How to choose a blanket for filler?

When choosing a filler for a blanket, the main requirements for the material are environmental friendliness and safety. It should not emit substances harmful to health in the air, should not be easily ignited. In addition, his duty is to pass air and moisture well, but at the same time keep warm, creating a special microclimate for a sleeping person. Many materials, both natural and man-made, meet these conditions, but each of them has its own characteristics, its own advantages and disadvantages.

Types of Blanket Fillers

All used fillers can be divided into three groups:

• Natural
• Synthetic

Each group has the most popular materials, which we will consider in more detail.

Blankets made of natural animal filler

Natural materials enjoy a long and deserved love, perhaps everyone has childhood memories of a grandmother's warm and comfortable down duvet, or a stiff, but so warm “camel”. What are the advantages and disadvantages of natural raw materials for the production of blankets?

Fluff

Bird fluff is perhaps one of the oldest fillers for bedding. Of course, today this is not the fluff with which our grandmothers stuffed feather-beds. It is subjected to special treatment, trying to improve positive qualities and level negative ones. But, nevertheless, this material still has drawbacks.

Pros:

• High heat-regulating ability, down comforters are one of the warmest;
• High breathability;
• The ability to form a stable microclimate under the covers;
• The ability to quickly restore shape;
• Low caking;
• Fluff does not accumulate static electricity;
• Long service life (about two decades)

Minuses:

• Fluff is a breeding ground for a dust mite, which is a strong allergen;
• Poorly passes moisture vapor, easily damps, can absorb water up to almost half its own weight;
• It is difficult to care for a duvet from a down; it must be subjected to special treatment against ticks;
• High price.

Sheep wool

A blanket made of natural filler “sheep wool” is still considered healing. Indeed, if untreated wool is applied to the body for a long time, the lanolin contained on it can penetrate the skin and positively affect the health of joints and skin integuments. However, unprocessed wool is not currently in production, and the usefulness of direct contact with the skin of such a material is doubtful. However, the warming properties of wool are quite high, which in itself can have a healing effect in some cases.

Pros:

• It perfectly evaporates moisture, as a result a zone of the so-called “dry heat” is created under the blanket, which is very beneficial for the body;
• Does not accumulate static electricity;
• Budget price

Minuses:

• Heavy weight;
• Ability to caking;
• Care problems: only cleaning is allowed; blankets cannot be washed;
• Short service life (does not exceed five years);
• The ability to cause allergies (dust mites, animal wax).

Camel hair

When choosing a filler for a blanket, you should pay attention to camel wool, which is popular in eastern countries. In terms of its properties, it is superior to sheep.

Pros:

• It evaporates moisture well, creates a “dry heat”, healing for joint pain and colds, they do not sweat under such a blanket;
• It conducts heat poorly, thus it is one of the warmest fillers;
• It has excellent air exchange;
• Does not accumulate static electricity;
• It has a small weight comparable to the weight of fluff;
• Virtually non-caking, as the camel hair has elasticity;
• The service life is higher than that of down - up to 30 years.

Minuses:

• As well as fluff, it serves as a breeding ground for dust mites, which cause severe allergies in some people;
• The blanket can create a sensation of “tingling” (if it is made from the hair of young animals, then this effect will not be);
• High price.

Silk

Silk fibers are obtained from cocoons of a silkworm caterpillar. Not only the fibers themselves are used, but also not fully unwound cocoons.

Pros:

• It does not cause allergies, since dust mites do not live in it, this distinguishes silk from all other fillers obtained from animals;
• It has antibacterial properties;
• Good air and moisture exchange with the environment;
• Antistatic;
• Durability;
• Blankets made from natural filler obtained from silk fibers can be washed, but this does not have to be done often - ventilation is enough.

Minuses:

• They do not retain heat well enough, they are ideal for summer, but in winter it can be cold under a silk blanket;
• Very high price.

Blankets made of natural filler of plant origin

Cotton

The most inexpensive of all natural materials, cotton has rather low consumer properties. But, nevertheless, it can be a good budget alternative if a long service life is not provided.

Pros:

• It does not create a favorable environment for the development of dust mites, does not cause allergies;
• It conducts heat poorly, so the cotton fiber blankets are quite warm, it can be hot underneath and easy to sweat;
• Price availability.

