Top 5 pillow fillers

Pillows surround us everywhere: cushion pads, seat cushions, decorative for interior decoration, cushions under the back ... But still, we sleep more often on cushions. According to scientists, in our lives we spend up to 30 years in our sleep, so the composition and properties of the pillow affect the quality of our entire life. In this article you will learn about the five best fillers for pillows in the bedroom. And let us begin our acquaintance with a brief description (the fillers in the table are arranged alphabetically).

The best pillow fillers

Type of filler	Description	Nomination
Bamboo	Bamboo fiber	The most eco-friendly
Buckwheat husk	Ground husks of buckwheat grain	Most beneficial to health
Natural latex	Hevea juice specially treated, elastic, homogeneous material	The best filler for orthopedic pillows
Feather	Pure bird fluff or a mixture of fluff and feather	The most popular
Holofiber	Polyester Balls	The best substitute for fluff

Bamboo fiber
the best eco-friendly pillow filler

Bamboo fiber cushion

Bamboo fiber

 

Bamboo stalks have an antimicrobial effect, pests do not attack it, therefore it is not necessary to use chemicals during cultivation. And bamboo grows very quickly. After cutting the stem, it just continues to grow. Therefore, it belongs to the category of environmentally friendly fillers.

To obtain the filler, the soft core of young bamboo stalks is crushed and turned into a homogeneous mass, from which the yarns are then made. Bamboo filler consists of thin, elastic filaments about 20 cm long, pentahedral in section, with a large number of microcavities. Pillow filler is soft, gentle and silky.

From reviews about pillows with bamboo filler:

“Very light pillow, I would even say - air. Straight in love with her. Soft There is no smell. The head is resting, the neck is not numb, you do not sweat. "

Pluses of bamboo filler for pillows:

• softness, elasticity: it is comfortable to sleep on such a pillow, it takes the form of a head and quickly recovers in the morning,
• well passes air ("breathes"),
• a little crumpled, does not fall down,
• thanks to the porous structure, it absorbs moisture well, which then evaporates easily, the cushion will be warm in winter and cool in summer
• does not allow microbes and linen mites to develop,
• almost does not cause allergies
• does not absorb foreign odors,
• It is easy to take care of the pillow - it is enough to air or wash in manual mode and then dry in a horizontal position (it is better not to hang it up).

Cons bamboo filler for pillows:

• if improperly stored or dried, the filler may be deformed, lumped;
• the second “minus” is popularity: unscrupulous sellers often try to sell the usual synthetic pillow under the name “bamboo pillows”, in which only the fabric of the cover contains a certain percentage of bamboo fiber.

Buckwheat husk
the most healthy filler for pillows

Buckwheat husk pillow

 

For the production of the filler, buckwheat hulls are separated from the grains, steamed, sieved, blown by the air flow, and dried well. To choose a good pillow, it is recommended to open the cover (it is specially made on the velcro) and inspect the filler: it must be completely dry, clean, free of foreign odors, easy to roll, produce a characteristic rustling. The case should also be made from natural fabrics.

From reviews about buckwheat pillows:

“Buckwheat hulls are the best filler for pillows! My neck used to hurt every morning, it became numb. Helped in an orthopedic store.The pillow with buckwheat husk at night takes the form of my neck, and the appearance during the day remains as at the moment of purchase. The husk is unpretentious, has a neutral smell. They got used to the rustling quickly, comfort overpowers, free rotation of the neck without pain to the right and left costs light inconvenience. By the way, there will be no immediate effect, my neck has gone through 7 days, but now I don’t even remember when the pain was. I especially like that the pillow is suitable for allergies. My husband is allergic to fluff, he does not tolerate even "hypoallergenic" pillows. And on this sleeps all night. "

The advantages of buckwheat husk:

• gives orthopedic and massage effect, suitable for spinal diseases (osteochondrosis, scoliosis, etc.), for allergies, chronic fatigue, helps to eliminate snoring, is suitable for pregnant women,
• environmentally friendly and safe
• do not start ticks
• does not collect dust
• does not roll into lumps,
• does not cause allergies
• easily absorbs and gives up moisture, suitable for people with excessive sweating,
• adapts to the shape of the body (this process takes time, get ready for the fact that it may take up to 2 weeks to adapt to a new pillow),
• elastic, well supported head and allows you to relax,
• pillow density is easy to adjust (removing or filling the filling material, it is sold in some orthopedic salons),
• well passes air ("breathes"), does not heat up in the summer,
• has a pleasant natural smell.

Cons of buckwheat husk:

• rigidity (for the body it is just useful, but the transition from a down pillow to buckwheat can be difficult and long),
• heavier than, for example, a down pillow of the same size: a pillow filled with buckwheat husk 40x60 weighs about 3 kg,
• rustles (at first it is very unusual, but the rustling even helps many people to relax and fall asleep),
• requires special care: you can not wash, just vacuum with a vacuum through the cover, you need to air and dry, and also regularly give to dry cleaning,
• shelf life is limited to 3-5 years (the husks wear out with heavy use),
• if the raw material was of poor quality, the filler will crumble quickly, and the pad will lose its healing properties.

