How to Choose Blanket? A Complete Guide with Tips, Ideas, Materials, Size, and Method

Social networks, especially on weekdays, are full of jokes about the love of a blanket and pillow. Still would! How can you not love them if it is so comfortable to lie down and wrap yourself in a warm, soft blanket! Another question is whether you will be as comfortable and cozy as you want. Will it be cool or too hot? Will allergies appear? To avoid such problems, even before buying, it is necessary to study how to choose a blanket for sleeping and not just blindly rely on the advice of consultants, who, frankly, sometimes may not be exceptionally competent.

Blanket Filler

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a blanket. These are size and weight, warmth, sewing method, cover material, but the most crucial parameter is the type of filler. Deciding on this is not accessible due to the sheer number of possible solutions and marketing tricks.

To make it easier to navigate, we will divide all fillers into natural and synthetic groups. Natural, naturally, more environmentally friendly, but also more challenging to care for. Such blankets weigh more and can also cause allergies. Synthetic analogs, as a rule, do not cause allergies, are cheaper, much easier to care for, and even lighter in weight, but almost impermeable to air.

Natural Fillers

Wool

Wool is the most popular all-natural filler, and it has an excellent balance of price and quality.

Pros :

• Good thermal insulation qualities – it will be warm under such a blanket.
• Hygroscopicity – even with profuse perspiration, the filler will be dry.
• Lightweight.
• Accumulated odors and moisture quickly disappear.
• Decent durability with proper care.

Cons :

• The risk of allergies.
• Home washing is contraindicated – only dry cleaning;
• Fear of moths, dust mites can hang.

The following wool to use as a filler:

• Camel – has the lowest risk of allergies, and with regular care, the blanket will last at least 20-30 years, retaining its original appearance. Camel’s hair has been proven to help treat muscle aches and colds.
• Goat – inexpensive and soft, there will be no tingling effect.
• Alpaca wool – very warm, does not roll.
• Sheep – inexpensive but can “bite” a little. It has medicinal properties, is used in the treatment of osteochondrosis, and treats muscle pain. It is the most popular of all woolen fillings.

Fur

Down comforters are one of the warmest and, at the same time, weightless. Swan, goose, and goat down are used as fillers, less often loon or duck down.

Pros :

• These are practically the warmest blankets.
• Very lightweight.
• Good breathability.
• The fur is not electrified.
• Durability, up to 20 years with proper care. Down duvets are elastic, so they do not lose their shape for a long time.

Cons :

• It is better not to use such blankets for allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and children.
• Fur absorbs moisture, can damp.
• Relatively difficult care.
• Overall dimensions.

We should sew a good duvet in squares.

Cotton

We are talking about wadded blankets – heavy and warm, which many still remember from childhood. Previously, it was popular due to its low price and acceptable thermal insulation qualities. Now, the cotton blanket is more of a relic of the past, as it is full of synthetic fillers that weigh less but are much warmer.

Pros :

• Hypoallergenic.
• It is a hot filler.
• A tick does not live in cotton.
• Hygroscopicity.

Cons :

• Heavyweight.
• Cotton wool tends to damp and crumple over time.
• Cotton quickly absorbs and accumulates odors.
• the complexity of leaving.

A more modern analog of a wadded blanket is products with cotton filling with the addition of synthetics. They are lighter, warmer and cheaper, because “absolutely” wadded blankets, if I may say so, are now almost impossible to find.

Bamboo

Bamboo filler has recently appeared on the market. It is made from regenerated cellulose obtained from bamboo stalks.

Pros :

• Excellent breathability.
• Antibacterial properties.
• Easy care. Unlike most natural counterparts, bamboo-filled blankets are machine washable;
• Hypoallergenic. Bamboo is non-allergenic and won’t harbor ticks.
• Ease.

Cons :

• Not the most outstanding thermal insulation qualities. It is an option for warm winters and in the off-season.
• High price.
• A large number of fakes on the market.
• Pure bamboo fiber will last about 2 years; therefore, synthetic fibers are added to increase durability.

Silk

Silk filler obtains fluffing the fibers that silkworm larvae create. It is one of the most expensive fillers.

Pros :

• Hypoallergenic, since dust mites and fungus do not live in the filler.
• High strength and durability.
• Excellent moisture and air exchange. Therefore it will always be comfortable under the blanket.
• Antistatic.
• Lightweight.

Cons :

• High price.

Silk blankets can be winter or summer – it all depends on the amount of filler. Some note that it is not very comfortable under such a blanket in winter and prefer to use it only in the off-season and summer.

Flax and Jute

The properties of linseed and hemp fillers are very similar, which allows us to consider them together.

Pros :

• Hypoallergenic. The filler itself is not capable of causing allergies, and mites do not start in it.
• Antibacterial properties due to the presence of selenium and silicon in plants.
• High warming properties.
• Excellent moisture and air permeability.
• Durability – a record in comparison with other vegetable fillers;
• Ease of care. Machine washable and dry quickly.