Minuses:

• They pass moisture poorly, can hold up to 40% in themselves;
• The blankets of their cotton are very heavy;
• The material quickly cakes and loses its properties; accordingly, the blanket does not last long.

To mitigate the negative properties, synthetic fibers are added to the cotton, blankets with such combined fillers are lighter, longer lasting and more comfortable for the body.

Linen

Flax and hemp are plants that, like cotton, have a fibrous structure, so that you can make both fabrics and fillers for bedding. Fillers for linen and hemp blankets can be used in any season - they create their own microclimate for a sleeping person, which makes it always comfortable under them - not hot in summer and not cold in winter.

Pros:

• Dust mites and other pathogens of allergies do not live in these fibers;
• They have good vapor and air permeability;
• The fibers of these plants have antimicrobial properties, which prevents the development of pathogenic microbes in bedding;
• Thermal conductivity is quite high;
• Easy to clean - they can be washed, while the products dry quickly;
• One of the most durable materials in the natural group.

Minuses:

• Very high price.

Bamboo

Not so long ago, blanket fillers made of bamboo fibers appeared on the market. Bamboo is a plant that does not have fibrous parts, so it is impossible to obtain fibers suitable for use in the production of bedding from it.To obtain bamboo fiber, the wood of the stems of the plant is treated in a special way, and then the fiber is pulled from it.

Pros:

• It does not cause allergies;
• It has antibacterial properties;
• It passes air well;
• Does not absorb odor;
• Does not accumulate static electricity;
• The blankets are lightweight;
• Products can be washed in a washing machine.

Minuses:

• They have a fairly large thermal conductivity, so the blankets are quite “cool”, more suitable for summer and off-season;
• Short service life - no more than two years (with the addition of artificial fiber, the service life is increased);
• Almost does not absorb moisture.

Eucalyptus

Fiber is obtained from the stems of this plant by processing cellulose. It has the names tenzel, or lyocell. Synthetic fibers are sometimes added to eucalyptus fibers to lower prices.

Pros:

• It does not cause allergies;
• It has antimicrobial properties;
• It has low thermal conductivity, due to which it is one of the warmest materials obtained from plant fibers;
• It has elasticity, due to which it holds its shape for a long time and does not cake;
• It has good moisture and breathability;
• It has good antistatic properties;
• Machine washable;
• Quite a long service life - up to 10 years.

Minuses:

• The most expensive of the vegetable fillers.

Synthetic Blankets

Synthetic materials for filling pillows and blankets are obtained from synthetic raw materials. But this does not mean that they are not suitable for their goals, often the opposite - people manage to create what nature did not succeed: an ideal filler. Artificial filler blankets made of synthetic fibers have good consumer qualities.

Thinsulate (swan fluff)

This material was created as a replacement for swan fluff. He possesses all its advantages, although it also has its drawbacks. Suitable for the summer and autumn months, as in summer it is easy to overheat under it, and in winter it can be cold.

Pros:

• It does not cause allergies;
• Does not release harmful substances to the air;
• It conducts heat poorly, due to which the blankets are very warm;
• Very light;
• It does not crumple, does not cake, it retains its original shape well;
• Machine washable.

Minuses:

• Accumulates static electricity;
• It has low vapor and air permeability.

Polyester fiber

The majority of modern synthetic fiber fillers are made from this material: holofiber, ecofiber, comfort, microfiber and others. Polyester fiber blankets are similar in properties.

Pros:

• Do not cause allergies;
• Do not emit harmful substances;
• Do not cake for a long time;
• They retain heat well;
• Relatively low in weight;
• Can be washed, drying time is short;
• Serve at least 10 years.

Minuses:

• Low vapor and air permeability, poor moisture absorption;
• The accumulation of static charge.

How to choose a blanket for filler: tips

Ultimately, it all depends on personal preferences in the field of comfort, as well as on the state of health. Those who like a warmer blanket prefer fluff and wool as a filler. However, it is worth remembering that they are not suitable for allergy sufferers. For those who suffer from allergies, plant fiber blankets can be a suitable alternative, while for different seasons it is worth buying different blankets: in the summer it is more comfortable to hide with bamboo or silk, in winter - linen, cotton or eucalyptus.

Artificial filler blankets made from synthetic fibers outperform products with a natural filler in almost all their qualities. They have only one minus - they do not pass moisture vapor well, which means that with the slightest overheating, the body will begin to sweat. To prevent this, the thickness of such blankets must be changed from season to season.