On this page:

• Best pillow for your sleeping style
• Caring for your pillow
• Pillow use-by dates
• Will your pillowcase fit?
• Pillow filling: synthetic vs natural

Because some of these positions aren’t necessarily great for your posture, it’s important to choose the right pillow to support you. 

Quality sleep is vital for good health, and a good pillow is vital for quality sleep.

Best pillow for your sleeping style

You lie flat on your stomach

A soft, flat pillow is best for stomach sleepers, because it gives support without raising the head and neck too far. Synthetic, wool, feathers and down are good options for keeping it low.

You like to curl up on your side

A firm to extra-firm pillow is best for side sleepers, because it ensures your spine is supported properly at a consistent height. Latex and foam are the likely contenders if you love to sleep on your side.

You collapse flat on your back

A medium to firm pillow is best for supporting your head and neck while you sleep. Consider a pillow made from foam.

You like to mix it up

If you sleep in a number of positions, a soft to medium pillow is the best option for you. It might have softer and firmer sections, or one that’s lower in the centre (for back sleeping) and higher on the sides (for side sleeping). Pillows made of multiple materials fit this bill.

Caring for your pillow

Before using it

Consider buying a pillow protector – they’re quite inexpensive and available in most home and bedding shops. The pillow protector can be easily washed as well. Often pillow slips and/or protectors will stain yellow from a mixture of moisture and oils from your skin. Maintaining your pillow helps to keep your pillow fresh and clean, away from moisture and oils, and will also keep it from staining.

Daily

Give your pillow a good shake and fluff it up. This will help kill any dust mites and keep it fresher and cleaner.

Weekly

Some pillows can be put through a gentle washing machine cycle to keep them really clean, particularly polyester and latex pillows. Check the labels on your pillows, and if they’re suitable, pop them in the wash.

Every six months

Test your pillows with our simple four-step method to ensure your pillows are still in good condition.

1. Put your pillow on a flat surface and fold it over in half.
2. Pop a sports shoe on top.
3. If the shoe flies off as your pillow bounces back into its original shape, your pillow is in top form.
4. If the shoe stays there, or the pillow doesn’t spring back into shape, it’s probably time to buy a new one.

Pillow use-by dates

Some pillows are labelled with a use-by date – a useful reminder to check the pillow is still OK.

We explain how often you should replace your pillow, plus other household items like toothbrushes and smoke alarms, in our article use-by dates for household goods.

Why do people replace their pillows?

According to feedback from ÌÇÐÄVlog members, most people only have a few reasons for replacing their pillows.

• Just needed replacing (this was accompanied with feedback on staining, or losing shape, volume or firmness).
• Was getting a sore neck/back pain and thought a new pillow would help.
• Pillow had reached its ‘use-by’ date.
• Saw pillows on sale.
• A professional recommended a particular pillow.

We are fairly skeptical of use-by dates. We were unable to find any scientific evidence to say why a use by date should be applied, and neither Tontine, nor any other source we could find had any evidence as to why there should be a use by date.

Will your pillowcase fit?

Something not many people consider is that the size of their new pillow may not fit their existing pillowcases. You might have a few faves that you use consistently, so make sure you take these into the store, or at least their dimensions, when shopping for a new pillow. It would be annoying to have to spend more on pillowcases because your new pillows don’t fit.

When we bought pillows for this test, most claimed dimensions vary only marginally (by about 1–2cm), but there are a few that varied up to 8cm. If your pillowcase is already a tight fit, it’s best to bring it into the shop to make sure.

If the pillow is vacuum-packed, ask to see one that’s already open. A bricks-and-mortar store will usually have some samples that are already fully expanded from the vacuum packaging. If you try your pillowcase on the sample pillow, give it a wash when you get home.

Pillow filling: synthetic vs natural

Filling and firmness are key factors for a good night’s sleep. Here are the most common types.

Foam pillows

Foam keeps its shape for years and is hypoallergenic, so it’s a great option if you suffer from allergies or asthma. Memory foam pillows, made from NASA-designed visco-elastic polyurethane, relieve pressure on sensitive areas by moulding to your head, neck and shoulders, but this means they may not be the best choice for restless sleepers because they make it difficult to toss and turn when they’re hugging your body.

Lifespan: 5–10+ years.

Latex pillows

Latex is a renewable and biodegradable product made from the sap of a rubber tree. Latex pillows are durable, lasting for years before needing to be replaced, and they have the added benefit of being hypoallergenic. Latex comes in a variety of shapes, profiles and densities.

