Down pillow | Mister Sandman

For whom are down pillows suitable?

Down or feathers in the pillow: What is better?

The down pillow 80x80 or down cushion 80x80 is the classic among the pillows 80x80. Even though the pillow with down in the traditional size 80x80 is increasingly being replaced by smaller pillows with different fillings and sizes, such as 40x80, on the recommendation of orthopedists, down pillows or down cushions 80x80 are still among the best-selling pillows and cushions 80x80 in Germany. Many people in Germany like to sleep soft and cozy. Down pillows or feather pillows are exactly that: soft and cozy.

Down pillows and feather pillows

The term down pillow/down cushion 80x80 is sometimes used synonymously with the term feather pillow 80x80. Pillows 80x80 with down or feather filling usually contain a mixture of down and feathers. Depending on the filling variant of the pillows and cushions 80x80, that is, what proportion of feathers and down the pillow 80x80 has, the correct designation is either down pillow/down cushion or feather pillow. The most common filling variants for down pillows/down cushions 80x80 and feather pillows 80x80 are:

Pillows and cushions 80x80 with a filling of 30% down and 70% feathers
Pillows and cushions 80x80 with a filling of 15% down and 85% feathers
Pillows and cushions 80x80 with a filling of 10% feathers and 90% down
Pillows and cushions 80x80 with a filling of 10% down and 90% feathers

What is a feather pillow?

For pillows and cushions with a down content of under 15%, one speaks of a feather pillow. In principle, it applies:

The higher the down content of the pillows and cushions, the higher the quality of the pillow or cushion with down filling.

High-quality down pillows match excellently with the Mister Sandman mattresses Liara, Anea and Serena. The Mister Sandman mattress finder recommends one of the mattress models based on personal information. These are tested for harmful substances and manufactured in Germany. Additionally, Mister Sandman offers a 10-year warranty on its premium mattresses.

What is a down pillow?

For down pillows/duvet pillows 80x80 or 40x80, it is not only about the down content in the pillow or cushion, but also about the question of which bird species and from which world region the feathers or down for the pillow/cushion originate:

Duck down and duck feathers as pillow filling
Goose down and goose feathers as pillow filling

Properties of duck down

Duck down and feathers differ in their properties from goose down and goose feathers. Additionally, the quality of the pillows and the properties of the down pillows are influenced by the region from which these waterfowl originate. Generally, it is considered:

The colder the region (Iceland, Siberia, Canada), the higher the quality of the down and feathers of the birds, the higher the quality of the pillows and cushions with feathers and down (down pillows)

Premium down

The highest quality down in the world comes from the Icelandic eider duck. The eider duck is protected by nature and therefore lives exclusively in the wild. This means that the premium down of the eider duck can only be collected from the abandoned nests of the bird for premium pillows (premium down pillows). Down pillows with this premium down filling are correspondingly positioned in the highest price segment. However, to achieve restful sleep, it is not necessary to buy a pillow with an astronomical price. Pillows with down and feathers that are cheaper in price can also provide a peaceful sleep.

Duck down and duck feathers in down pillows 80x80

The higher the proportion of feathers in a pillow or cushion, the greater the support power of the pillows and cushions. Feathers, whether goose feathers or duck feathers, have a high tensile and support strength compared to down. Feathers, goose feathers, and duck feathers spring back when compressed. In pillows and cushions, including down pillows, feathers provide the necessary support strength of the pillows and cushions. Goose feathers and duck feathers have different properties.

Duck feathers in pillows and cushions are delicate
Duck feathers in pillows and cushions taper to a point
Duck feathers in pillows and cushions are strongly curved

Properties of goose down

In contrast to duck feathers, goose feathers have different properties:

Goose feathers in pillows and cushions have a blunt quill
Goose feathers in pillows and cushions are strongly curved
Goose feathers in pillows and cushions have a stocky shape

Properties of down pillows 80x80, 40x80, 40x40

Pillows with a down and/or feather filling have very specific pillow properties. However, these pillow properties depend on the respective proportion of down and feathers in the pillow or down pillow and determine whether it is a premium pillow or premium pillow.

Premium down in down pillows 80x80, 40x40, 40x80

A down is a feather with very long, soft feather branches. Down is found in most bird species under the plumage and provides thermal insulation there.

