With the real down comforter, it would need to be dry-cleaned, where you can machine wash the down alternative. That's one factor. I purchased a down alternative comforter for our duvet for that reason, since with two animals who are on the bed daily, I knew it would need more frequent laundering. I'm very pleased with it, both with the bulk and it's warming capabilities.

I have both and you have a lot more maintenance with the down. As Nanny said you should dry clean and some dry cleaners won't take it anymore...ours won't. Lots of folks on here say they wash theirs and dry it w/ tennis balls to get it fluffy again. We would have to go to the commercial machine as ours is so big. It is really comfy under the alternative and I will not get real down again. Also TJ Maxx has the nicest ones around and they are excellent prices...I have gotten 3 of them for me and my DD. I would not get one from Sam's...just my .02.

I have several down comforters, and one synthetic light weight summer comforter. The down comforters are for winter use and I got the best I could afford.

We live up North and the bedrooms are on the second floor with its own heat zone. I can't sleep in an warm bedroom and we keep the thermostat set at 60. The down comforters, paired with flannel sheets are very warm and cozy,but also very light- not at all like having heavy blankets over you, and I am sure that I have made up for what they cost, many times over, on what I have saved in heating costs.

I don't wash them, because they don't get dirty. They are always in a duvet cover, which does get taken off and washed.

I have loved them so much that I went and bought a down pillow for myself. That wasn't cheap either, but that pillow just plumps right up again. Love it.

Same reasons as above for going with down alternative. It's available in different weights for degree of warmth. I use the lightest version year round.

Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to get the down alternative since I don't even buy clothes that have to be dry cleaned. I'm just curious, what's the difference in the down alternative and a normal comforter?

Laurie

Just FYI, we always wash our down comforters at home with no problems.

I have a down comforter and it always bunches up at the bottom of the duvet.How can I keep it from bunching up?
TIA

I just wanted to add that I've had many 100% down comforters and pillows for years, and I always wash them in the washer and put them in the dryer. You just have to keep fluffing them periodically when drying.

Well, some people are allergic to feathers and down and so they would benefit by using a down alternative comforter which is usually a cotton exterior with a polyester fill.

I also own both. The down should be in a quilt design so it can't move around. I have a channel quilted down comforter and I have to shake it because the down gravitates to the foot of the bed. I do machine wash it with excellent results( put a tennis ball in the dryer with it to fluff it out). I own a king size polyester fill comforter and LOVE it also! It holds it's loft better than a down fill(it's a Wamsutta brand comforter, not cheap junk).

Either is fine with me....if price is a factor....then what ever is on sale is how I chose....:0)

I bought a down comforter and tried it for an evening - that's all I needed. The combination of DH and comforter was way too warm. We switched to a down alternative - love it!

I didn't care for my down comforter; it's in a space bag under the bed. It was always going flat in the middle and fat on the outsides, even though it had boxed channels. I was too warm under it most of the time.

Try a silk comforter for the ultimate in luxury and perfect sleeping. My son swears by his and what I've seen of it (never slept under) I love it. Super light weight. Slumps down to conform to every curve of your body. He sleeps under it summer and winter. Only thing you can't do is pop it in the washing machine; that would ruin it.

There are companies that only use down from dead ducks. My down sleeping bag, for example, is from Sea to Summit and they never use live down.