Lifespan: 5–10+ years.

Feather and down pillows

These pillows are usually made from a combination of the two materials. A higher percentage of down means a softer pillow that will last longer and be moulded and fluffed into your preferred shape, but the more down, the more expensive the pillow. On the downside, they can be a potential allergen.

Lifespan: 5–10+ years.

Polyester pillows

A good-quality polyester pillow is comfortable and supportive, but they tend to form lumps quickly so you’ll need to replace them more often than some other types. They flatten easily into a low shape so they’re a good choice for tummy sleepers.

Lifespan: Between 6 months and 2 years.

Cotton and wool pillows

These are soft and can be added on top of a firm pillow if you need more support. Both fibre types are breathable, which minimises the risk of oil or sweat stains, and cotton is hypoallergenic.

Lifespan: 3–5 years.

The post How to buy the comfiest pillow appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Quilt, doona or duvet?
• What size doona do you need?
• How warm should your doona be?
• Do you like a light or heavy doona?
• How will you wash your doona?
• Are you sensitive to allergens?
• Types of doonas: Pros and cons
• How to look after your doona

We answer those questions and more, so you can spend less time shopping and more time snoozing.

Quilt, doona or duvet?

In Australia, quilt, doona and duvet mean the same thing – a thick piece of insulating padding in a plain fabric casing designed to be put inside a cover. You could also call this item a continental quilt, eiderdown or comforter, although in Australia comforters are usually sold as quilts sewn into a decorative cover.

Unless a doona has a major failure, they’re unlikely to be accepted for a return, so it’s worth taking some time to think about what you need before you start shopping for a specific type.

Let’s take a closer look at the following factors:

• size
• warmth
• weight
• washability
• sensitivity to allergens.

What size doona do you need?

A queen size bed means a queen size quilt, right? Sadly it’s not so simple.

Firstly, Australian quilt and mattress sizes differ from those of other countries, so it pays to measure your mattress. Also be careful when buying products from international stores like Ikea, as their bedding doesn’t match Australian sizes.

Secondly, even though the majority of Australian bedding suppliers conform to the sizes listed below, some differ, so always check the measurements on the packaging.

Australian quilt sizes

• Single: 140cm x 210cm
• Double: 180cm x 210cm
• Queen: 210cm x 210cm
• King: 245cm x 210cm
• Super King: 270cm x 240cm

Thirdly, think about going bigger. You might want to go one size larger than your mattress for a number of reasons.

• Warmth:ÌýThe more your doona drapes over you, the fewer draughts that get in. Your doona is also less likely to end up on the floor if you toss and turn. And you might just have a partner who tends to gather the quilt around themselves as the night goes on.
• Looks:ÌýIf you want your quilt to drape over the edges of the bed.
• Upsizing:ÌýYou won’t need to buy a new quilt if you decide to move up a bed size.

How warm should your doona be?

How warm do you like to be at night? Do you need something to help regulate your temperature? Are you looking for a quilt to use all year round or for a specific season?

Like size, warmth is more complicated than you might think because it’s connected to the fill material, the quality of that material, and, depending on the material, the weight of the quilt.

Another potential problem is a partner who may sleep at a vastly different temperature from you. In this case, you might consider a ‘dual warmth’ doona, which has different warmth ratings on each side.

In Australia, quilts are often categorised by season and usually include a simple description such as ‘cool’, ‘warm’ or ‘super warm’. Some products are also measured in TOG (thermal overall grade). A 1–4 TOG is most suitable for summer, while a 13.5–15 TOG is best for very cold conditions.

Do you like a light or heavy doona?

Which do you prefer: that snug, secure, safe sensation you get from a heavy blanket that wraps around you like a hug?

Or a light, free, unencumbered feeling, like when you’re sleeping under airy cotton sheets?

The good news is your preference for a light or heavy doona need not be outweighed by your requirement for a cooler or warmer quilt.

Some fills, such as high-quality down, are both light and incredibly warm.

The weight of your duvet is influenced by several things.

• Fill material:ÌýWool, for example, is heavier than microfibre.
• Density:ÌýMeasured in GSM, or grams per square metre, this tells you about weight, but not necessarily about warmth. However, when comparing GSM in one particular type and grade of filling, the higher rating means the heavier and warmer it will be.
• Loft:ÌýThis is about how high your quilt sits, and is often more about looks than about practical considerations. For most materials, a higher loft equals a higher GSM, but not when it involves filling like down.

