First Step - dispose of that pillow you have had for a few years!
This gently supportive range of anti-allergy pillows is the most comfortable for 95% of the population, especially side sleepers. It is encased in fine cotton cambric, and filled with small curled Danish feathers and down. It is completely down proof, so there wont be any fluff or feathers escaping, as well as being dust mite proof and completely washable! It is the perfect bed time solution for asthma and allergy sufferers. Because of the high percentage of these small duck feathers, you wont get any of the crackling that you can feel with poorer quality feather pillows. Also, the loft- or springiness- is superb, as the feathers are curved and therefore very buoyant, as well as being cool. Cover: 100% Super Cambric, trimmed with silver silk piping. Fill: 90% Small White Danish Duck Feathers.10% White Danish Duck Down. Oeko-Tex 100 Certified Completely safe for sufferers of asthma & allergies.

• Cover: 100% Super Cambric, trimmed with silver silk piping.

• Fill: Fill: 90% Small White Danish Duck Feathers.10% White Danish Duck Down.

• Genuine Danish high-quality workmanship down to the smallest detail

• Only clean, new down and feathers are used

• Down and feathers are cleaned, disinfected and sorted by Ringsted Dun under strict monitoring and with the highest demands for cleanliness. In this way, allergens are eliminated

• The finest Cotton Cambric covers form a densely woven barrier against house dust mites

• NOMITE Branded– especially suitable for house dust mite allergy sufferers

• Oeko-Tex 100 approval of both covers and filling, i.e. no unhealthy substances

• Oeko-Tex 1000 approval, i.e. environmental certification, of production site and processes

• Downafresh® – European manufacturer of natural filling. Guaranteed clean product of a very high quality

• Only natural products. Therefore, you will not experience static electricity that may attract house dust mites

• Easy to clean with Ringsted Dun’s detergent and softener

• Guarantee: 2-year guarantee on all duvets manufactured by Ringsted Dun A/S in Denmark

Ringsted Dun is the leading Scandinavian manufacturer of down quilts and down pillows, made of the finest cotton shells filled with natural down and feather of the highest quality. Ringsted Dun was founded in 1947, and was originally only a down and feather factory, which had a mission of collecting, cleaning and sorting feather and down from the local area. Since then Ringsted Dun has developed into a well known and highly respected supplier of quilts and pillows based on natural filling. The company is still collecting and manufacturing more than 300 tonnes of feather and down annually. Today they combine state of the art technology with strong values on sustainability and quality in every detail. Their long lasting success is based on their historic heritage, being one of Scandinavias strongest brand in bedding.

Oeko-Tex Certification.

Not only does Ringsted Dun have the Oeko-Tex 100 certificate for its products, but it what makes it exceptional is that it also has achieved Oeko-Tex 1000 certification.

Ringsted Dun was one of the first duvet manufacturers in the world and the first in Denmark to have been granted the acknowledged Oeko-Tex 1000 certification. Only companies with strict environmental friendly production practices may be considered for this prestigious accreditation. Today, all their products carry the sought after Oeko-Tex 100 certification, which indicates that Ringsted Dun products and practices are continuously and strictly monitored by the Danish Technological Institute. Thus ensuring that our down duvets and pillows are of the highest quality with regard to health. This includes Oeko-Tex 100 standard ‘Class 1’, which means that they are approved for direct contact with the delicate skin of babies. Since 1994, our cover fabrics and fills have thus lived up to the highest standards in the market with regard to cleanliness and environmentally correct production practices.

NOMITE

All our bedding products are NOMITE branded.

The NOMITE label is your guarantee that house dust mites cannot penetrate the fabric of the product. So people suffering from the dust mite allergy may fully enjoy the warmth and comfort of all our down and feather filled products. Because down and feather filled products offer excellent thermal and climatic conditions - a rapid warming up while one is sleeping, rapid decrease in the bed's humidity if the room is aired regularly. This provides a poor habitat for the house dust mite that relies on high humidity to life. Additional protection is achieved by the tight weave of the down-proof fabric, which works as a barrier preventing the house dust mites from penetrating the fabric.
So people suffering from dust allergy may fully enjoy the warmth and comfort of down and feather filled duvets and pillows displaying the NOMITE mark.

Downafresh®

The Downafresh® label is a special labeling system developed for European manufacturers of down and feather filled products. It also guarantees a clean product of a very high quality. To be more specific, filling must come from a Downafresh® European manufacturer, rather than China, which is where a large proportion of the feather production comes from. The raw feathers are cleaned with water, and the drying process takes place at a temperature above 100° C. The cleaned feathers and down live up to the demands for cleanliness and hygiene specified in the European standard EN12935.

Creating a healthy sleeping environment is essential for those of you looking for a restful, allergy free sleep. With the vast range of bedding on the market today, how can you be sure that you are purchasing the right product for you? Our ratings guide has been designed to help you make the right choice, so that you can achieve that peaceful night's sleep that you have been dreaming of.

Fill
When it comes to duvets and pillows, it is important to consider the filling material. There are generally two types of filling: Natural and Synthetic. Each has different qualities and drawbacks and varies in price. Natural fillings such as down are warm in winter, cool in summer and snuggly soft. Synthetic fillings tend to be lighter in weight and are great if you are looking for something that is easy to wash and quick to dry.

Fabric
The fabric symbol shows what fibres the fabric has been constructed from.

Waterproof
Bedding that is waterproof comes with a waterproof backing and is ideal for children, and for protecting the mattress against night time accidents and spillages, and are particularly good at guarding against mould spores and damp, which can trigger off asthma and rhinitis attacks.

Season
It is important to select the right type of bedding depending on the season you will be using your bedding. A winter duvet for example, will keep you warm during the colder months, but will be too hot for you to use during the summer.

