Silentnight Anti Allergy Single Duvet 10.5 Tog - All Year Round Winter Quilt Duvet Anti-Bacterial and Machine Washable - Single Bed

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It's one of the lightest and most supple fillings, meaning even a 14-tog microfibre duvet will feel light. Some people prefer this as the duvet won't feel heavy on you as you sleep, while others prefer a heavier, more closely hugging duvet. If you're not sure which you'd prefer, make sure you try them out in store before buying. Wool is a less common choice of duvet filling. It's similarly priced to feather and down, and excellent at retaining warm air, keeping you warm when cold and removing heat and moisture when you’re warm. Unlike feather and down, it’s naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites. Washing at lower temperatures can dissolve the dust mite droppings that trigger most people's reactions, which will fix the issue temporarily. However, to kill the dust mites themselves, you need to wash at 60C or above. but the mites will survive, so it's not a long-term solution. Aim to wash your duvet every six months (bedding that sits against your skin covers – so sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases – should be washed weekly or fortnightly). Just to spell it out: any duvet that proclaims itself ‘anti-allergy’ but is not washable at 60C is no such thing. 2. Look for 'anti-allergy' rather than 'hypoallergenic'

When shopping for duvets, you often see the terms ‘hypoallergenic’ and ‘anti-allergy’, and may assume they’re interchangeable. However, they are actually very different. Hypoallergenic, or non-allergenic, means that the materials used are relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. This doesn’t mean, though, that the manufacturer has applied any specific treatments to the duvet to prevent allergies.

The verdict: Kids’ duvets

Get help deciding what to buy with our guides to the best mattresses and the best pillows. Duvet types explained As you’d expect, it’s a belief that tends to be propagated by the makers of synthetic duvets, and hotly disputed by the makers of down ones! It should also not be confused with the fact that some people are specifically allergic to feathers themselves (the numbers affected by this problem are relatively small). One downside to all natural duvet fillings, including feather and down, is that you shouldn’t wash them at home as they can lose their filling more easily and are difficult to get completely dry afterwards. If they are cared for properly and professionally laundered, feather and down duvets can last more than twice as long as synthetic alternatives. Wool duvets: pros and cons

However, you'll need to be careful when looking after a wool duvet – washing too often and at too high a temperature will reduce its lifespan. Silk duvets: pros and consAs the name suggests, feather and down duvets combine feathers, the outer part of a bird’s plumage, with down, the lighter, fluffier fibres that lie beneath feathers and provide insulation. The ratio of feather to down will affect the duvet's warmth and price. Some duvets come in 'four-seasons' or 'all-seasons' sets. With these you get one light duvet (usually about 3.5 tog) and one heavier one (usually about 10.5 tog). The light one will be enough in hot summer months, and the heavy one suits spring and autumn weather. When you need extra warmth in winter, you can combine both. Standard UK duvet sizes Anti-allergy, in contrast means that the duvet has been specially treated to prevent the development of dust mites, protect against dust-mite infestation, or both. More than a third of Which? members surveyed choose feather and down duvets, making it the second-most popular option. These lightweight, cosy duvets retain heat well but still help you to avoid overheating. Plus, if cared for properly, they will last much longer than synthetic fibre alternatives.