Synthetic filling for pillows "swan down"

Today, a pillow filling called "swan down" is in great demand. But the material has nothing in common with swan feathers, except for the texture. In fact, it is an artificial substitute made in the likeness of swan down. Despite the fact that the material is synthetic, it is in many ways not inferior to its natural analogue. And in terms of wear resistance and ease of care, it even exceeds its natural analogue.

What does it represent?

Swan down is a synthetic polyester microfiber. Each of its fibers is made in the form of a very thin spiral and treated with silicone. The spiral fiber is much thinner in diameter than a human hair. The spirals are intertwined, resulting in balls. Due to this, the synthetic copy looks like a swan's down, which is located under the bird's feather in the chest and belly area.

The polyester padding is lightweight, very soft and easy to care for. But in some respects it is inferior to the natural original. The material is light, delicate, soft to the touch and quickly takes its original shape after compression. It has high warming qualities.

Swan Down Pillow: Pros and Cons

Artificial fiber has many positive qualities. The most important of them is hypoallergenicity. Dust mites do not start in synthetic polyester, mold and fungus do not appear. Therefore, the risk of allergic reactions and other health problems is reduced to zero.

Other benefits of Thinsulate include the following factors.

• Light weight. The weight of a 50x70 cm pillow is about 1000 g.
• High elasticity. After sleep, the shape of the bedding is easily restored due to the spiral configuration of the fibers.
• Easy care. Products with synthetic filling are easy to wash in the washing machine. The requirements for care and use are minimal.
• No smell. Despite the synthetic origin of the insulation, it does not smell and does not absorb foreign odors.
• Comfort. Synthetic polyester is very soft, which guarantees a comfortable sleep.

• Safety. The material does not pose a health threat to either adults or children.
• Neat appearance. The spirals of the stuffing are connected to each other and covered with silicone. Due to this, they do not go out, beyond the borders of the cover and pillowcase.
• Value for money. The cost of such products is low due to their synthetic origin. And the quality and durability indicators are excellent.
• Good air exchange. Air piles let air through well. This ensures good air circulation. Products with contents made of Thinsulate dry quickly.
• Long service life. With proper care, the pillow can last 5 years or more.

There are not so many disadvantages, but they are not without them. The disadvantages of synthetic microfiber include the following.

• Low hygroscopicity. Moisture does not circulate as well on the inner surface as air. This does not work in favor of Thinsulate, especially if you have a problem with increased sweating. But the minus easily turns into a plus when washing. Polyester synthetics dry quickly.
• The ability to collect static electricity. This ability can harm your hair. To prevent this from happening, you need to treat the fabric of the cover with an antistatic agent.
• No neck fixation. The fiber texture is so soft that the head literally sinks into it. For people with orthopedic problems, this is a significant disadvantage.

Which material to choose: artificial or natural?

There is practically no production of goods from natural raw materials. In order to create a filler for one pillow, it would be necessary to kill 10 swans. In this case, the main part of the natural filler will be feathers, not down. There is a more humane way - to collect down during molting. But it is not very effective. Only 30-40 grams of raw material are collected from one bird. Such a meager amount is easy to explain - the bird is heat-loving and does not have as much down as northern birds. It is not surprising that the cost of real down is not cheap.

Collection and processing of bird down is expensive and not humane towards these rare and beautiful inhabitants of nature. Therefore, when speaking about products made from swan down, we mean a synthetic substitute. Today, an artificial analogue is made - thinsulate. In terms of parameters, it is no worse, and sometimes even better than natural swan down.

Using artificial swan down

The main application of synthetic thinsulate is the production of bedding. Light and warm filling is also used for other purposes.

• Production of outerwear. Moreover, Thinsulate is suitable for sewing both adult and children's jackets and coats.

• Making toys. Sometimes artificial "stuffing" is used to stuff children's or interior toys.

• Insulation of winter suits. Down is used to fill the interior of winter sets – overalls, jackets, trousers, parkas.

• Shoe trim. Most often these are house slippers with beautiful, delicate padding of different colors.

• Sewing sofa dumkas. Due to the fact that the material is easy to wash and practically does not lose its shape, it is often used for the production of such decorative items as sofa dumkas.

Using natural swan down

Today, real down is almost never used anywhere. This happens for a number of reasons.

1. Expensive production. Down is collected humanely only during molting. Once a year, one swan can give only 30, maximum 40 grams of raw material. Due to this, the cost cannot be called affordable.
2. The swan is a bird listed in the Red Book. This means that there are not many individuals left. It is inhumane and inappropriate to exterminate unique birds for the sake of blankets and parkas.
3. In terms of strength and durability, the natural original is inferior to the artificial copy. In addition, real fluff can cause allergies. After all, mites, mold and fungi start in it.

Bird down is rarely used, except for the production of cosmetic powder puffs and blush. The artificial analogue is cheaper, stronger and more durable. It is much easier to wash, has high antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties.

Prices for natural and artificial swan down

Buying a product made of 100% natural material is not an easy task. Firstly, it is very rare. Secondly, the purchase will be expensive. For example, a blanket with natural swan down filling will cost 11,000 rubles.

The price of an artificial substitute is several times cheaper. Depending on the size and fabric of the cover, a blanket with a thinsulate filling will cost between 1,300 and 2,500 rubles.

Bamboo or artificial swan down: the subtleties of choice

Bamboo filler is obtained from natural raw materials. For this, the cellulose fibers of the plant are processed mechanically or chemically. The filling is elastic and durable. Products with bamboo filling have good antistatic and hypoallergenic qualities.

If we talk about which product to choose – “bamboo” or artificial swan down, then everything depends on the purpose of the purchase.

Swan down pillows. Suitable for those who love coziness and comfort. They are soft, warm, light. The price for such products is reasonable, and they will last 5 years or more.

Bamboo filler. Recommended for those who care about their health. Due to their elasticity, pillows with bamboo "filling" are recommended for those who experience pain in the cervical spine. But bamboo fillers will not solve serious problems. For therapeutic purposes, orthopedic bedding will be needed. Also, bamboo villi allow air to pass through well and provide excellent thermoregulation. For those who do not like excessively warm pillows, this option is ideal. In terms of price, bamboo is superior to Thinsulate.

Subtleties of care

As already mentioned, polyester microfiber is easy to care for. To make your Thinsulate products last longer, you need to follow a few simple rules:

1. Airing. Pillows and blankets need to be aired once every 3-6 months.

   

2. Washing. The ideal option is hand washing. But if there is no time, then machine washing is quite possible.

   

3. Drying. Thinsulate products cannot be dried in a drum. They do not really need it. Bed linen dries quickly in an upright position in the air.

   

4. Storage: Simply fold the blanket into a vacuum bag.

   

Can I wash it in a washing machine?

Machine washing is suitable for quick cleaning of pillows and blankets. But you should choose a delicate mode with a water heating temperature of no more than 30-40⁰C. Bleaches and other aggressive cleaners cannot be used. Detergents should be soft. After washing, it is recommended to shake the washed items a little so that the Thinsulate does not crumple and is evenly distributed inside. Ironing after washing is contraindicated. The hot effect of the iron can melt synthetics.

VIDEO: Pillow made of artificial swan down.

VIDEO: Review of “Swan Down” pillows.