How to Identify Quality Silk:
Your checklist for judging silk bedding.
Physical Appearance
The best silk is pearl white and will reflect natural lights. The silk thread is pure and has very little broken or waste filaments. The silk filaments are long and well aligned. An inferior silk is pale white due to the use of bleach and other chemicals in production. Inferior silk lacks the natural light reflection capability and will look dull. It normally is mixed with broken or waste filaments and you will find the alignment is poor.
Smell
Mulberry silk is odorless. Avoid any silk comforters with a oily or rotten smell. This is inferior quality silk.
Flame
Good silk floss does not burn and any flame will immediately die off when fire source is removed from the silk. The burned ashes will be loose and smell like burned human hair.
Flexibility & Elastic Recovery
The more flexibility a silk has the better the quality is. Studies have shown that silk has a stronger flexibility than that of a steel wire with the same dimension. Good silk has also very good elongations while inferior silk has very bad flexibility and elastic recovery.
How is your silk comforter made?
The best silk comforters are filled with Mulberry silk. Long silk filling is more expensive because they are directly produced from an oval-shape cocoon that produces high quality silk fabric. The cocoon is first stretched into a large web. Then it is stretched to open even more into one layer for the filling of a silk-filled comforter. It takes many layers and many cocoons to make a sufficiently thick batting.
Why choose a silk comforter?
Most people decide to choose a silk comforter for its warmth and lightweight. Silk is one of the lightest and strongest natural fibers. Silk fabrics have a very high degree of heat retention capability and add a perfect layer of warmth. Silk absorbs moisture quickly and releases it quickly as silk is a fast drying fiber. Natural silk is light, very supple and constantly equalizes temperature. Silk makes the perfect year round comforter. It is also good for your complexion and for your health. With the current trend towards healthy living, more and more people have chosen silk-filled comforters as a healthier alternative to down-filled comforters. Silk is one of the least allergenic of the natural fibers.
The best silk comforter for your home
Silk comforters are available at many different prices. Manufactures have different philosophies when it comes to making silk comforters. There are many different grades of silk comforters for sale today. Many of the cheaper silk comforters are poor quality. You need to know a few basic facts to choose a good silk comforter.
Avoid disappointment
Silk comforters made out of cotton-like short silk floss are usually claimed to be 100% silk comforters or 100% silk quilts. Their prices are cheaper even 30% lower than a Mulberry silk comforter. This type of silk comforter normally has box stitches and the silk floss fill inside will not be layered evenly. It will have little or no elastic recovery and doesn't have the smooth and luxurious touching sensation of a genuine Mulberry silk comforter.
Silk comforters made of cube-type silk floss or wild silk floss are also marketed as 100% Mulberry Silk Comforters or 100% Super Grade-A Silk Comforters. This is a false claim intended to cheat consumers. You can spot this type of comforter by the side opening, usually shorter than 12” in length, preventing consumers from checking the silk-fill inside. The silk floss itself will appear to look similar to Mulberry silk floss. But a closer inspection will reveal the following differences: the silk floss is not layered evenly, it will be rough to the touch and its elastic recovery is very limited. Consumers should check thoroughly on inexpensive silk comforters before making the buying decision.
100%, Grade-A Mulberry silk comforters—have the best insulating quality and softest silk. This type of silk comforter is made out of 100% Grade-A, long Mulberry silk floss. It normally will have a side opening larger than 28”, so you can see deep inside the silk comforter. It will feel very soft and smooth with a great elastic recovery. Fine Silk Comforters only sells 100%, Grade A Mulberry silk comforters.
How to care for your silk comforter
Daily use and cleaning
Always use a duvet cover to protect the comforter from dust, dirt and sweat. With a cover to protect your comforter, you only need to periodically wash the cover.
If cleaning the comforter does become neccessary, have it professionally dry cleaned. Non-professional dry cleaning could damage the silk. Treat your silk comforter as you would any piece of precious silk apparel.
Your silk comforter should be aired-out periodically to release any absorbed moisture. Air-out at least once every three months to keep your comforter soft and fluffy. Use an open space with good air circulation but keep the comforter away from strong direct sunlight.
How to properly store your comforter
Proper storage will help extend the life of your silk comforter.
Store your comforter in a clean area. Dust and dirt can do considerable harm to silk. Make certain your comforter is protected form moisture and dust.
Store your comforter in a dry place. Do not seal your comforter in a plastic bag after use. Store the comforter in a well-ventilated area dark area. Silk can absorb moisture and become wet. It will then become heavy and lose its softness.
Avoid high heat and strong light. Heat and storng light can cause the silk floss to become fragile and easily broken.
Do not place heavy weights on top of your comforter. Changing the folds of the comforter often will help prevent the silk floss from being broken.