Down in pillows is very elastic
Down in pillows is very light
Down weight depends on the bird species, e.g., duck down or goose down
Down in pillows traps more air due to its three-dimensional structure than feathers
Down in pillows provides excellent thermal insulation
Down in pillows is very breathable
Down can absorb 14x as much moisture in pillows as polyester fibers

Quality and down size

The quality of down depends on down size and down elasticity. The larger the down, the higher the quality of the down pillows. Down pillows with goose down are usually of higher quality than pillows with duck down (exception: eider down). For the quality of the pillows, the fill power, i.e., the amount of down used in the pillows, is also decisive:

Head pillows with a filling of 100% down,
Head pillows with a down content of 10% (feather content 90%)
Head pillows with a down content of 15% (feather content 85%)
Head pillows with a down content of 30% (feather content 70%)
Head pillows with a down content of 40% (feather content 60%)

Down comforters are filled differently than down head pillows

Down head pillows are filled differently than down comforters, as different properties are required for pillows and head pillows than for down comforters:

Down in down comforters should provide an extra warm sleeping climate
Down comforters should be extra soft and light
Down in down comforters should provide an extra cuddly feeling

Support power of down pillows

Pillows (80x80, 40x40, 40x80) and head pillows (80x80, 40x40, 40x80) should support the head while sleeping and thus provide a comfortable lying position. With pillows and head pillows filled with 100% down, there is no support from the pillows and head pillows. Even though head pillows with 100% down filling are offered as premium head pillows, these pillows are unsuitable for the sleeping style of most people, side sleepers for example. People who sleep on their side (side sleepers) need a pillow or head pillow with high support. A down pillow is therefore not well suited for side sleepers. People with this sleeping style should refrain from purchasing down pillows with 100% down filling and instead buy a down pillow with a certain percentage of feathers, as otherwise restful sleep is not possible.

Feather content and down content in pillows

Down pillows or feather pillows can have very different proportions of down and feathers. Here is a small overview:

Pillows or feather pillows with a down content of 10% (90% feathers)
Pillows or down pillows with a down content of 15% (85% feathers)
Pillows or down pillows with a down content of 30% (70% feathers)
Pillows or down pillows with a down content of 40% (60% feathers)
Pillows or feather pillows with a feather content of 90% (10% down)
Pillows or down pillows with a feather content of 70% (30% down)
Pillows or down pillows with a feather content of 40% (60% down)

Down pillows for stomach sleepers

Only stomach sleepers can benefit from a pillow with 100% down filling while sleeping, as they should use a very flat pillow for sleeping. If you have a different sleeping style, you should buy pillows with a certain percentage of feathers to provide the necessary support for a restful sleep. Because for a restful sleep, tensions in the body caused by an unnatural sleeping position should be avoided as much as possible.

Goose down in down pillows is of higher quality than duck down

Goose down is of higher quality compared to duck down. This naturally not only affects the quality of the pillows but also the price of the down pillows.

Goose down in pillows and cushions is larger than duck down
Goose down in pillows and cushions have a higher filling power than duck down
Goose down in pillows and cushions have a higher insulation capacity than duck down

Goose down is of higher quality.

Goose down is generally of higher quality than duck down and therefore also has a higher price than duck down. However, high-quality duck down should always be preferred over low-quality goose down. The best pillow for sleeping should be determined personally through a lying test. Ultimately, one's own well-being decides the quality of sleep.

Goose down in down pillows is 100% natural pillows.

Goose down is 100% a natural material, which, like duck down, is excellent as filling for pillows and head pillows and promises a restful sleep. Goose down not only feels very soft and cuddly, but also gives pillows and head pillows special properties that ensure a good sleep:

Goose down is particularly breathable.
Goose down provides excellent thermal insulation.
Goose down does not have a hard quill like goose feathers, making it very soft.
Goose down has more volume compared to goose feathers and is particularly soft.

Pillowcase for down pillows 40x40 made of cotton.

The quality of down pillows 80x80, 40x40, and 40x80 is measured not only by the type of down used, the proportion of feathers, and the filling power, but also by the quality of the cover. The cover or shell of down pillows must fulfill several functions. On one hand, the cover material must be tightly woven so that down and feathers cannot escape from the pillow or head pillow. The cover should also not slip in the bedding. Additionally, the cover should be lightweight and snug.

The pillowcase of the down pillows must be tightly woven.
The pillowcase of the down pillows should not slip in the bedding.
The pillowcase of the down pillows should be lightweight.
The pillowcase of the down pillows should be snug.

Cotton for down pillow cover

A fabric that meets these criteria, thus reliably enclosing feathers and down, is cotton. Cotton has established itself as a cover for pillows, down pillows, and duvets with down and feathers. This is because cotton has fabric properties that are particularly suitable for a pillow cover or a pillow case for pillows with feather and down filling. However, to keep the down and feathers in the cover, not only the quality of the cotton (Mako cotton) is crucial for the cover, but also the weaving method that was applied to the fabric cover:

A pillow cover made of 100% cotton can be woven as percale
A pillow cover made of 100% cotton can be woven as Mako batiste
A pillow cover made of 100% cotton can be woven as down batiste
A pillow cover made of 100% cotton can be woven as satin

Especially Mako batiste (down batiste) is often used in bedding with a filling of feathers and down.

