Having a solid pillow that suit your needs is very important if you want to achieve optimal sleep. And we all want to sleep well. Sleeping well leads to improved healthy, energy and well-being.
In this complete buyers guide, I will guide you through everything you need to know about feather pillows. Whether or not feather is the right material type for you, how long they last, provide you with a detailed review of the best feather pillows currently on the market and much more.
So, without further ado, let’s get to it.
What is a Feather Pillow?
Feather pillows are most often made from natural duck or goose feathers. The feathers are plucked from the wings or back of the bird, and they come as they are with the quill down the middle and everything. The heavier the structure of the feathers are, the better support for your head, neck and longevity they provide.
Why Should You Use a Feather Pillow?
Feather pillows are among the top three most popular options when it comes to picking pillows, and for good reasons. There are many great benefits of sleeping on a feather filled pillow, with the biggest ones being:
- They are durable
- They provide great support
- They provide great temperature control
- They are fairly easy to take care of
- They are lightweight
- They are hypoallergenic
- They are fairly soft and comfortable
- They are malleable and easy to shape
- They are failry affordable
With that said, like most things there aren’t only benefits, some of feather pillows drawbacks include:
- They can be complicated to clean
- The gathering of feathers are harmful to the animals
- They tend to flatten during your sleep
- New pillows have an odor
- The feather quills tend to poke through the pillowcase
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If you want to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks listed above, and if a feather pillow is for you, you can do so by reading our post: Why Should You Use a Feather Pillow? The pros & cons
Down vs. Feather Pillows: What’s the difference and is one better?
One common question people have when looking to buy a pillow with feathers is if they should pick a down or feather pillow.
While both of these pillows are good choices there are some differences, which include:
| Down and Feather Pillows: Their Differences | ||
| Down | Feather | |
| Cost | Expensive | Less Expensive |
| Feel | Incredibly Soft | More Firm |
| Temperature | Sleeps Warm | Sleeps Cool |
| Maintenance | May be Washable | Dry Clean Only |
| Sustainability | Biodegradable | Biodegradable |
| Durability | Lasts Longer | Not as Durable |
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If you want to learn more about whether a down or feather pillow is best for you, check out our post: Down vs. Feather Pillows: What’s the difference and which is better?
How Long Do Feather Pillows Last?
It’s estimated that a well cared for feather pillow can last between 3 to 5 years. However, because of frequent usage and other hygiene factors, it is advised that you change your feather pillows every 12 to 24 months.
You will probably want to replace your latex pillow once you experience some of the following things:
- You wake up with neck or shoulder pain
- The pillows don’t give you enough support and comfort when you want to sleep
- You wake up with headaches and migraines
- Waking up with difficulty breathing and other allergy symptoms such as sneezing and rashes.
- Waking up feeling exhausted because sleeping was a struggle.
- Flat or lumpy pillows are usually due to overuse.
- Your pillow needs replacement if it has lost its springy quality. One way to test this is to fold your pillow in two and it does not unfold quickly.
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You can read more about feather pillows replacement time as well as tips for making your feather pillow last longer in our post: How Long Do Feather Pillows Last? This is the replacement time
How to Wash And Dry a Feather Pillow
If you already own a feather pillow or if you decide to buy one, you’ll at some point probably wonder how to clean it. Afterall, cleaning your pillow will make it last longer, which means you won’t need to replace your pillow(s) as often.
Now, there will be different reasons behind needing to clean your pillow, these stretch from regular maintenance/cleaning to removing tough spills etc.
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Read our post: How to Wash And Dry a Feather Pillow: Step by step guide to learn how to clean it correctly.
How to Stop Your Feather Pillow From Leaking Feathers
Few things are as annoying as a leaking quill piercing the back of your head while you try to drift of to sleep.
But, be annoyed no more. There are a few things you can do to prevent your pillow from leaking feathers, and these include:
- Use a pillow protector to avoid the feathers from falling out.
- To keep your pillow fluffy and soft, avoid washing it too frequently.
- Carefully check your seams for any leaks that you can patch up.
- Please do not use your feather pillow for pillow fights since it quickly damages your pillow.
Learn More
Check out our post: How to Stop Your Feather Pillow From Leaking Feathers for a detailed step by step guide to prevent and stop your pillow from leaking feathers.
The Best Feather Pillows Currently on The Market
Okay, so you’ve come to the end of this guide and perhaps you’ve learned that a feather pillow is exactly what you need. If that’s the case, we created a full guide and review of the best feather pillows currently on the market.
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So, if you’re interested in an unbiased review of the best feather pillows currently available, you can check out that review here.