Cons :

• High price. Only silk is more expensive, but if the budget allows, then such a filler is one of the best options for all seasons.

Eucalyptus

The fiber is obtained from regenerated cellulose extracted from eucalyptus stems. You can find filler names such as lyocell and Stenzel. Natural filler is often blended with synthetic filler to reduce cost. The proportion of natural fibers should be at least 50%.

Pros :

• Excellent warming properties, the best of all herbal fillers.
• The material holds its shape well and restores it.
• Hypoallergenic.
• Good moisture and air exchange.
• Antibacterial and antistatic properties.
• We can wash it in a washing machine.
• Durability is about 10 years.

Cons :

• the highest price among vegetable fillers.

Cashmere

Cashmere blankets are not very common due to the price.

Pros :

• Good thermal insulation properties, even better than wool.
• Hypoallergenic.
• Durability and wear resistance.

Cons :

High Price

Corn

The use of this filler is infrequent, but it has many advantages:

• Low weight with good thermal insulation properties.
• Hypoallergenic.
• Softness.
• Wear resistance.
• Hygroscopicity.

There are no critical drawbacks, except for one – low prevalence. Therefore it will not be easy to find a blanket with corn filler.

Seaweed

Another rather exotic filler option. The material, in addition to excellent performance, has a healing effect on the body.

Pros :

• Moisture and air permeability.
• Easy care.
• There is evidence that such a filler helps to better cope with stressful situations and relieve fatigue.

Cons : 

The price is above average and not the most outstanding thermal insulation qualities.

Synthetic Fillers

Almost all synthetic fillers are made from polyester fibers, so they are very similar in many ways. 

Pros :

• Hypoallergenic. Insects do not start in synthetics. Synthetics do not cause allergies.
• Lightness along with excellent thermal insulation.
• Ease of care – can be washed in a washing machine.
• Firmness and elasticity, over time, the filler does not shrink, does not go astray.
• Good durability, about 10 years.
• Low price.

Cons :

• Nonhygroscopicity. Unlike natural fillers, synthetic ones do not absorb moisture, so it may not be so comfortable to rest under them.
• The material builds up static electricity.

The following types of filler are made from polyester fiber:

• Holofiber is a fiber consisting of tiny spring threads that provide high elasticity. Due to its lightness and airiness, the material is called “artificial fluff.”
• Nanofiber – It is an improved Holofiber. Because the material particles have a minimum size, lightness, bulk, durability, elasticity, and softness are achieved.
• Polyester is a reasonably durable and easy-care material, very soft and warm, reminiscent of wool.
• Synthetic Winterizer is the cheapest option. It is light and easy to care for, but after about 15 washings, its thermal insulation qualities decrease, and the service life is short – about 3-5 years. Since the fibers tend to stray, such blankets are stitched. A synthetic Winterizer with a silicone coating behaves better – it keeps its original shape longer.

Cover Material

It would seem, what difference does it make which material the cover is made of if there is excellent natural bedding set in the closet? After all, it is with him that the skin will constantly come into contact during sleep. Things are a little more complicated. Yes, your cotton, linen, or even silk duvet cover will “breathe” perfectly, but what good is it if the blanket itself, or rather the cover from which it is made, interferes with this “breathing.”

Ideally, the cover should be moisture and breathable and durable, pleasant to the touch. Its main task is to qualitatively prevent the penetration of the filler outside and protect it from contamination.

So, according to the material of manufacture, all covers can be divided into the following types:

• Natural. They conduct air ideally, absorb moisture, do not become electrified, but they are more expensive. For sewing covers, cotton, teak (better wear resistance than cotton), satin (very durable), twill (good wear resistance), and silk (the most expensive material) are used.
• Synthetic. These are mainly microfiber and polyester. They can be pretty pleasant to the touch, but they are completely impervious to air and moisture. They can accumulate static electricity and shoot sparks when trying to shove a blanket into a duvet cover.
• Combined. Not a bad option. They are cheaper than natural ones, but they are devoid of almost all the disadvantages of synthetic analogs.

If possible, it is better to opt for a natural or at least a combined case. Some manufacturers additionally process covers with various impregnations: dirt-repellent, antistatic, bactericidal.

Although a dense cover is more wear-resistant and durable, it is easier to sweat under it, so you need to know when to stop in everything. The responsible manufacturer will indicate the density of the cover. The optimal value is about 360 vehicles. Measure in threads per inch.

Sewing Method

Most fillers can easily bunch up into one big lump somewhere in the corner of the duvet. The filler must be attached to the cover to prevent this from happening, preventing its “movement.” On the other hand, it is necessary not to violate the filler’s thermal insulation properties.

