Experts Explain Why A Real Down Comforter Is Worth The Splurge

Down comforters and duvets can be a pretty big financial commitment that makes some people reluctant to splurge on them — even though it’s usually worth it in the long run. This is significantly longer than a synthetic fill comforter’s lifespan, which hovers around five years, since synthetic insulation starts to lose its loft faster. “Nature has always been the best designer and the synthetic products haven’t quite been able to catch up to down yet.” For those with ethical concerns regarding down, “no birds are raised solely for down production,” according to Audubon; rather, most of it is sourced as a byproduct of the food industry. “This is a huge ethical point to consider given the current climate crisis.” Once you’ve got your fancy pants down comforter in hand, it’s important to take extra-good care of your investment. To ensure a long lifespan, DeWald and Schutte recommended using a duvet cover that can be washed instead of washing your actual comforter — “and then only washing the comforter about every 3 years.” They suggested throwing a few dryer balls into the drier with your comforter to help break up all the clumps in the down to make it even fluffier.