How will you wash your doona?

Most microfibre quilts and some made of natural materials are machine washable, but is your washing machine big enough? If you like to wash your doona regularly, particularly to minimise allergies, frequent trips to a laundromat to use a bigger machine can be costly in terms of time and money.

Most feather and down quilts and some made of other materials are dry-clean only too, which makes for an additional cost.

Are you sensitive to allergens?

If you suffer from allergies, look for ‘hypoallergenic’ or ‘anti-allergy’ fillings, and quilts which can be machine washed at 60°C and above.Ìý

Hypoallergenic materials, such as cotton, bamboo and silk, don’t contain known allergens.Ìý

However, dust mites and other allergens can still occur in hypoallergenic fabrics. Anti-allergy materials, on the other hand, have been chemically treated to prevent mites and other allergens from becoming established.

Types of doonas: Pros and cons

Doonas come in three main types of filling: feather and down, wool, and polyester, but you’ll come across others such as silk, cotton, and bamboo.Ìý

Feather and down quilts

If asked to imagine the softest, fluffiest, most luxurious bedding money could buy, most people would probably picture a huge quilt of feather and down.Ìý

The down component is key. Feathers and down come from either ducks or geese, but their qualities are very different. Down provides softness, lightness and warmth. Feathers simply help to add bulk.Ìý

The ratio of down to feathers is usually marked on the packaging. The quality of feather and down is described in fill power, which measures the amount of space that one ounce of down can fill. One ounce of high quality down (650 and above) will fill a much larger area than one ounce of lower quality down, resulting in a lighter, but loftier and warmer filling.Ìý

Unfortunately, you often have to go hunting for this information on bedding websites and packaging, but it’s worth searching for to determine insulation level.Ìý

How much do queen size feather and down quilts cost?

Price is mostly dependent on the down to feather ratio, but is also influenced by the type of down, so feather and down quilts can easily range from $300 up to $1000.

ProsÌý

• Highly insulating.
• Breathable.
• Lightweight.
• Durable.
• Wicking (encourages moisture to evaporate).
• Temperature regulating (helps keep you cool in summer and warm in winter).Ìý

ConsÌý

• Generally more expensive than other quilt types.
• Usually has to be dry-cleaned.
• Causes allergies in some people.
• Requires regular shaking to fluff back up.
• Not always humanely sourced.

Wool quiltsÌý

Wool duvets are a popular choice for their warmth and durability. Wool has the unique ability to respond to temperature. In winter, it draws in moisture from cold air to create heat, while in summer it releases moisture from the fibre back into the air near your skin, cooling it down.Ìý

How much do queen size wool quilts cost?

Price is usually dependent on the weight of the quilt and the quality of the wool, but wool doonas generally cost between $200 and $500.

ProsÌý

• Insulating.Ìý
• Temperature regulating.
• Durable.Ìý
• Fire-resistant.
• Wicks sweat away from skin.

ConsÌý

• Heavier than other quilt types.
• Flatter than other quilt types.
• Often dry-clean only.
• Only able to be machine washed at low temperatures on a gentle spin, making it difficult to dry.

Polyester quiltsÌý

Polyester doonas are the most affordable and also the most practical quilts as they’re usually machine washable and dry quickly. Polyester can certainly keep you toasty, but it can also cause you to overheat because the material doesn’t breathe. This problem has been somewhat improved by the advent of newer polyester materials, such as microfibre and hollow fibre.Ìý

How much do queen size polyester quilts cost?

Polyester quilts can be incredibly cheap, but the price rises when more specialised forms of polyester are used and when natural materials are incorporated. They cost between $25 and $300.

ProsÌý

• Insulating.
• Affordable.
• Soft and fluffy.
• Lightweight.
• Usually treated to prevent allergies.
• Machine washable at high temperatures.

ConsÌý

• Doesn’t breathe.
• Doesn’t draw moisture away from the body.
• Not as long-lasting as down or wool.
• Not naturally flame-resistant like wool or down.
• Filling can clump over time.
• Not biodegradable.

How to look after your doona

If you take good care of your doona, you can expect it to last at least five years and a whole lot longer with a high-quality one.

The first step is to keep your quilt in a cover. This will help to protect the filling and to keep it clean.

