

When shopping for fluff and synthetic fillings, choose cassette rather than quilted models. The filler in these blankets is contained in special sections. It spreads evenly over the product and does not collect in the corners. In quilts, the filler can move to form empty, non-insulated areas.

If you are prone to allergic reactions, choose blankets with silk, bamboo, cotton or synthetic filling.

Woolen blankets are a great choice for older people with joint pain and heat-loving people.

How much does the blanket cost

  1. The cheapest are batting blankets. Their cost varies from 600 to 1500 rubles, but some models can cost 4000-6000 rubles.

  2. The cost of products made from synthetic fillers is about 550-10,000 rubles.

  3. Grade A Mulberry is considered the highest quality silk, and Tussa is the most affordable. Often these varieties are combined, and the price of the product depends on the amount of this or that silk in the filler. Sometimes a synthetic filler is added to silk fibers. Mulberry products are usually 5-6 times more expensive than Tussa blankets. On the Russian market there are silk models from 2,500 to 50,000 rubles, but there may be premium class products for 500,000 rubles.

  4. Prices for down products range from 3,000 to 50,000 rubles. The better the down and the more its content in the filler (in comparison with the feather), the higher the cost.

  5. The price for woolen blankets is 550-45,000 rubles

  6. Products labeled 'Bamboo' can cost 400–25,000 rubles. The more expensive the blanket is, the more likely it is that the filler actually contains bamboo fibers.

In the following articles, our experts tell you how to choose bed linen and the secrets of choosing a mattress – compare fillers.

Blanket selection video


Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.

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