Is there a difference between down and feathers and does it really matter? The feathers on geese or ducks are the outer covering of the bird. They have quills, repel water, and make it possible for the animal to fly. Down lies beneath this protective covering – usually on the belly of a bird - and is light and fluffy. It provides the insulation birds need to keep warm. Rather than quills, a down cluster has a round center called a plumule. Soft and airy, it features thousands of tiny fibers that radiate from its core.Because of their protective nature, feathers in a fill are a great way to offer support and durability to a product and are ideal for decorative pillows, cushions, etc. However, for basic bedding, one needs to be careful. The use of larger feathers in basic beddings products such as duvets and pillows – while less expensive – can be more uncomfortable as their quills can break through the ticking and poke the user.Mattress toppers are like the icing on a cake.
They lie on top of your mattress, secured by straps and are around 5cm in depth. They are designed to give your spine just the right amount of resistance and provide your back and joints with extra support and comfort. A mattress topper will also revitalise an old mattress and protect a new one . For of each of these Mattress Toppers click here > Until recently, conventional wisdom had it that the firmer the mattress, the better it was for you. Unfortunately, this has turned out not to be true and many of us are now finding our backs and joints are hurting with our extra firm mattresses. Mattress toppers are also an excellent way to revitalise a tired mattress. Your mattress may not be as young as it once was and is likely to have given up over the years, which means that your body weight is not evenly distributed as you sleep. Even If you’ve just bought a new mattress, you still need to 'top' in order to offer your back the support it requires. That said, if your mattress is 30 years old, sagging, with springs poking through - it may be time for a new one!
Choosing a topper isn’t easy. Here’s a quick guide to help: Our luxurious natural toppers are generously stuffed to make sure that resistance is just right distributing your weight evenly and taking off the pressure. Experience the natural comfort, warmth and luxury of a traditional feather mattress with our duck feather and down mattress topper. It is filled to two inches with twin-seam construction to hold the filling firmly in place and help maintain it's shape. This mattress topper offers the comfort of feather and down and excellent value. Elasticated straps make for a secure fit. The Clusterfull mattress topperThis luxury mattress topper, with a depth of 2”, is ideal for allergy sufferers or those with joint, neck or back pain looking for a supportive resistant mattress topper with a soft, springy feel. Many suppliers and their customers will tell you that a memory foam mattress is the ultimate sleep experience. So how does it work? By literally moulding itself to your body shape, the temperature sensitive ‘memory foam’ provides total support for your spine and joints helping to relieve any aches and pains you might have, ensuring you have a restful night’s sleep.
However, there is no denying that buying a memory foam mattress is an expensive option. If you're buying a new bed or a new mattress anyway, this investment is certainly worth considering. However if you already have a decent mattress, that isn’t sagging in the middle, and would like to experience the feeling of sleeping on memory foam then a memory foam topper is a more affordable alternative. A memory foam mattress topper is a piece of visco-elastic foam, usually an inch or two thick, which is placed on top of your existing mattress. It will provide you with all of the support and comfort advantages of a memory foam mattress, without the expense. In terms of feel, memory foam provides a firmer, more supportive feel compared to the natural feather and down mattress topper and the fibre-filled mattress topper. Be aware that when new memory foam emits a strong, chemical smell. When you first buy your mattress topper you'll probably want to "air" it for a couple of days. All of these mattress toppers are available in standard UK bed sizes
How to Prevent Your Cutting Board From SlidingEnjoy a Night in the CloudsI have never been an adherent to the school of the firm mattress. A bed should be about comfort; it should be a refuge from the harshness of the world, and a place to relish sweet dreams. There are many things you can do to make a firm mattress softer, let's start with the cheapest and work our way up. Also, if you are looking to go green in the bedroom pop by my hub on Natural Mattress Toppers. Egg CratesThis is what my mother always called those foam pads that you can put on your mattress. In college my roommate had never seen one of these, until I threw one on her spartan bed to cushion her bony body. They are the cheapest way of softening up a bed' I recently bought one for aroung $20 at Wal-mart. Of course, they vary in thickness, so the more you pay, the thicker of a foam pad you'll get. Throw it down on the bed, top with sheets, and you're done! Feather BedsThe classic choice, a featherbed is made up of bird down mixed with larger feathers to make a fluffy, soft nest for your bed.
There is a very wide price range when it comes to featherbeds. You can go down to your local Bed Bath and Beyond and pick one up for $70, or you can go to Macy's and buy a $400 Charter Club featherbed. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when shopping for a featherbed however. The first is the percentage of down the featherbed has. You want a high percentage of down in a featherbed because more down means less larger feathers. These larger feathers can prove crunchy, and will poke out of the fabric, pricking you when you are just dozing off. Another thing to consider is the thickness, or fluffiness of a featherbed. Your weight will compact the bed a bit, though it can be fluffed back up. A cheaper bed will not wear well over time and will be flat as a pancake in a few months. A good featherbed will resume its shape after a good fluffing however, and will last many years. Memory FoamThe new kid on the block, memory foam is what the astronauts sit on during takeoff. Memory foam is made of polyurethane that's chemically altered to be very dense.
It's also responsive to heat, making softer in warm spots, and harder in cool areas. Because memory foam is so dense it can be very heavy, but it is also very supportive. Memory foam, unlike feather beds, does not have as large a range of quality. Yes, some memory foams may be softer than others (marginally), but there aren't factors like down percentage to encounter. The key quality to consider while searching for a memory foam topper is thickness. The thicker the memory foam the more support, and the further you are away from your hard mattress. Memory foam runs from about $110 for a 1/2" topper to $800 for a full on mattress. Many in between sizes exist, usually made in half-inch increments. Memory foam can also be considered a good investment because it retains its shape and lasts a very long time. (I'm talking about it may come with you to your next mattress long time). HybridsI personally enjoy the best of both worlds. On my bed I have a hybrid feather and memory foam topper.