Archive for January, 2011

Question : micro suede comforters vs down?
I’m buying a new comforter set and am considering micro suede. I have had lightweight down before and loved how comfy they are, how does down compare to micro suede in the comfort department? Also, any drawbacks to micro you can think of? thanks all.
lightweight down comforter

Best answer:

Answer by Kris L
Down is the ‘pre-feathers’ or ‘underfeathers’ of a bird, usually a goose or duck (the eider is a type of goose) used to ‘stuff’ the comforter. Because down is ‘light’ but very warm, it’s used to make ‘comfy covers’ to sleep under, and it is usually in a ‘cotton’ cover that is of a ‘fine weave’ so the tiny feathers can’t work themselves out of the comforter. Micro-suede is either ‘very finely cut animal skin’ or a ‘faux suede’ made from woven fibers that are ‘brushed’ on one side … it looks and feels just like real suede but costs a lot less. Generally, suede and micro-fiber suede are ‘warmer’ because they don’t let as much ‘air’ get through them … so they are usually ‘filled’ with the heavier weight by volume ‘polyester fiber fill’ that is ‘thinner’ and may be as ‘light’ as a down comforter, if both were weighed without their ‘covers.’ If you buy mico-fiber faux suede, it can be ‘washed’ in the washing machine (one big enough to hold the blanket plus a few ‘small things’ to help balance the load) while real suede would require a ‘professional cleaning’ at least once a year. If you like to be ‘extra warm’ at night, I’d buy a good ‘down comforter or down blanket (not as warm as a comforter, but still quite warm) and get a ‘micro-fiber faux suede ‘duvet cover’ to put ‘over’ it (you put the comforter/blanket in a ‘pillowcase like’ cover and ‘button’ or ‘snap’ it shut at the ‘open end’ to hold it in) … otherwise, you’ll have to ‘test’ both to get a ‘good comparison’ … literally ‘wrap yourself up’ in each one at the ‘same time’ so you can tell which will be the ‘most comfy’ for the way you like to sleep. If you like to eat in bed, or make ‘wet messes’ that could get onto either blanket, I suggest that you get a ‘regular spread’ and just ‘fold that down’ if it is going to make you ‘too warm to sleep’ with a ‘regular blanket’ or ‘down blanket’ … but put a ‘sheet’ over the down blanket, to keep it ‘clean’ longer, since even those in ‘cotton covers’ should be DRY CLEANED, not ‘washed’ … and that is EXPENSIVE.