How to Pick a Feather Pillow

by Lois Lawrence

Overview

If you have decided to purchase a feather pillow, rather than one filled with closely-related down or with synthetic materials like polyester fiberfill or foam, you still have some important decisions to make. Pillow quality can vary a great deal depending on a number of factors including the quality and size of the feathers, whether other materials are layered around or mixed with the feathers, the material used for the covering of the pillow and the techniques used to construct the pillow.
Checking for Quality and Comfort

Step 1

Ask how the feathers have been treated or processed to reduce allergens, assure cleanliness and eliminate odors. If information is not included with the packaging and your vendor cannot provide this information, check the manufacturer's website. Most manufacturers who take extra steps to insure the cleanliness and safety of their feathers will say so in their on-line information pages.
Step 2

Feel the pillow to determine its degree of softness and also to feel for quills. If the feathers are too large you will be able to feel individual quills. Not only will this produce discomfort, but it will also be an indication that the pillow will lose loft more quickly than pillows stuffed with smaller and finer feathers.
Step 3

Listen to the pillow. If you squeeze and rub the pillow as you hold it to your ear, you will hear larger quills rubbing together. Consider that you will hear this as well when you are trying to sleep.
Step 4

Ask where the feathers are placed within the pillow. Some feather pillows feature an outer core of down or other material that add comfort and help keep quills from poking through the covering material and protect you as well from allergens produced by the feathers.
Step 5

Read the washing instructions. A good quality feather pillow should be machine washable and should come with detailed care instructions.

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Feather and down pillows are not the same thing. Although both fillings may come from geese, down is not technically a feather but a cluster of fibers without a quill. Also duck feathers, chopped feathers, and feathers from other birds are sometimes used in pillows of lesser quality.
Feather and down pillows are not the same thing. Although both fillings may come from geese, down is not technically a feather but a cluster of fibers without a quill. Also duck feathers, chopped feathers, and feathers from other birds are sometimes used in pillows of lesser quality.
Feather pillows tend to flatten more quickly than other pillows as the quills gradually align with one another or, in some cases, escape. You may want to choose a pillow with a higher loft than you otherwise might in order to compensate for this.
Feather pillows tend to flatten more quickly than other pillows as the quills gradually align with one another or, in some cases, escape. You may want to choose a pillow with a higher loft than you otherwise might in order to compensate for this.