The best pillow filler. Tips for choosing. Healing camel or sheep wool.

Choosing the wrong pillow can lead to more than poor sleep and feeling fatigued in the morning. Staying the spine for 8-10 hours every night in a non-physiological position is fraught with the development of cervical osteochondrosis. One of the most important parameters when buying this bedding is the material inside. Consider which pillows are better to buy, with which filler, and also find out the disadvantages of each of them.

The main types of pillow fillers

Before we figure out which pillow filler is the best, let's decide on their list. All of them are divided into natural and synthetic. Natural materials can be of plant or animal origin.

Natural plant-based pillow fillers:

• buckwheat husk (husk);
• seaweed;
• bamboo;
• latex;
• silk;
• medicinal herbs;
• cotton.

Natural animal pillow fillers:

• down and feather;
• camel and sheep wool;
• horsehair.

Synthetic pillow fillers:

• synthetic winterizer;
• komel and holofiber;
• gel;
• expanded polystyrene balls;
• memory foam.

Allocate orthopedic pillows... The main property of such products is the ability to maintain the cervical spine in line with the chest. Due to this, the additional load on the discs is removed, muscle spasms and circulatory disorders in the brain are prevented.

Orthopedic pillows are intended for people suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, but they can also be used for preventive purposes. For the manufacture of such bedding, moderately rigid materials are used that keep their shape well: latex, husk, wool, memory foam.

Note: The term "synthetics", used in connection with the description of certain items of home textiles, is perceived negatively in most cases. But when choosing a pillow, you should not immediately give up artificial fillers... Modern synthetic materials no worse than natural cope with their functions.

Buckwheat husk

Asking the question, which filler is better, it is worth knowing that buckwheat husk is considered the most useful for health. It is produced by cleaning, steaming and grinding buckwheat grains.

Benefits:

• environmental friendliness;
• hygiene and antibacterial - mites do not start in the husk, and dust does not accumulate;
• massage effect;
• elasticity;
• orthopedic - supports the head, allowing you to relax;
• breathability;
• delicate pleasant aroma;
• hypoallergenic;
• hygroscopicity.

Disadvantages:

• rigidity;
• rustling;
• relatively large weight;
• service life - 2-3 years;
• difficulty in leaving;
• does not retain heat (in summer this disadvantage turns into a virtue).

The husked pillow cannot be washed. It should be periodically vacuumed and dry-cleaned. In addition, the filler must be sieved, ventilated and dried.

Bamboo

When deciding which pillow filler to choose, you need to consider the properties of bamboo fiber. This material is one of the most environmentally friendly. It is made from bamboo stems. Their core is crushed, heat treated and turned into thin elastic fibers about 20 cm long.

Benefits:

• antibacterial properties - bamboo repels pests;
• environmental friendliness - no chemicals are used when growing plants;
• low allergenicity;
• elasticity and softness;
• breathability;
• hygroscopicity;
• ease of care - can be washed by hand or in a delicate mode in the machine;
• durability - lasts up to 7 years.

A pillow with bamboo filling keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. It does not build up static electricity and does not absorb odors.

• it is necessary to beat regularly;
• if washed or dried improperly, the fiber may deform.

Latex

When figuring out which natural pillow filler is better if you have back problems, you should take into account that latex has the highest orthopedic properties. It is obtained from hevea juice, which is vulcanized and foamed.

Benefits:

• antibacterial and hygienic - mites and microbes do not get in the pillow;
• hypoallergenic;
• elasticity;
• ease of care - washable at 40 °;
• orthopedic - keeps its shape, creates support for the spine, adjusts to the outline of the body;
• service life - 5-7 years;
• does not absorb odors;
• does not get lost, does not crumple.

Disadvantages:

• poorly absorbs moisture;
• in the first weeks after purchase, a specific smell is felt;
• high price.

Other plant fillers

Bamboo, buckwheat and latex are the most popular vegetable fillers for pillows. But you can find products with other fillings, among them:

• Seaweed. The filler is made from dried sea plants and steam bonded polyester fibers. It is hypoallergenic, hygienic, hygroscopic and breathable, as well as medicinal, since it contains trace elements (selenium, zinc, iodine, manganese) that are released into the air. Cons - softness and difficulty in maintaining the pillow (cannot be washed). Service life - 3-5 years.
• Silk. The stuffing consists of a multitude of the finest natural silk threads. The material is characterized by hypoallergenicity, softness, elasticity, hygiene, hygroscopicity, as well as thermoregulatory properties. The downside is the high price of such pillows. Service life - 10-15 years.
• Cotton. Fluffed cotton fibers absorb moisture well, allow air to pass through, retain heat and do not cause allergies. But such a product quickly deforms during use. Service life - 1-2 years.
• Herbs - lavender, mint, thyme, cones, hops. They exude a pleasant scent to help you relax. Pillows with this stuffing are used as additional bedding.

Animal Pillow Fillers

Feather

When asked which filler is better for pillows, many people will not hesitate to say: down and feather. This classic padding is familiar to everyone from early childhood. It is made from raw materials obtained from waterfowl - geese, ducks. The properties of the pillow depend on the proportion of soft down and harder feathers. They can be mixed or placed in different chambers. Raw materials obtained from geese are considered softer and more elastic than duck.

