 QUESTIONS ABOUT DOWN PRODUCTS
This page offers answers to the questions we are most commonly asked about down products. If you cannot find an answer to your question, feel free to send it to us with the feedback form or via e-mail to
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. Where does the down come from? Joutsen Finland uses the best down in the world. Goose and duck down is acquired from the best, carefully selected European producers only, since down of sufficiently high quality is generated only in natural, good living conditions and in areas with a cold climate. The down used for insulation in Joutsen products is a by-product of food production. Joutsen Finland does not use feathers and down plucked from living birds. In the most valuable export items, Joutsen down quilts, very rare eiderdown is also used. This eiderdown is harvested from abandoned nests in the Finnish outer archipelago. Which bird does the down used for the products come from? Down is obtained only from aquatic birds. We use goose down for our accessories and sleeping bags, and goose and duck down for bedding. Our most valuable export-quality down duvets are filled with eiderdown. Can down products be washed? Water doesn't harm down – it comes from aquatic birds, after all. All of our products come with clear washing instructions and symbols. Following the instructions, you can wash your Joutsen® down products in your washing machine and be sure to receive good results. Washing actually improves the qualities of down products, as clean down insulates more than dirty down does. Therefore, down products should be kept clean. Care instructions can be found here. How often should down products be washed? Down handles washing well, and clean down is always warmer than dirty down. Washing and drying in accordance with the instructions help a down product to last longer. It's good to wash a down coat once a year, and a sleeping bag after approximately 30 nights of use. Down quilts should be washed at least once a year. Down and feather pillows must be washed more often, at least two to three times per year. Appropriate pillow-washing frequency varies, depending on the user. Remember that regular airing is part of good maintenance for down products. Does down cause allergies? In 2005, Joutsen Finland Oy became the first down quilt and pillow manufacturer to be granted the ‘allergy label’. This label, awarded by the Finnish Allergy and Asthma Federation, serves as proof that a product is pure and suitable for people with allergies. The same pure down is used in Joutsen down clothing, but these products do not carry the allergy label, because of the fabric-finishing agents used and the low washing temperatures. What is the Joutsen Down System™ process? The Joutsen Down System™ process was developed for handling and sorting of raw feather materials so that all proteins of animal origin are removed. Joutsen Down System™ treatment guarantees that our products are suitable even for those who are allergic to house dust. The Joutsen Down System™ process exceeds the requirements of the international Nomite and Downafresh® standards. How long do Joutsen® products last? We manufacture our products to serve their users for a long time. The useful life depends on the product and its use. A carefully maintained, regularly washed, and correctly used product often lasts for many years. For down bedding, the useful life is also affected by mixture ratio of filling. For example, downy feather pillows must be replaced more often than down-filled pillows. A down quilt lasts for years, usually until its fabric starts to wear through. Does the down come through Joutsen® products? The fabrics used in Joutsen down products are high-quality, breathable fabrics. Since the fabrics are not fully airtight, some fluff present in the filling may come through the fabric from time to time. In minor quantities, this is normal and has no effect on the insulation properties of the product. In bedding with cotton fabrics, the first wash of the product tightens the fabric and reduces the possibility of the down coming through. Is there a washing or repair service for Joutsen® products? We repair and wash all Joutsen® products in our factory against an adequate compensation. If you have accidentally torn your coat or your duvet needs washing, please do not hesitate to contact our factory – we shall fix your product to our best ability. Why does a down quilt with cotton fabric rustle? For down products, special down and tightly knit cotton fabrics are used. The fabric manufacturing process includes calendering that completes the tightness of the fabric (calendering is an industrial pressing process). For this reason, the fabric rustles slightly when new, and this is typical for a down quilt. The rustling is reduced with wear and washings. What do the terms ‘Nomite’ and ‘Downafresh’ mean? Contrary to a popular belief, the Nomite brand has no relevance to the purity of a down product. The Nomite brand on a product means that the fabric is ‘dust-mite-proof’. Users of the Downafresh label, developed by the European Down and Feather Association (EDFA), refers to the down raw material being washed with water and heated to 100 °C. The Joutsen Down System feather refining process exceeds these requirements clearly, creating a unique standard in the industry.
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