Also, before I purchased this Comforter, I read MANY of the positive and negative reviews to be as sure as possible that this would be the RIGHT Down Alternative Comforter for me. I then started browsing Amazon Review Trader and found this for sale in exchange for my honest review and opinion. That said, before are what I found to be the PROS and the CONS of this Comforter: PROS: + Weight/Appearance/Fluffiness/Softness of the Comforter - Just right in my opinion. It is about the same weight as my now retired White Down Comforter. Even looks like my old Down one on my Queen bed! *Also, this Comforter is SUPER FLUFFY, it is like sleeping under a soft and fluffy CLOUD! The material looks like cotton, but it is 100 polyester on the outer covering and on the fill. SOFTNESS of the material - I have found it to be SOFTER than say 100 percent cotton or even 50 percent cotton and I am picky about softness. + All Year Round Usage - YES!!! Personally, I am a cold natured person and so I need to have a comforter on my YEAR ROUND and detest having to change out the comforter for Summer/Winter etc. This one works well for me even in the WINTERTIME. Here in Central Arkansas where I live (mountains are all around where I live), we have our share of snow (a few times a year) and also some icy nights etc. At those times, I place a soft and fluffy, soft white blanket under the Comforter for added warmth and to save on fuel bills (I keep the heating furnace at night at 68 degrees to save energy)! + Washing and Drying Ease - Washing - I washed this in an OLDER Magtag Washer that is 18 years old and has just a LARGE CAPACITY (not a EXTRA LARGE ONE). The Comforter was a tight fit in this older washer, and so I placed it very carefully into my older washer! I washed it in COLD wash and rinse with Wool-lite detergent for washers. Result? The Comforter came out of the washer very clean, and DID NOT cause the SPIN to go out of control like say a couple of pillows sometimes do! The washer and Comforter did fine. Drying - For exactly 45 minutes, I placed this into my OLDER Magtag Dryer on regular temperature with three lavender scent fabric softener sheets. Result? The Comforter came out of my dryer very FLUFFY and smelling wonderful. + What to expect after washing/drying - Just after I had washed and dried, I placed the Comforter back onto my bed and it was pretty much FLUFFY, however, LIKE DOWN, some of the squares did have some lumpy/bumpy effect just like my old Down one had. This is natural and normal with this type of stuffing and also because the squares on this Comforter are so large and the fill is thicker than say a cheap regular style of Comforter so expect this! What I did to fix the lumpy/bumpy (mostly it was in the center): I smoothed it with my hands and most of the lumpy bumpy effects just smoothed out. + Savings over Dry Cleaning my OLD DOWN COMFORTER - Like clockwork, I brought my Down Comforter to my local Dry Cleaner once a month and the cost of dry cleaning it was never cheap! This went on for several years--no more with this new one! + Price/Quality - For the price I paid for this Comforter, I am very pleased with it as for Quality, I find the quality Excellent in ratio to the price I paid! It it NOT of 5 star hotel quality, however, I still give it a true 4.5 stars because I really am enjoying this comforter! CONS (Just one that I found): - Lumpy/Bumpy (somewhat) after washing/drying - I knew this would happen because I had a real Down Comforter so it was expected. If you cannot tolerate this, then I suggest that you purchase a regular non Down like Comforter or even a Quilt. Suggestions on How to measure for your bed: 1) This is 88x88 size which should EASILY fit a FULL bed or a QUEEN BED if you do NOT have a PILLOWTOP or THICK Mattress of say 9 inches or more. For me, I do NOT have a PILLOWTOP Queen mattress, just a thick mattress pad, so this Queen hangs down to just below where my bedskirt is on my bed. 2) If you do have a PILLOWTOP Queen mattress, then I suggest that you purchase the KING size because it will go down longer onto the bedskirt and not look skimpy! Bottom line: If you have owned a Down Comforter, then this one is a great alternative in my opinion. If you are used to a very thick Comforter, this one is of medium thickness, but it is not thin either. Since I am so so picky about Comforters, I can truly say that I love this one and highly recommend it!