100% premium cotton for the down pillow cover

Mako is a premium cotton that was originally cultivated in Egypt. Mako cotton or Egyptian cotton is characterized by its fiber length. Mako cotton has a fiber length of 30mm to 40mm. This makes Mako cotton particularly durable and high-quality compared to other cotton. Mako cotton is therefore in high demand as a fabric for bed linen and pillow inserts:

The fiber length of Mako cotton is between 30 and 40mm
Mako cotton is particularly suitable for high-quality bed linen and premium bed linen
Mako cotton is particularly suitable for the cover of down pillows and feather pillows
Mako cotton is particularly durable as a cover for down pillows
A cover made of Mako cotton for down pillows is particularly high-quality and soft

Down batiste for down head pillows

100% premium cotton woven down batiste is particularly suitable for the cover of down head pillows/down pillows and comforters filled with down or down and feathers. Down batiste made from 100% cotton is finely woven and particularly dense. This way, down and feathers can be held particularly well in the cover of down pillows/down head pillows and comforters with down and feather filling.

Down head pillows are washable

In principle, it is possible to wash down head pillows and down comforters, with or without feathers, at home in the washing machine. However, washing down head pillows and down comforters with or without feathers is not entirely risk-free. Because if you want to clean your down pillow/down head pillow, with or without feathers, and you should regularly clean your down head pillow, you can easily make mistakes. To wash a down pillow/down head pillow with or without feathers at home, you need:

Products suitable for washing down and feathers (down shampoo)
Down pillows/down head pillows with or without feathers should be washed at 60 degrees.
Down pillows/down head pillows with or without feathers should not simply be dried on the clothesline.

Washing down pillows in the washing machine

In principle, down pillows should not be washed too often, as they are made of delicate material. Professional cleaning is recommended. If you still want to wash down head pillows in the washing machine, you should keep the following in mind:

Down pillows/down head pillows with or without feathers should be dried in the dryer at about 30 degrees in several cycles.
Down pillows/down head pillows with or without feathers should be checked for tears in the cover before washing.
The washing machine drum should provide enough space for the down pillow/down head pillow so that the feathers do not break during washing.

Down head pillows are suitable for house dust allergy sufferers under certain conditions.

Allergy sufferers can be allergic to down and feathers. Therefore, the use of down pillows, down head pillows, and comforters with down or a filling of feathers is excluded from the outset for allergy sufferers. It is different for a house dust allergy sufferer, as this type of allergy sufferer does not react to the keratin contained in feathers and down (goose down, goose feathers). House dust allergy sufferers react to the excretion of mites. There is a common assumption that down head pillows, down pillows, and comforters with a filling of feathers and down are unsuitable for house dust allergy sufferers.

Down head pillows can be provided with an encasing

Down pillows and pillows with down and feathers are said to be the perfect breeding ground for mites. In fact, mites do not feed on feathers and down, but on human skin flakes, which are found in mattresses and pillows. If a house dust allergy sufferer does not want to give up the comforts of down pillows and feather pillows, they should regularly clean their down pillow or feather pillow. House dust allergy sufferers can additionally cover the down pillow or feather pillow with a special cover that is mite-proof. Often, tightly woven fabrics are chosen for the covers of down pillows and feather pillows from the outset.

Pillow tips for house dust allergy sufferers:

Before purchasing pillows, allergy sufferers and house dust allergy sufferers should gather information about the suitability of pillows, feather pillows, and down pillows. Contrary to a widely held belief in Germany, feather pillows and down pillows/down head pillows, with or without feathers, like almost all other pillows, are well suited for house dust allergy sufferers.

Dust mite allergy sufferers should clean the down pillow or feather pillow regularly
Dust mite allergy sufferers should change their bedding regularly
Dust mite allergy sufferers should cover mattresses with a mite-proof cover (mattress encasing)
Dust mite allergy sufferers should replace their bedding at regular intervals

These tips should be fundamentally considered by dust mite allergy sufferers, regardless of whether they use a pillow or head pillow with down, a feather pillow with feathers, or a pillow with a completely different filling than down and feathers. To sleep well, not only dust mite allergy sufferers should pay attention to the quality of bedding when purchasing pillows, mattresses, or beds

Quality of bedding

The quality of bedding, such as down head pillows, can be assessed based on various points:

Mattresses and other products should be tested for harmful substances
Duvets, with or without down, should have a high-quality cover made of 100% cotton
Pillows, down pillows, feather pillows, neck support pillows should have a cover made of 100% cotton
Bedding should be durable and breathable and ideally made of 100% cotton
A mattress cover should ideally be made of 100% cotton, removable and washable
a high price does not always equate to high quality of sleeping pillows. The same applies to other bedding products

Down head pillows and animal protection

If you choose a sleeping pillow, a down pillow/down head pillow or feather pillow, you should be aware that some animals pay a high price for their feathers. Although live plucking is becoming less common in the harvesting of feathers and down, it is advisable to inquire before purchasing a feather pillow or down pillow or other products with feathers or down.