Microfibre: tightly woven and designed to keep all those pesky dust mites and airborne allergens out, microfibre is a go-to choice for seasonal allergy sufferers. Despite the compact nature of the fibres, microfiber is also light and breathable. However, it’s worth noting that hot sleepers might find they trap more body heat than other materials. As the name suggests, feather and down duvets combine feathers, the outer part of a bird’s plumage, with down, the lighter, fluffier fibres that lie beneath feathers and provide insulation. The ratio of feather to down will affect the duvet's warmth and price.

Anti-allergy, in contrast means that the duvet has been specially treated to prevent the development of dust mites, protect against dust-mite infestation, or both. As you’d expect, it’s a belief that tends to be propagated by the makers of synthetic duvets, and hotly disputed by the makers of down ones! It should also not be confused with the fact that some people are specifically allergic to feathers themselves (the numbers affected by this problem are relatively small). However, you'll need to be careful when looking after a wool duvet – washing too often and at too high a temperature will reduce its lifespan. Silk duvets: pros and cons

The best kids’ duvets for 2023 are:

You'll know your duvet is due for an upgrade when the filling becomes limp or uneven, or it starts coming through the casing. Get help deciding what to buy with our guides to the best mattresses and the best pillows. Duvet types explained Hypoallergenic doesn't mean the same thing as anti-allergy, so it's important to know the difference before buying.

It's one of the lightest and most supple fillings, meaning even a 14-tog microfibre duvet will feel light. Some people prefer this as the duvet won't feel heavy on you as you sleep, while others prefer a heavier, more closely hugging duvet. If you're not sure which you'd prefer, make sure you try them out in store before buying. Cons: More expensive than hollowfibre, has to be professionally laundered, some people can be allergic to the filling Hollowfibre or microfibre polyester duvets are the most popular type among Which? members – nearly half own one of these. These all correspond to different mattress sizes. If you tend to feel cold in bed, go for the next size up from your mattress size (for example, if you have a double bed, use a king-size duvet), so that the duvet flows over the edges to keep warm air in and any draughts out.Tog, size and type of filling were the three most important considerations reported by the duvet owners we asked. Other important factors included whether the duvet was machine washable, labelled hypoallergenic, and how much it cost. We asked duvet owners whether they felt buying one helped. One third felt their anti-allergic or hypoallergenic duvet had made a fair difference to allergy symptoms and around one in five felt it helped just a little. Often viewed as the height of luxury, silk duvets are naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, and therefore ideal for people with eczema or asthma. Like wool, silk will help you stay cool in summer and warm in winter. Like all natural fillings though, they will need to be professionally laundered. Microfibre duvets: pros and cons Higher-quality bedding should last longer, but experts recommend changing out your duvet every five years. Organic cotton: a fantastic choice for those with sensitive skin, organic cotton is pesticide free, hypoallergenic, pigment-free and therefore void of any harmful finishing chemicals such as bleach and formaldehyde. Though hypoallergenic duvets won’t be filled with cotton alone, they are often encased in organic cotton for extra protection against allergens.

Cons: Can be expensive, needs to be washed gently at a low temperature, can seem flat in comparison with other fillings verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Washing at lower temperatures can dissolve the dust mite droppings that trigger most people's reactions, which will fix the issue temporarily. However, to kill the dust mites themselves, you need to wash at 60C or above. but the mites will survive, so it's not a long-term solution. Aim to wash your duvet every six months (bedding that sits against your skin covers – so sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases – should be washed weekly or fortnightly). Just to spell it out: any duvet that proclaims itself ‘anti-allergy’ but is not washable at 60C is no such thing. 2. Look for 'anti-allergy' rather than 'hypoallergenic'

Hypoallergenic means that the actual material and filling of the duvet isn't made of a known potential allergen, like feathers or wool. But other allergens, mainly dust mites, can still develop on these types of duvets.