Cotton; we all know it...
...and we all know a thing or two about it. Cotton comes from the cotton plant and is widely used in clothing. If you wash cotton at too high a temperature, it can shrink. What can truly be said about cotton is that it is versatile. It comes in many varieties and weaves (percale, satin, flannel) and, besides textiles, is also highly suitable as a filling for your duvet.
The origin of cotton
Cotton mainly comes from tropical and subtropical countries where temperatures are relatively high, such as China, India, the United States, and Peru. The cotton plant is harvested either mechanically or by hand, with every part of the cotton boll being put to use from oil (from the seeds) to animal feed (from the outer shell). The cotton fibre itself is collected and either spun for use in textiles or used as filling for products such as duvets.
Why choose a cotton duvet?
Over the years, cotton has truly become a favourite among many and for good reason. Cotton regulates both moisture and temperature and is hypoallergenic thanks to how well it can be washed.
Because it is washable, a cotton duvet is often a practical choice, especially for children. As a filling, cotton truly lives up to its reputation it is incredibly versatile.
Washing cotton bedding
Cotton is often chosen for its washability. After all, wool is not washable, and down generally benefits more from a trip to the dry cleaner than from being put in the washing machine. In that respect, we completely understand the choice for cotton. However, we do feel it’s important to go into this a bit further.
Cotton is a (beautiful) natural product and, if not washed and/or dried properly, it can start to clump together. This can easily be prevented by placing the duvet in the dryer immediately after the wash cycle finishes (and yes, this only takes a few seconds). Preferably, use dryer balls or (clean) tennis balls.
What is the best cotton duvet?
There is a wide range of cotton duvets available, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming to choose the right one. To be honest, there isn’t a single “best” duvet. This applies not only to cotton but to all types of duvets, because it ultimately depends on what suits you and your sleeping situation best.
Does the temperature in your bedroom stay fairly consistent throughout the year, between 15 and 20 degrees? Then an all-year duvet is a great choice. This is a single duvet with a filling weight designed to keep you comfortable all year round.
Does your bedroom get quite warm in summer and very cold in winter? Then a four-season duvet is the better option. This is a dual duvet designed for changing temperatures.
Your duvet will become wonderfully fluffed up and airy again. We do recommend washing only single duvets. If you place a larger duvet or multiple duvets in the washing machine at the same time, the drum can become overloaded (as the duvets absorb water), causing the temperature to rise—this increases the risk of shrinkage.
It consists of a summer duvet and an all-year duvet, which together feel like a winter duvet. The beauty of this is that you can separate them, giving you a suitable duvet for every season.
We are happy to tell you all about cotton
And we haven’t even touched on cotton bedding, which is also a true delight for your bedroom. But we’ll come back to that in a future blog.
Percale cotton, cotton satin or flannel cotton each offers a different sleep experience and caters to a specific preference. Flannel cotton, for example, is wonderfully soft, warm, and highly absorbent, while cotton satin is smooth and features a beautiful, luxurious sheen.
So here too, it’s a case of different people, different preferences and plenty of cotton options to match. One thing we do know for sure: whether it’s used as a filling for your duvet or as bedding, we’re happy to tell you all about cotton!