Natural latex
the best filler for orthopedic pillows

Latex pillow

 

Latex filler for pillows is obtained from hevea juice by curing and foaming. Most often, latex is used for orthopedic purposes, because it allows you to give the pillow a certain shape to maintain the spine in the correct position. In modern pillows you can find a combined filler: goose down or llama wool, giving softness, with a central insert made of latex, which is responsible for elasticity.

From latex pillow reviews:

“Latex is the best filler for pillows; it is a pleasure to sleep on such a pillow. You seem to be falling into it - you are lying “in the pillow” and not on top of it, as is the case with synthetic pillows. You don't sweat with her. Beat not necessary. And if we watch a movie, we fold the pillow in half, it turns out to be a great back. ”

Pros latex filler:

• it is safe, does not allow to get to mites and microbes, does not cause an allergy,
• soft,
• elastic,
• hygienic, easy to care for (can be washed in manual mode at temperatures up to 40 °),
• does not absorb foreign odors,
• adapts to the shape of the body, keeps its shape well,
• durable.

Cons latex filler:

• poorly absorbs moisture, will not suit people with high sweating,
• you need to get used to the pillow, it may take time
• high price for natural latex (unlike similar artificial fillers)

Down and feather
best popular filler for pillows

Goose down

 

Down and feather pillow

For filling pillows best suited goose down and feather. This material is very affordable, geese are grown everywhere in our country. A goose feather retains heat well and poorly - moisture.Goose down is extremely warm (especially in northern geese). Suffice it to recall the way geese live in nature. Geese are the only type of domestic birds from which down and feather are collected during their lifetime. Removing a feather at a time when geese start to shed (and this happens 2 times a year, in summer and autumn), it is completely safe for birds and does not hurt them.

Duck down slightly inferior to goose in quality - it is less resilient, more rigid, keeps heat a little worse. In addition, with one duck we get much less fluff and feather than with one goose. Pooh chickens does not possess the necessary properties. In Europe, the use of chicken fluff is completely forbidden (in some countries) due to its increased ability to absorb moisture: chicken fluff is difficult to clean properly by washing or steam (then not to dry), during use such a pillow becomes damp and the fluff begins to decompose. And it is already dangerous to health.

Depending on the composition of down-feather filler for pillows is divided into categories in accordance with GOST. The most expensive - downy category “extra” - contains not less than 90% of soft goose down and not more than 10% of small goose feather. The cheapest semi-down contains up to 50% of duck down and 85-50% of small and medium-sized duck feather. The Russian GOST-e also describes fillers from chicken fluff and feathers.

Inside the pillow there can be a uniform mixture of down and feather or separate chambers with down and feather. For example, there may be three cameras:

• in the middle - a filler with a predominance of a small feather (70-100%), which gives elasticity to the pillow,
• in the two side chambers, down is predominant (up to 90%, 10% is a small feather), this makes the pillow soft, as if it were made of pure down.

Three-chamber down-feather pillow

From reviews about pillows with down-feather filler:

“I can only sleep on feather pillows, with my other fillers my moody dream is simply not friendly. I tried many different ones and eventually returned to the combination of down-feather - the best filler for pillows. I liked this one at the first touch. Does not wrinkle, keeps the shape perfectly. "

Plysy feather and feather filler for pillows:

• naturalness
• softness,
• with proper care will serve years
• well passes air ("breathes"),
• keeps well the shape, volume, pillow easily beat and make again soft and fluffy.

Cons down-feather filler for pillows:

• ticks may appear, and because of them - allergies,
• require special care: you need to clean and air regularly, it is difficult to do at home, it is better to dry clean,
• can absorb foreign odors,
• if the pillow-cap is thin, the spiky tips of the feathers can crawl out.

Holofiber
the best filler for replacement pillows down

Holofiber

Holofiber cushion

 

Holofiber is a synthetic material, but completely safe. It consists of polyester filaments twisted in the form of balls or springs. Such pillows are very light, airy, while elastic and durable. Maternity pillows are often made with holofiber.

From reviews of pillows with holofiber:

"The pillow is comfortable, soft, light, on it is good and nice to sleep."

Advantages of holofiber:

• light and soft
• affordable price,
• well breathable
• keeps warm well
• does not cause allergies
• mites and germs do not start there,
• durable
• not electrified
• does not absorb odors.

Cons holofiber:

• It happens that rolls into lumps (from improper washing, long use, etc.).

Summary. What kind of pillow is better to choose?

In fact, pillow fillers are much larger. In addition to those we have already mentioned, it can be:

• wool (sheep, llama wool, etc.),
• linen,
• dry grass, straw,
• synthetic winterizer
• polyester,
• comfort,
• Fiberlon,
• flizelin ...

There are even more modern synthetic fillers with a memory effect.When recommending a pillow, we recommend that you first study the pros and cons of the filler “in theory”, and then be sure to go to the store and go to practice: feel the pillow, try to bend it, crumple, if you can - lie down on it. At least leaning the pillow against the wall and snuggle your head - you already get an idea of ​​how to sleep on it. This way you can find the right pillow. Have a good shopping!