Duvet purchasing tips

Down

Nature has provided geese and ducks with perfect protection against the cold: feathers. Feathers consist of a system of air channels and air is a very efficient insulator. This makes feathers an ideal filling for duvets; air is trapped between the feathers, retaining heat and ensuring that ventilation is optimal at the same time.

Quality

Down (the smallest, soft feathers) and feathers come in various qualities. Down is lighter and warmer than feathers. Down and feathers are often mixed, with the rule being; the more down, the lighter and warmer the duvet. Also, the larger the feathers, the greater the chance that you will feel them through the bed linen.

Compartments

A duvet often has stitched compartments to prevent the duvet filling from collecting in one place over the course of time. Various methods are used for this, such as squares (carrés) or strips. However, stitching creates holes through which the down can escape. In order to avoid this, a method of thermofixation is used; a type of high-temperature gluing.

Ticking

The ticking of the duvet must be made of such a material that even the smallest feathers cannot pass through. A high quality cotton is normally used. This material absorbs moisture easily and releases it into the surrounding air.

Four seasons

There are different down duvets designed for the cool and for the hot parts of the year. Four season duvets, with or without two (or more) separable layers, are also available. You can get information about duvets in a specialist shop. Bear in mind that your personal preferences, next to quality, are of importance.

Wool

Up until the seventies, people in the Netherlands slept under blankets. These were usually made of wool. These days almost everyone uses a duvet. Wool, just like down and feathers, provides insulation. Furthermore, it absorbs moisture. However, wool is less supple and therefore it does not form as well to the body. Wool is also heavier than down. A mixture of wool and natural silk is sometimes used in thin summer duvets.

Synthetic fibres

Duvets can be made from many different synthetic fibres. These fibres can differ markedly in respect to weight, insulating ability, ventilation and durability. The disadvantage of synthetic fibres is that they usually ventilate less well than down or wool. An advantage of synthetic duvets is that they are often much cheaper than wool or down duvets; they can also be washed in the washing machine.

Duvet Information System (DIS)

The Stichting Promotie Dekbedden (foundation for the promotion of duvets) in cooperation with the Consumentenbond (consumers association) has developed a uniform quality standard for duvets; the Duvet Information System (DIS). The DIS label shows ten criteria that can help you when purchasing a duvet. The criteria are: model, size, ticking, filling weight, warmth class, weight class, user and washing instructions and the guarantee period.

The DIS warmth class system :

Class 1: Most warmth; thick duvets, suitable for people with poor circulation and for very cold bedrooms.
Class 2: Average warmth; the best choice for most people and suitable for all seasons.
Class 3: Less warmth; thinner duvet, suitable for people who warm up fast and for warm bedrooms.
Class 4: Least warmth; thinnest duvet, suitable for people who get hot quickly and for hot bedrooms.

Winter duvets are usually from Class 1 and summer duvets from Class 4.

Button-down

Auping duvets are fitted with the button-down system. This allows an Auping duvet cover to be buttoned to the Auping duvet to ensure that both stay in place. This provides optimum freedom of movement, without the duvet coming out of the cover.