Down is nature's finest, most efficient insulator, providing lightweight warmth and loft. Insulation in down comes not from the down itself, but rather from the air that it traps in pockets. Heat transfers very slowly between the barriers between air pockets. The smaller the pocket means more barriers, and better insulating power. Down filling is made up of large three-dimensional clusters of down fiber to create loft and insulation. Fill, or Fill Power, are terms used to describe the size and quality of the down cluster. The amount of fill power and loft determines the effectiveness and quality of the down. It is the size and quality of the down cluster, described by the "Fill Power" that is important when it comes to the loft and insulating properties of down. The origin of each product’s down is important to know. Goose down from Asia is very inconsistent in quality and is generally found in less expensive bedding. European and North American down is generally considered to be of superior quality, mostly due to the harvesting, sorting, quality standards and sanitizing procedures which are very highly regulated. A down comforter can be made warmer in two ways: By increasing the quantity, or weight, of down. By using a higher quality of down with greater loft, or fill power A down comforter filled with 60 ounces of 550 fill will be much heavier, yet not as warm, as a comforter filled with 40 ounces of higher quality 750 fill. Warmth without weight is the hallmark of a quality down comforter. Down Down consists of the soft undercoating of waterfowl. It is three-dimensional and is composed of individual fibers that are connected to one another at a central point. Down is what keeps waterfowl warm – even in Arctic conditions. Landfowl, such as chickens and turkeys, do not produce down. Down is the world’s most efficient insulator; it provides lightweight warmth while wicking away moisture, resulting in a consistently comfortable sleep experience. Feathers Two dimensional in shape, feathers from ducks and geese provide lightweight support and are uniquely resilient. Feathers conform to an individual’s sleeping needs. Fill Power Fill power is a good indicator of the insulating ability of down products. Fill power refers to the amount of volume – or space – of one ounce of down, which is measured under laboratory conditions. The more volume taken up by one ounce of down, the higher the fill power will be, and the higher the fill power the more insulation the product will provide per one ounce. Down’s exceptional value comes from its ability to provide lightweight warmth. As the fill power of down increases, it is possible (and often preferable) to use less weight in the product while achieving the same warmth provided by heavier, less comfortable, products. Loft Down products are often described as having “loft;” which essentially refers to the fluffiness of the product. The three dimensional nature of the down itself is what gives it loft. When a down comforter or pillow becomes flattened with use, its loft can be easily restored with plumping or shaking. Washing your down products: All Ringsted Dun products are washable at 140o in a standard washing machine. After washing, it is important to dry the quilt or pillow completely in a tumble drier and put two or three tennis balls in with it. The tennis balls ensure that clumps of down are disentangled and opened up during the drying process. We recommend washing your pillow once or twice a year and your quilt once a year when changing between summer and winter quilts. However, this will depend on your sleeping habits and the number of dogs in the bed! Washing down products if you have allergies: Follow the same procedure as described above, just more often if you want to make absolutely sure there are no house dust mites in your bed. The European Down and Feather Association (EDFA) recommends washing quilts four times a year and pillows 12 times a year. Regular care: It is important that you care for your quilt regularly if you want to enjoy the use of it for many years. When you get up in the morning, make sure the moisture absorbed during the night can escape. Fluff your quilt when you make your bed. This keeps it lofty, light and airy. Don't forget to fluff it from different sides to distribute the filling evenly. It is recommended to air quilt and pillow as often as possible, however always leave the covers on and never in direct sun. It is important never to vacuum or beat the quilt. Use a soft brush instead. Our Certifications: (see descriptions of all standards below) Oeko Tex Standard 100 - Class I NOMITE EN 12934 Class I Downafresh Dannebrog All quilts and pillows from Ringsted Dun are manufactured without the use of harmful substances and chemicals. For this reason, Ringsted Dun was one of the first quilt manufacturers in the world to be certified to the internationally-recognized Oeko-Tex Standard. At Ringsted Dun, all feathers and down are washed, heat-treated and de-dusted. As a result, our products are always a safe choice, because all allergenic bio-organisms have been rendered harmless. Oeko Tex Standard 100 - Class I Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - Class I is an international product testing system for textiles. It has 4 product classes, which differ in the amount of residual chemicals they permit. The classification does not appear on the label. RINGSTED has opted to certify all its products in accordance with the strictest requirements for Class I, which means that the products are suitable for babies (for babies under 12 months, CPSC, the American Academy of pediatrics and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recommend to remove pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskin, pillow-like stuffed toys and other pillow-like soft products from the crib.) The Class I standard specifies very low limit values for, among other things: Formaldehyde (can cause allergies) Heavy metals (can cause eczema and damage internal organs and the central nervous system) Pesticides (can affect the nervous system, internal organs and fertility) Aromatic hydrocarbons (perfume allergies and disorders of the nervous system) NOMITE The NOMITE mark is the consumer's guarantee that the down product cannot harbor house dust mites. The case is woven so tightly that neither house dust mites nor their food flakes of human skin, can penetrate it. Contrary to all the myths, down and feathers do not cause allergic reactions. The culprit is usually the house dust mite and there are several scientific studies documenting this. People who are allergic to house dust mites can therefore safely buy down products bearing the NOMITE mark. Down products are also washable at 60 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough to kill house dust mites. For further information on NOMITE, visit www.nomite.de. EN 12934 Class I Did you know that down and feathers can be labeled in three classes under the EN 12934 standard? RINGSTED only uses new down and feathers of the highest quality (Class I). The other two classes are for inferior qualities. IF there is no information on "class", therefore, the product in question might be Class III. Class III permits the use of more than 15% recycled down/feathers from old products that other people have slept in. All of RINGSTED natural fillings qualities meet the requirements of EN 12934 - Class I. DOWNAFRESH The Downafresh® label is the English version of Daunasan®. It is your guarantee of a clean, high-quality product that has been made in accordance with the strictest washing requirements in Europe. This means that the raw feathers are washed until they satisfy hygiene requirements and dried at more than 100 degree Celsius. This guarantees the removal of: H5N1 (bird flu), keratin (scales from down and feathers", bacteria and mould, soap residiues, as well as other organic residues. Manufacturers who use the Downafresh® label shall request an independent test at least twice a year to confirm compliance with the requirements specified in the Downafresh® procedure. Test laboratories are designated by the European Down and Feather Association, the EDFA. The registration number allocated by the EDFA must be stated when the Downafresh® label is used. The Downafresh® label may only be used by members of the EDFA who manufacture feathers and down, or manufacture and market down and feather products. Dannebrog Dannebrog is the name for the Danish national flag. It guaranties that the products are made in Denmark. The products are then of high quality, carefully checked by Ringsted Dun. Denmark is a small country in Scandinavia (Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Sweden and Norway). It is placed in the northern part of Europe with about 5,200,000 inhabitants. Denmark has traditionally been an agrarian country and agriculture is still a key economic sector. Since the end of World War II, however, manufacturing and services have gained in importance. Modern design is part of the Danes’ national identity and daily life. Many Danish products have become archetypes or icons of 20th. century design. RINGSTED DUN'S quality level is the highest in the industry. For many years they have been building up competence in monitoring the whole process from washing the down and feathers to filling and finishing your quilt and pillow. |
Questions? Contact us via e-Mail at CustomerService@SweetBedBugs.com or by phone (323) 920-0296 Order Toll Free Customer Service hours are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (PST) Monday through Saturday |