Consumerist: Pillows

JetBlue To Charge $7 For Pillow-Blanket Kit

Ben Popken — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:59:11 EDT

JetBlue is launching a new fee, $7 for a pillow and an allergen-rebuffing blanket. It comes with a $5 coupon to Bed Bath and Beyond. It's all part of what JetBlue describes as a "basket of fee changes" which they project will rake in an additional $50 million this year. I guess that's someone's idea of targeted marketing. "Guys, we need to figure out a way to hone in on this lucrative "buys blankets" crowd..."

JetBlue to Start Charging for Pillows [NYT] (Photo: Lil Erna)

Here Is What This Pillow Is Made Of

Ben Popken — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:52:56 EST

Unable to stand the mystery any longer, Matt caved and cut open his pillow that sports a tag saying it contains 100% of "TEXTILE FABRICS OF AN UNKOWN KIND." Now we know what's inside these pillows: a heterogeneous mixture of shredded clothing and fabric factory leftovers. Mmm, downy soft sweet dreams. Don't worry, this isn't some scam, "Textile fibers of unknown kind" are a legally accepted industry label meaning, "new material consisting of a variety of fibers that has been reduced to a fibrous state." Still, it's crazy to think that's what you might be sleeping on. More pics, inside.

§ 303.14 of the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act says:

Where a textile fiber product is made from miscellaneous scraps, rags, odd lots, secondhand materials, textile by-products, or waste materials of unknown, and for practical purposes, undeterminable fiber content, the required fiber content disclosure may, when truthfully applicable, in lieu of the fiber content disclosure otherwise required by the Act and regulations, indicate that such product is composed of miscellaneous scraps, rags, odd lots, textile by-products, secondhand materials (in case of secondhand materials, words of like import may be used) or waste materials, as the case may be, of unknown or undetermined fiber content

PREVIOUSLY: Nobody Knows What This Pillow Is Made Of
(Photos: Blitzcat)

Nobody Knows What This Pillow Is Made Of

Carey — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:15:32 EST

I had a pillow that says 'contains textiles of 100% unknown kind' on that tag that says 'Do not remove under penalty of law'. Kind of defeats the purpose of the tag, and I'm wondering what is in my pillow. Used underpants? Human hair? It does say 'all new materials' but that might just be 'new to me.'

UPDATE: Here Is What This Pillow Is Made Of

Superman III taught us the danger of unknown materials. They are unknown for a reason. Humanity may not be ready to comprehend the awesomeness of the materials powering your, um, pillow.

Tags were the early 20th century's answer to scurrilous merchants who stuffed pillows and mattresses with an unsavory potpourri of disease carrying things—horse hair, fur, and rags. Now they are used to ensure that the bedding on sale is new, not used. Whatever that pillow is stuffed with, rest assured that you are its first puzzled owner.

(Photo: Blitzcat)

What To Look For In A Pillow Protector

Chris Walters — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:03:18 EST

Do you spend the nights fighting allergies and biting your pillow in agony? Wait, that sentence didn't come out right. Anyway, the vice president of a custom-printing pillow company tells Newsday what he looks for in a good pillow cover.

The protector should be made with a fabric that is breathable, stays cool and quiet (older ones typically made from plastic crackled when you put your head down on the pillow), is naturally mildew- and stain-resistant and easy to launder.
The best pillow protectors have air filtration built into the fabric. This is a different technology — not used in the majority of protectors — that actually traps the allergens in the protector so you never have to be face to face with the harmful critters.

My pick: The FabricTech 2000 PillowBarrier (retails for $19.95 at Sleepy's mattress stores).

He also says you can try an anti-allergy spray: "A good organic one is Mite-NIX Organic Allergy Relief Spray (Drugstore.com, $7.99 for 16 ounces)."

"Shopping for a pillow protector" [Newsday]
(Photo: piccadillywilson)