Depending on the sewing method, the following types of blankets are distinguished:

• Quilted – it is made with the help of special quilting machines that pierce through all layers of the filler and sew them to the cover. The result is a pattern in rhombuses or squares, but we can use other shapes. This sewing method is used primarily for non-scattering fillers (wool, cotton wool, synthetic, and plant materials).
• Cassette – divided into equal small squares, each of which is filled with filler. It is how down and silicone blankets are sewn. As a result, the filler does not migrate throughout the blanket, does not stray into corners, can only move within its square.
• Cluster blankets are a kind of cassette blankets. Still, the stitching here is carried out in a checkerboard pattern, which gives the little filler mobility, i.e., if desired, it can be slightly shifted to the leg area and make it warmer.

Blanket Size

Everything is simple here. The size of the duvet, like the bed linen, is tied to the dimensions of the bed :

• Double blankets have a size from 170 * 215 cm to 220 * 240 cm.The most common formats are 172 * 205 cm, 200 * 200 cm (Euro format), 220 * 240 cm (King Size), less often blankets 180 * 210 and 200 * 220.
• One and a half – an option for one person, sizes range from 140 * 205 cm to 155 * 215 cm (euro size), but there are also less common formats. Sometimes a married couple takes two one-and-a-half blankets if the preferences for the filler are very different, or it is uncomfortable to sleep under one blanket.
• For children – they have a size from 80 * 120 to 110 * 140 cm. Parents should carefully study pediatricians’ recommendations on organizing children’s sleep since it is not recommended to use blankets up to 1 year old.

Density or Degree of Warmth

Blankets with the same filling may differ in the degree of warmth, and this is not only a matter of subjective assessment. However, the latter also occurs because someone is cold even in summer, someone opens up in winter, older people usually need a warmer blanket, children should not be overheated. No one has canceled the different microclimate.

Consider the degree of your thermophilicity, the room temperature, and pay attention to the markings. The manufacturer will indicate the warmth of the blanket in the sun, the density index, or in TOG.

TOG is an international benchmark for the thermal insulation of a blanket.

So, if the manufacturer indicated the warmth of the blanket by drawing the suns, then know:

• 5 – suns are very warm blankets with a filling density of 350-420 g / m 2.
• 4 – warm, density 300-350 g / m 2 . Many consider such a blanket to be universal.
• 3 – a standard all-season blanket with a filler density of about 220-300 g / m 2.
• 2 – lightweight, suitable for use in the warm season, the thickness of the filler is 200-220 g / m 2.
• 1 – the lightest blanket, for summer nights, density less than 200 g / m 2.

With a limited budget is recommended to take clothed with filler density of about 300-350 g / m 2 – it will be comfortable to use in all seasons, except the hottest summer days, when you can and do without blankets. If you can afford to have several blankets, then for winter, when the temperature in the room is about + 18 … + 20 0 С, choose a blanket with a warmth of 4 or even 5.

Foreign manufacturers indicate warmth in TOG. This figure ranges from 5 to 13.5 – the more, the warmer the blanket. Products with an indicator of 5.5-8.0 TOG are considered universal, and if you are looking for the warmest blanket, then look towards TOG 12.0.

A Few Secrets for Choosing the Right Blanket

All of the above tips are essential knowledge, but they are not always enough to make the right choice of a blanket because you also need to consider a lot of subtleties. The experience of other people’s mistakes tells us several small but important nuances:

• Please choose the most uncomplicated design cover, as beautiful patterns, designs, and colors under the duvet cover will not be noticeable, and you will most likely overpay for them.
• They will try to sell you a unique dress with threads or silver ions, which heals from all diseases and almost attracts money to the house. Don’t be in a rush to blindly trust the seller – look for research information. You probably won’t find it.
• Impregnation with antibacterial, thermoregulatory, and anti-mite materials is not a marketing ploy, and only such blankets are more expensive. When buying, ask how many washings the impregnation is designed for.
• Stupid and corny, but do not forget to consider the size of the bedding. Studying the filler material, TOG, and the sewing method, even the wisest buyers sometimes forget to view the product’s size.
• The most breathable filler is down. Silk, cotton, and wool also breathe well. Synthetics in this regard is different for the worse;
• If the blanket’s weight is important to you, then keep in mind that the lightest are products with silk filling—the perfect combination of lightness and low cost for synthetic fillers. Also, not very heavy duvets, but the wool will already be weighty. The record-holder is cotton wool, but we can only find such a blanket in the closet of parents and grandmothers.

Caring Rules

First, let’s list the general rules for all blankets, regardless of the type of filler:

• Regularly the blanket must be ventilated.
• Also, beat regularly so that the filler does not crumple or get off.
• For protection, be sure to use a duvet cover.

Synthetic-filled blankets can be machine washed at home. Most natural fillers require dry cleaning. It is important not to store such items in sealed packaging for a long time.