Everyone wants to achieve the perfect night’s sleep and one guaranteed way to improve your comfort levels is ensuring you are using the most suitable duvet to fit your sleeping needs. To achieve this, the first question to ask yourself is what tog is best?
With a mixture of options available, it helps to know the differences between them to whittle down your choices. In this article, we explain all there is to know about duvets, their filling materials, and tog ratings.
What Does Tog Mean?
The British term “tog” is short for thermal overall grade, which simply means how effective the duvet is at trapping warm air to ensure thermal insulation. This effectiveness comes down to its quality, weight, and fillings. The higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet.
The scale ranges from 1-18, with lower tog duvets usually being reserved for summertime. Higher tog ratings, by contrast, are more commonly used in the winter.
Duvet Tog Temperature Guide
|
Tog Rating |
Season |
Recommended For |
|
1.0 - 4.5 |
Summer |
To be used as a lightweight summer duvet, or anyone who is naturally warm and doesn't want to overheat in bed |
|
7.5 - 10.5 |
Spring |
To be used as a "year-round" duvet, these are middle of the measurement duvets, although most suited for spring or autumn. |
|
13.5 - 18 |
Winter |
To be used as winter duvets, these are the heaviest & warmest types of duvet so will retain the most heat. |
- 1.0 - 4.5 Tog: these lower tog ratings will be used as a lightweight summer duvet or for anyone who is naturally warm and doesn’t want to overheat in bed.
- 7.5 - 10.5 Tog: these are middle-of-the-measurement scale togs and are considered “year-round” duvets. Although, they are most suited for spring and autumn months.
- 13.5 - 18 Tog: these are the heaviest and warmest types of duvets. They will retain the most heat to keep you snug during the colder winter months.
What Duvet Materials Are There?
Once a tog rating has been selected, the next step is deciding on the duvet filling. There are two common choices for this. Synthetic and natural both have their benefits, so selecting the right one is key.
To help you decide, we’ve highlighted some of the advantages and drawbacks of these two material types:
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of A Natural Duvet?
Most natural duvets will contain the following fillings:
- Goose or duck down: down is the fluffy undercoat found beneath the feathers of ducks and geese. Protected from the elements, it has a luxurious, warm feel making it the perfect material for a high quality duvet. The disadvantage of down is that this filling can be a lot more expensive than a standard duvet and some people may suffer allergy-like symptoms.
- Goose or duck feathers: feather duvets offer increased durability against a standard synthetic duvet. However, they may not be as warm as goose and duck down, and feathers can escape over time.
- Wool: used in mattresses a lot due to its natural thermoregulating properties, wool is a great choice for a duvet and is naturally hypoallergenic. The disadvantage is that it may not be as soft as feather or down duvets.
- Silk: similar to wool, silk is soft, breathable and hypoallergenic, making it a great choice for those with allergies. The disadvantage is that it can be more expensive than other natural options.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Synthetic Duvet?
Synthetic duvets are typically filled with hollowfibre polyester or microfibre, and are a great budget-friendly alternative to natural filling duvets.
Advantages of microfibre and hollowfibre
- Easy Care: making them easy to maintain and care for, synthetic duvets are machine washable and dryable.
- Hypoallergenic: due to them containing no natural fillings such as duck or goose feathers, synthetic duvets are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
- Durable: microfibre and hollowfibre are less prone to clumping or flattening compared to natural fillings. This makes them more durable long-term.
- Vegan Friendly: microfibre and hollowfibre are both man-made materials which make them a great choice for people who follow a vegan lifestyle.
- Cost-Effective: due to the lack of natural fillings, synthetic duvets are typically a lot more budget-friendly.
Disadvantages of microfibre and hollowfibre
- Less Breathable: when used in warmer temperatures, synthetic duvets can feel hot and stuffy as there’s no natural fillings being used as thermoregulators.
- Less Luxurious Feel: as there’s no silk, cotton, feather or down used in synthetic duvets, they can feel slightly less comfortable to the touch.
- Can Lose Loft Over Time: microfibre and hollowfibre duvets can need replacing more frequently due to them losing their insulating properties over time.
How Big Should My Duvet Be?
Duvets can often be found in sizes that match bed frames. Super king beds, for example, can be paired with super king duvets. But, sticking to this convention isn’t necessary.
For example, if you like to wrap up under the covers and are prone to stealing the sheets, oversizing your duvet can be helpful. In some situations, you and your partner may have different resting temperatures and may need your own duvets made of different materials and tog ratings. So, while there isn’t a universal answer to this question, a lot of it depends on your needs and preferences.
How To Clean a Duvet
Keeping your duvet clean is especially important. The longer you use your duvet without cleaning, the more and more bacteria can gather and grow over time. This can lead to allergy-like symptoms, cause acne, and can cause a duvet to smell.
The act of cleaning a duvet will largely depend on its condition. Spills and crumbs, for example, should be wiped up quickly to prevent staining and discomfort. However, you should also consider giving your duvet a thorough clean every few months. Make sure you stick to the washing instructions on the tag of your duvet, though, as not doing so can potentially cause damage.
If your washing machine has enough space to fit a duvet, running it through a full cycle with some detergent should be more than enough to keep it free from bacteria. If your washing machine isn’t big enough, you can try hand-washing it in the bath, or even taking it to a local laundrette.
Thankfully a stylish duvet cover can also be used to protect your duvet from spills and dirt, and to complement your bedroom décor.
More Sleep Guidance and Tips
The science of achieving the perfect night’s sleep comes from multiple different elements. For more help with sleeping routines, choosing the right bed frame, and more, stick to the Bed Factory Direct blog.