Benefits:

• softness;
• regulation of heat exchange;
• hygroscopicity;
• breathability;
• retention of heat;
• quick recovery of the pillow shape after beating;
• the term of use is 5-7 years.

Disadvantages:

• the risk of mites and dust accumulation;
• low orthopedicity of the pillow - poorly supports the spine;
• high allergenicity;
• difficulty in care - it is necessary to periodically clean and dry the feather;
• absorbs odors;
• quality pillows are expensive;
• thorny feathers can crawl out of the pillowcase.

Wool

Sheep wool contains a valuable substance - lanolin. This animal wax has medicinal properties for rheumatism and joint pain. In the production of pillow filler, wool is treated with a high temperature. This allows it to be purified and retained in lanolin.

Benefits:

• elasticity;
• hygroscopicity;
• breathability;
• therapeutic effect;
• retention of heat;
• repelling dirt;
• the term of use is 3-5 years.

Disadvantages:

• the risk of moth and tick breeding;
• high allergenicity;
• may aggravate asthma;
• rolls down, deforms;
• the pillow cannot be washed.

Horsehair has similar characteristics, but is coarser than wool. They are usually supplemented with other padding to increase the firmness and orthopedicity of the pillows.

In modern bedding, different materials are often combined, for example, soft goose down with elastic latex. Due to this, the consumer properties of the products are significantly improved.

Synthetic pillow fillers

Comforrel and holofiber

Most demanded synthetic fillers for pillows are made on the basis of polyester (polyester). The main ones are:

• holofiber - non-woven material consisting of spiral-shaped polyester fibers that form many air cavities;
• komevel - polyester treated with high temperature, antibacterial impregnation and silicone, which is a large number of small elastic balls up to 7 mm in diameter.

In fact, the properties of these fillers are identical. The dissimilar names are due to the fact that the materials were developed and patented by different companies.

Benefits of holofiber and comfort:

• breathability;
• hygroscopicity;
• low allergenicity;
• regulation of heat exchange;
• elasticity and softness;
• light weight;
• ease of care - pillows are allowed to be washed;
• strength;
• hygiene;
• do not accumulate static electricity;
• do not absorb odors;
• affordable price;
• service life - 5 years.

The only drawback of fillers based on polyester is that with prolonged use and improper care, they can clump in the pillow.

Sintepon

The predecessor of holofiber and komoreli is a synthetic winterizer. It is used in the manufacture of inexpensive pillows.

Material advantages:

• softness;
• breathability;
• hypoallergenic;
• ease of care.

Disadvantages:

• quickly loses its shape;
• service life - 1-2 years;
• does not provide the necessary support to the spine.

Gel

Gel pillows are the newest invention. Most often, they are based on latex or high-viscosity foam, to which are added gel-filled inserts.

Benefits:

• hygiene;
• hypoallergenic;
• pillows adapt to the anatomical features of a person, reducing the load on the spine;
• have a memory effect;
• characterized by a cooling and massage effect;
• long service life.

The disadvantages of the product include the high price, the need to get used to it, and the uselessness of the cooling effect in winter.

Styrofoam balls

The unequivocal answer to the question of which filler is better in a pillow for pregnant women is the smallest balls of expanded polystyrene (antistress). It is with them that fancy pillows in the shape of the letters U, G, C are filled, which make life easier for expectant mothers.

Benefits:

• remove heat;
• provide body support;
• do not cause allergies;
• do not accumulate odors;
• support the body.

Disadvantages:

• rustling;
• slight smell of plastic;
• difficult to care for - cannot be washed.

Memory foam

Memory foam - highly elastic polyurethane foam with memory effect. It is used for the production of orthopedic products.

Benefits:

• provides comfort due to the "memorization" of the shape of the human body and the best support for the spine;
• hypoallergenic;
• hygiene;
• ease of care - you just need to periodically wash the pillowcase;
• term - 4-5 years.

Disadvantages:

• high price;
• peculiar aroma;
• rigidity, which can increase at low temperatures;
• poor breathability.

How to choose?

When choosing a pillow, you should study the advantages and disadvantages of each filler, and then determine the criteria that are significant for yourself. Key recommendations:

• In the presence of problems with the musculoskeletal system, preference should be given to materials with orthopedic effect - latex, memory foam, buckwheat husk.
  If you have allergic diseases or asthma, it is better to refuse natural fillers animal origin.
• For people suffering from joint diseases and rheumatism, pillows with wool and horsehair are suitable.
• Latex and memory foam bedding can be uncomfortable if you sweat.
• In the absence of health problems, you can opt for products with bamboo, holofiber, comfort.
• If the temperature in the house is predominantly high, then you can choose pillows with silk and gel for sleeping.
• When solving the problem of which pillow filler to choose for children, it is worth choosing hypoallergenic, breathable and hygienic materials that keep their shape well - buckwheat, bamboo, holofiber, latex.
• For pregnant women, bedding filled with holofiber and polystyrene foam balls is suitable. Due to their elasticity, they will help you to take the most comfortable body position.
• For sofa cushions the optimal materials are komfortl and holofiber. They keep their shape perfectly and are easy to clean.

When choosing a filler for a pillow, one should take into account its quality characteristics, care features and expected service life. It is imperative to "try" the bedding - lie on it for at least 15-30 minutes. If the cover of the product opens, it is worth looking inside and assessing the condition of the packing. In addition, it is important to study the quality certificate, the composition of the material and the rules for caring for it.