Is A Goose Down Duvet Right For You?

A duvet is a quilt usually stuffed with feathers or down. The word Duvet is French, and means “down” as in goose down.

In Hungary, golden geese are protected. Down is collected as it has been for centuries. Specially bred geese naturally molt and shed their feather down which is harvested without harm to the birds. Therefore, Hungarian goose down duvets are often the choice product of many animal conscious groups and advocates. Hungarian goose down is supple, soft, and resilient.

Conversely, anyone familiar with Discovery Channel’s show Dirty Jobs may have watched Mike Rowe remove goose wings, with a saw, to pluck goose feathers for down products. In Canada, geese are not protected. Many websites do not make the distinction for you, that Hungarian geese are protected and unharmed.

While the term Hungarian goose down is a broad term meaning simply goose down that come from Hungarian white geese, Siberian Goose Down, according to the Down Association of Canada, is a brand or trade name. There is a Siberian goose, also known as the red breasted goose. It is black and red mostly, clearly not the pristine prized white that a white goose down duvet is made with.

Since actually very little to no white goose down comes from Siberia, many reputable down product manufacturers warn consumers about companies that claim to sell Siberian goose down duvets or Siberian goose down products without explaining that it is a brand name, not a type of down, like Hungarian goose down duvet.

A duvet’s warmth is measured in “togs.” A tog is a unit of thermal resistance. A duvet rated 7.5 tog or lower is lighter and probably used for Spring or Fall. A goose down duvet that is rated 10.5 tog or higher is a good heavy weight duvet for winter use. A goose down duvet comforter can be used year round, as long as it's the right tog for your climate and season.

You can protect your goose down duvets with a variety of duvet covers. Most are machine wash, tumble dry, making it easy to keep and care for them while protecting your expensive down filled duvet.

To clean your goose down duvet, dry cleaning is often recommended. Most goose down duvets can be machine washed with caution. White goose down can stain, so it is recommended you do not use bleach, you do not use detergent with dye, and that you do not use fabric softener. Gentle cycle with cold water in a non-agitating washing machine is preferred. Drying can be tricky since the duvet will tend to pocket, trapping moisture and wetness. A thorough and complete drying is essential to avoid mold. You can tumble dry your duvet on low, taking it out to reshape and refold it to accommodate all areas. Additionally, you should hang your duvet out to dry completely where it can be aired all over for at least a day or two. The less you wash your goose down comforter the longer it will last, so a duvet cover is recommended.

Since overheating is suspect in SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – it is not recommended that any baby sleep in a goose down bed, or with goose down pillows or duvets. SIDS is still a mystery to medical science. No one knows for sure what causes or triggers it. But the latest studies indicate babies that sleep without soft bedding, with a fan, and placed on their backs have the lowest odds of suffering from SIDS. Babies can not regulate their body temperature, and some people believe it is overheating that is at the core of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

If you’re in the market, check for a goose down duvet sale wherever they’re sold. Places like LL Bean, Pottery Barn, HSN, and QVC are known for their quality linens products. But they are also known for dining room tables, art sets, camping equipment, closet organizers and furniture.

When it comes to goose down, you may want to check out some of the goose down specific shops online, such as www.sleepindown.com. Www.plumeriabay.com is packed with the highest quality down products and information on their keep and history. You may have to hit your money safe to afford one of these highest quality Hungarian goose down duvets, but they really are worth the investment.

If you shop with www.hungariangoosedown.com you are sure to be buying Hungarian goose down, which means no birds were harmed or killed in the manufacturing of your product. Products are manufactured in Budapest Hungary, but with their convenient warehouse in North Carolina, your shipping costs to the USA are pretty reasonable. www.hungariancomforters.com and www.down-feather-bedding.com also offer a wide variety of Hungarian goose down products including goose down duvet uk.