Don't own a bird?

Although it is true that allergy suffers should avoid using feather down pillows and comforters, the truth is that it is extremely rare for a person to actually become affected by these. Studies have shown that these allergies are usually caused by dust mite allergens present in the feathers. This means that allergies can occur without the presence of birds in your home through the use of feathers in bedding and clothing however, it is not the actual feathers that are the problem, rather the dust mite allergens within the feathers. If you are the type of person that enjoys sleeping and using feather down comforters and bedding, make sure to invest in special mite proof encasings and in covers for your comforter so as to reduce the exposure to those nasty dust mites.