Counting sheep to fall asleep? The cause of your insomnia might not be in your head, but under it.

Follow these guidelines from the American Down and Feather Council to select -- and care for -- the perfect feather pillow.

First, select your preferred firmness. Down pillows are soft; feather pillows are firmer; and mixes fall somewhere in between.

No matter the innards, sturdy construction is important. Look for pillows with double-needle-sewn construction and a thread count of at least 230 to ensure they will stay stuffed. Use a pillow protector between the pillow and the pillowcase to keep your pillow clean. When necessary, wash it in the gentle cycle with a non-bleach detergent, and dry it on low with a couple tennis balls to break up any lumpiness in the pillow.

And if your pillow deflates, throw it in the dryer on low with a damp washcloth to restore it to its former fluffy glory.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@