Also air your duvet periodically and clean it regularly according to the care instructions. Don’t be tempted to follow DIY advice about washing your quilt in the bathtub, unless you’re prepared to stomp on it for an hour like you’re crushing grapes to try to get the water out, which is also not recommended.

How to dispose of your old quilt

The most orthodox way to dispose of your old quilt is to put it in your regular rubbish bin. Unfortunately, quilts can’t be put in recycling bins.

Most charities no longer accept quilts, and most animal shelters don’t take them although you can enquire.

It’s possible to sell your used quilt on an online platform if it’s in pristine condition, but you’re unlikely to get much for it.

You could, however, repurpose your old doona as:

• pillow stuffing
• bedding for your dog or cat
• sound dampening for Zoom meetings and recordings.

The post How to buy a great doona appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• How do pizza ovens work?
• How does a pizza oven compare to a regular oven?
• How do you use a pizza oven?
• How big are pizza ovens?
• How much do pizza ovens cost?
• How do you clean a pizza oven?
• Things to consider when buying a pizza oven
• What accessories do you need?

If you have the space in your alfresco dining area, you might be tempted to buy a pizza oven to whip up your signature creations in your backyard. But is an outdoor pizza oven worth the expense? And what do you need to consider when buying one?

How do pizza ovens work?

Pizza ovens produce extremely high heat, and the best models will maintain this high temperature evenly throughout the oven over a long period of time. These are the ideal conditions for cooking the perfect pizza, allowing it to cook quickly and evenly across the base and top.Ìý

While the traditional wood-fired pizza ovens are made from bricks and cement, there are other home options available that use gas or electric.ÌýIdeally, pizza ovens need to reach around 400°C.

The type of pizza oven and the size of the oven cavity will determine how long it takes to heat up. In our test, the smaller types took anywhere from 10–20 minutes to preheat, while the larger wood-fire type pizza ovens could take 15–40 minutes to preheat. You’ll need to make sure you allow enough time during your preparation for the oven to preheat (especially if it takes up to an hour to get to temperature) so it’s ready to start churning out pizzas when you are.

How does a pizza oven compare to a regular oven?

While our recommended pizza ovens cook impressive pizzas, a regular oven used correctly can work just as well. We compared the pizza ovens in our test with our reference oven for cooking both a thin- and thick-crust pizza.Ìý

If it’s a wood-fired oven you’re after, it’s not possible to replicate the smokiness or wood char flavour in your regular oven.ÌýHowever, if you use your oven on high heat (on a pizza setting if available, or fan assist, or top and bottom element) and use a pizza stone, you’ll still get an excellent result.

How do you use a pizza oven?

If you’re new to using a pizza oven it’ll take a degree of trial and error. Even perfecting your ideal pizza will take trial and error – don’t expect perfect wood-fired pizza on the first attempt.

In some pizza ovens, the heat can be concentrated where the heat source is (for example, at the back of the pizza oven) and in these instances you’ll need to continually rotate the pizza (in one case as frequently as every 20–30 seconds) to achieve even cooking and browning.Ìý

Cooking time will depend on the type of pizza you’re cooking. In the models we tested, it took 2–9 minutes to cook a thin-crust pizza. The pizza is ready when it’s achieved your desired level of browning on both the base and the toppings.Ìý

Some models have a viewing window to help you monitor cooking progress and this is helpful to keep the heat inside the oven – continually opening the door can lead to significant heat loss. For those that don’t have a viewing window, you’ll need to continually open the door or slide out the pizza to rotate and check its progress.

The pizza ovens we’ve tested come in three fuel types.

• Electric pizza ovensÌýjust need to be plugged into the powerpoint and away you go.
• Gas pizza ovens need a qualified plumber to plumb it in if it’s natural gas, otherwise you’ll need to connect a gas cylinder (like you would with a BBQ). They’re simple to use – you just need to turn the burner control to the desired temperature.
• Wood-fired modelsÌýeither take wood pellets or wood logs and charcoal. Wood pellets can be bought by the bag and they light easily and produce minimal ash, whereas wood logs require you to build a fire. We also used firewood hotshots and kindling hotshots to help get the fire going.

How big are pizza ovens?

Pizza ovens can be portable, benchtop, or outdoor/standing.

