The best duvet for allergy sufferers

Your duvet plays a major role for the quality of your sleep, and there are several issues to consider when choosing a new duvet. 

There are a number of factors to consider carefully, when choosing a new duvet:

• How big should your duvet be?
• What filling should your duvet have?
• Should your duvet be cool, warm or extra warm? 
• Do you suffer from any kind of allergy?

Size, filling and tog rating are very important for the comfort of a duvet and your night’s sleep. Our duvet guide provides great tips and useful information about duvets, which can guide you in choosing the perfect duvet to match your precise wishes and requirements.

As well as guaranteeing a good night’s sleep, you also need to think about allergies, when choosing a duvet. If you find that you are wake up with a blocked or runny nose, itchiness, eczema, coughing fits or other symptoms of hypersensitivity, this may be an indication of an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction can be caused by a variety of things, but regular culprits are house dust mites: microscopic creatures that are invisible to the naked eye.

If you would like to learn more about how to combat house dust mites, we have already written about the problem.

There used to be a widespread perception that allergic reactions were the result of an allergy to the feathers and down in duvets and pillows. Consequently, there are places where fibre-filled duvets are promoted as particularly anti-allergic. However, recent studies show that only 2-3% of the population are sensitive to down and feathers. Instead, most people experiencing allergic reactions are allergic to dust mites.

When it comes to the issue of anti-allergy duvets, it is crucial to choose a duvet that prevents house dust mites from penetrating and living in your duvet. Check the duvet’s allergy labels to make sure of this.

It's not only in your duvet and pillow that house dust mites like to reside, and it is extremely difficult to eradicate these microscopic creatures, once they have paid you a visit. To reduce the number of house dust mites in your bedroom it may, for instance, be a good idea to wash your duvet twice a year and to air out the house several times a day, and airing out also benefits your indoor climate.