Tog is a measurement of how thermally insulating, and therefore warm, a duvet is. A high tog (10.5-15) is better for winter, while a low tog (1-4) will be light enough for summer. 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.

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 well as having a tog rating (see below for more information on these), feather and down duvets are rated by their fill power. The higher the fill power, the larger each individual piece of down will be, resulting in a loftier, fluffier duvet, which provides better insulation.Hollowfibre or microfibre polyester duvets are the most popular type among Which? members – nearly half own one of these. 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. 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' 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). Hypoallergenic doesn't mean the same thing as anti-allergy, so it's important to know the difference before buying.

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. Higher-quality bedding should last longer, but experts recommend changing out your duvet every five years. It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to secure your bedroom against dust mites completely. So the main weapon we have in armour against dust mite allergies is cleaning. This means the main thing you need to look for in a duvet is that it and its cover are machine-washable at 60C. When shopping for duvets, you often see the terms ‘hypoallergenic’ and ‘anti-allergy’, and may assume they’re interchangeable. However, they are actually very different. Hypoallergenic, or non-allergenic, means that the materials used are relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. This doesn’t mean, though, that the manufacturer has applied any specific treatments to the duvet to prevent allergies. Microfibre duvets are a relatively recent addition to the market, but they aren't to be confused with hollowfibre. Microfibres are finer but don't have the hollow space that hollowfibre has. Instead, microfibre is intended to be a synthetic equivalent to down; its extra-fine fibres give the same feel.

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Feather/down duvets are also very popular, owned by around a third of members. Less popular types include wool, silk and other synthetic duvets. 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.

One downside to all natural duvet fillings, including feather and down, is that you shouldn’t wash them at home as they can lose their filling more easily and are difficult to get completely dry afterwards. If they are cared for properly and professionally laundered, feather and down duvets can last more than twice as long as synthetic alternatives. Wool duvets: pros and cons Having the right duvet can help make the difference between a difficult night's sleep and a peaceful one. Just over half of our survey respondents had bought a new duvet during the past five years. 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

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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. 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.

Wool is a less common choice of duvet filling. It's similarly priced to feather and down, and excellent at retaining warm air, keeping you warm when cold and removing heat and moisture when you’re warm. Unlike feather and down, it’s naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.