 Enclosed
This is particularly important if purchasing allergen proof barrier covers. Covers that fully enclose the pillow and mattress are recommend as there is no way for the allergens and those dreaded dustmites to escape, keeping you fully protected while you sleep.

Guarantee
The guarantee indicates the time in years or washes that the products will be effective for. Products with a longer guarantee tend to be of much higher quality and will need to be replaced less often.

Washing
If washed frequently at a high temperature, all bedding can be kept free of dustmites and their allergenic droppings. The ideal temperature for washing is between 60-90°C.

Chemical free
The chemical free symbol shows the Oeko-tex certification and shows that the product being rated has been certified to be skin friendly and free from any harmful substances, including formaldehyde and carcinogenic dyestuffs.

Certification
There are many different certifications that will guarantee the product does what it is supposed to do. E.g. The Nomite certification guarantees that dustmites cannot penetrate the fabric of the product. This type of certification is essential in informing you of the capabilities of the product.

Suitability
Our allergy symbols denote whether the product is suitable for those who suffer with allergies: Eczema (dermatitis), Dustmite, and Asthma.

• Machine wash at 60°C using a mild detergent and tumble-dry thoroughly

•Use tennis balls in tumble dryer to speed up the drying process and fluff up the down.

• Air your bedding and bedroom regularly to reduce humidity

•Wash bedding regularly following the washing instructions of the label

• Replace bedding which has lost its bulkiness after many years of use

 

Dust Mite Proof Bedding: Your bed can be a source of comforting rest or distress depending on the condition of you mattress. The bedroom is usually the worst place for someone who is sensitive to dust mites, as they thrive in the warmth and humidity of your bed. This is why one of the first steps you need to take is to cover your mattress, pillow and duvet with a dust mite proof cover to prevent contact with those allergens.

Allergy and Asthma Sufferers

With much publicity and education, it is becoming a well known fact that allergy and asthma sufferers do not have to deprive themselves of the luxury and comfort of feather and down products. The guilty culprit for their discomfort and sometimes-fatal reactions is due to the bacterial components found in natural fills that have not been properly cleansed. Here, at Beds of a Feather Ltd. We pride ourselves in selecting and distributing products that have been treated with the highest degree of quality control. Our guarantee not only covers defects and workmanship but also full client satisfaction.

"Allergy sufferers and asthma sufferers can breathe more easily again! They too no longer need to give up the natural sleep comfort offered by down and feathers.

The latest studies in the field of allergies show:

* Down and feathers are not - as is frequently and falsely assumed - the cause of house dust mite allergies.

* Down and feathers do not cause any allergic reactions of the respiratory tract, such as asthma or hay fever.

In other words, there is no reason for persons suffering from allergies or asthma to avoid down or feathers; this would merely be detrimental to a comfortable sleep."

Research from EUROPEAN DOWN & FEATHER ASSOCIATION (EDFA) ASSOCIATION

House Dust Allergy?

Persons who are allergic to house dust, do not need to go without bedding filled with down and feathers, because house dust allergies are not an issue for bedding filled with down and feathers!

There have been repeated false claims that there is a connection between the occurrence of allergic reactions to the house dust mite and the use of bedding filled with feathers and down. Many physicians and textile experts advise patients with a predisposition for allergies and customers generally to replace these articles of bedding with those using other fillings.

On the basis of new scientific knowledge, this prejudice concerning the alleged negative properties of bedding filled with down and feathers bedding has had to be revised, or even completely reversed!

According to representative studies in Central Europe, in which hundreds of homes, bedrooms, beds, duvets and pillows were examined for house dust mite infestation and allergen content, it is now clear:

1. Feather- and down-filled bedding is not a preferred habitat for house dust mites. With normal care, hardly any house dust mites are found in these articles of bedding, as the dense ticking represents an almost impenetrable barrier for the mites.

2. The favourable warm and climatic conditions offered by down bedding for humans (rapid accumulation of warmth while the person is sleeping, rapid decrease in humidity when the room is aired) are a very unfavourable habitat for mites, which need humidity.

3. In every home and in every bedroom, it is almost impossible to avoid house dust mites. They feed directly on humans, namely on the tiny flakes of skin which everyone constantly sheds. On the other hand, feathers and down do not provide any nutrients for mites.

The extensive scientific and ecological studies on the occurrence and dissemination of house dust mites in all of the European climatic zones clearly show that bedding filled with feathers and down bedding does not play a role, either as a habitat or as a source of food for house dust mites.

Therefore, there are neither scientific nor practical reasons for advising persons allergic to house dust mites not to use feather- and down-filled bedding.

Good News for Allergy Sufferers

Allergy sufferers and asthma sufferers can breathe more easily again! They too no longer need to give up the natural sleep comfort offered by down and feathers..

The latest studies in the field of allergies show:

• Down and feathers are not - as is frequently and falsely assumed - the cause of house dust mite allergies.
• Down and feathers do not cause any allergic reactions of the respiratory tract, such as asthma or hay fever.

In other words, there is no reason for persons suffering from allergies or asthma to give avoid down or feathers; this would merely be detrimental to a comfortable sleep.

Sources:

"Gutachten zur Einschätzung der Relevanz der Bettfedern -(Keratin) Allergie"
Expert opinion on the assessment of the relevance of keratin allergy),
Prof. Dr. med. Hofmann, Head of the Pediatric Institute of the University Hospital of Frankfurt am Main.

"House dust mite allergen in pillows", expert opinion of the Wellington Asthma Research Group,
Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.

"Ökologische Untersuchungen zur Hausstaubmilbenallergie" (Ecological Studies of the Allergy to House Dust Mites), Prof. Dr. Dr. H. W. Jürgens, Anthropological Institute of the University of Kiel.