• Portable pizza ovensÌýare smaller ovens that can be moved around more easily due to their compact size.
• Benchtop pizza ovensÌýcan also be portable, but can sit on your benchtop (either inside or in your alfresco area).
• Outdoor/standing pizza ovensÌýare where the pizza oven comes on a stand as a complete unit (sometimes a stand can be bought separately). These stands usually have wheels so you can manoeuvre them like you would a BBQ. This type tends to have a larger oven cavity so you can cook more than one pizza at a time, and you can even do roasts in the larger space and use multiple-shelf cooking (if it comes with shelves).

Most of the pizza ovens we’ve tested can accommodate only one pizza at a time. However, we did test one that could accommodate three pizzas at a time by using multiple shelves (but it only came with one pizza stone).

Regardless of whether you’re using your pizza oven indoors or outdoors, you need to keep it in a well-ventilated area. They’re generally easy to move around but in some cases, they may require some dismantling.

How much do pizza ovens cost?

The eight pizza ovens we tested ranged in price from $169 up to $1399.

How much does a pizza oven cost to run?

We calculated the yearly running costs based on using the pizza oven for one hour a week over a year. Wood-fired models would run longer than an hour, as that’s the amount of fuel needed to get the oven to 400°C. The cost of wood is also factored into the running cost but could be significantly reduced by sourcing the wood from felled trees (just make sure the wood is dry). The right pizza oven can be faster and cheaper to run than cooking a pizza on a stone in a regular oven.

How do you clean a pizza oven?

The pizza stone or brick surface requires removing the baked-on residue by scraping the surface with a BBQ scraper. Do not clean the pizza stone with detergents. High temperatures will burn off any residue that accumulates inside the oven, and you can use a bristle brush or broom to sweep out any ash and debris after cooking.

External surfacesÌýusually just need to be wiped over with a damp cloth or stainless-steel cleaner. Be mindful of cracks and crevices that can accumulate dirt as these will require extra attention when cleaning.

Things to consider when buying a pizza oven

Portability: Do you want a pizza oven that you can take around with you or do you want one that’s a permanent fixture in your backyard? If it’s a portable one you’re after, make sure it’s easy to move around and consider where it’ll be stored when it’s not in use.

Size: Are you happy to cook one pizza at a time or do you need something that lets you cook multiple pizzas at once? Don’t forget that larger models have the added versatility to let you cook other foods like roasts and home-made bread.

Type of pizzaÌýyou want to achieve: Not all pizza ovens will give you that authentic wood-fired flavour and look. Electric and gas-fuelled ovens will produce similar results to cooking a pizza in an oven, so consider if you want the authentic wood-fired pizza or just a delicious baked pizza.

Assembly: Some smaller pizza ovens like the Ooni, Gozney and Breville’s The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo require no assembly and are ready to go right out of the box. Other larger types can take up to a few hours to assemble and require tools. In these cases you want the product to come with comprehensive assembly instructions.

Cool-down time: It can take up to an hour for a pizza oven to cool down. For wood-fired ovens, cool down time can be even longer.

Safety: Pizza ovens reach dangerously high temperatures, so you’ll need the right tools to use the oven safely and make sure it’s out of reach of children. Some exterior surfaces can become dangerously hot to touch. In some cases, the open flames may even lick up and out of the oven, so extreme caution is needed when using one.

Be mindful that because of the high temperatures, there’s the possibility that any leftover residue can catch on fire. Make sure the oven is properly cleaned out after use.

What accessories do you need?

Pizza peel:ÌýIf your pizza oven doesn’t come with one, invest in a good quality pizza peel. It’s a tool that can be used to safely insert and remove pizza from the hot oven (looking similar to a large spatula). It should be smooth and flat to allow the pizza to slide off easily and have a long enough handle so you don’t need to get your hands too close to the heat.

Infrared thermometer: These can be handy to measure the temperature of the pizza stone so you know when it’s preheated and ready to start cooking.

Heat-resistant gloves:ÌýYou’ll need high quality heat-resistant gloves to keep your hands and forearms safe from burns when taking pizzas in or out of the oven and when adding more wood to the fire (if it’s wood-fired).

Pizza stone:ÌýThese conduct and hold heat and keep the oven temperature stable when the pizza is added. They also help with evenness of cooking and getting the pizza base crispy.

Pizza cutter: A good quality pizza cutter will make cutting and serving your pizzas a breeze.

Heat-resistant bristle brush or broom:ÌýThese can be used to distribute coals around the oven, sweep ash off the bricks, and clean ashes out of the oven after cooking.

The post How to buy a great pizza oven appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.