why you shouldn't buy down filled products

Facts About Down

The following information was found on the internet.

Federal trade commission states that products labeled as “100% down” can only contain down of duck or goose. ­Duck down can be no less than 90% duck down & 10% duck feathers.

You never do receive 100 percent down in any down filled product even though the label says 100 percent down, be it duck or goose down.

­Down becomes more allergenic over time as it becomes contaminated with moisture, mold, dust mites, etc.

Isn’t it comforting to know that a down sleeping bag or garment becomes more, meaning it already is allergenic, more allergenic over time as it is being used. This also tells you that the down is allergenic even after it has been cleaned and sold to the product manufacturer. This tells me that down is always allergenic. What is not mentioned are the various chemicals that are used to clean the down after it has been removed from the birds! While I could not find a list of chemicals used I would not bet against them being toxic in the first place. The chemicals involved are absorbed by the down and feathers and I suspect that they are never completely washed out of the feathers and down follicles.

When down processors in the USA receive down they further add chemicals to the down such as water repellency and antimicrobials, these are chemicals that are not good for the human body to associate with.

Can you Clean Down at Home?

Yes, you can. Down can be cleaned in home, but with it being feathers and an absorbent type of filling, it can be difficult. Precautions need to be taken.

Down if not taken care of properly can mold, mildew & absorb smells. If not dried thoroughly, down can lose its thermal properties. It will clump, and begin to rot, mold/mildew, & begin to smell.

Isn’t it comforting to know that down will versus can mold and absorb smells? As for laundering isn’t it nice to know that laundering does destroy the down!!! Is it any wonder why companies that either make or have made for them down filled products DO NOT WANT YOU TO WASH THEM!!!

The numbers of people calling or writing asking about the chemicals found in Wiggy’s sleeping bags has escalated dramatically in the past 4 years and my response is a simple one. All of the materials I use for my sleeping bags have what is known in the industry as “pure finish” which means there are no additives such as water repellency or any other chemical applied to the fabrics. As I have noted in the past all of the companies that reference a durable water repellent finish on their fabrics don’t tell you the “dwr” is not very durable at all. So you pay for a treatment that disappears in short order. The “dwr” is applied to the face fabrics of ALL of the waterproof breathable (?) fabrics but it disappears so they offer a “dwr” treatment to apply to the fabric. So you add back to the fabric a chemical that is destined to breakdown and disappear quickly.

It is my opinion that the number of chemically sensitive people has increased because so many companies are using materials that have any number of chemicals added to the fabric before it is ever cut into a garment. This contributes to the problem of causing people to develop chemical sensitivities. Then so much of what is currently worn by people in the USA is made in China and there is no telling how the materials have been dyed and finished, as in the chemicals used. The chemicals leach into the skin and after a while there is an accumulative effect, hence chemical sensitivity.

So I ask; do you really want to buy a down sleeping bag or any other down filled garment?