Memory foam resists dust mites better than some other pillow and mattress fillers. Dust mites are cause for concern if you or your loved ones suffer from asthma or allergies. Dust is one of the most highly allergenic substances in a home; much of the dust is composed of dead skin and fecal matter from dust mites. These mites thrive on beds and bedding, living off flakes of dead skin, which is abundant on a bed since so much time is spent there. Memory foam, used for pillows, mattress and mattress toppers, is somewhat resistant to dust mites since the material is dense enough to make the living conditions unfavorable for these tiny creatures. On the Surface Memory foam is generally considered more resistant to dust mites than some other pillow and mattress materials because the mites cannot burrow in as easily as they can with fluffy materials such as fiberfill. The density of foam provides little room inside for mites to thrive, so they tend to stay on the surface instead. Mite Prevention Since memory foam itself is not washable -- it may disintegrate or deteriorate from excessive moisture -- a mite-proof covering helps keep the mites off foam itself.
These covers are made of fabric woven so tightly it is hard for the mites to burrow through. The covers are also machine washable. Mite-Free Maintenance Vacuum the memory foam with a vacuum cleaner that collects debris in a water canister, rather than in a bag or debris area fitted with an air filter, as the filter-style vacuums blow dust around the room, potentially exacerbating allergy symptoms. Wash all bedding at least once a week in hot water to kill dust mites. All-Around Prevention Keeping the bedroom as dust-free as possible cuts down on the chances of dust mites getting on the memory foam or bedding. Keep humidity in the room low by using a dehumidifier or air conditioner, as dust mites thrive in high humidity. Swap out carpeting for wood flooring, if possible, as wood is easier to clean and does not trap dust and debris. When dusting, use a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces, as the moisture helps keep the dust from simply floating to another area of the room. References Fox News Magazine: Memory Foam: A Better Night's Sleep?
National Institute of Environmental Health Services: Dust MitesOhio State University Extension Fact Sheet: House Dust MitesThe Allergy Store: Memory Foam Pillows: Are They for You? Photo Credits Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images Suggest a Correction You may have purchased the best mattress in the world that provides you with a fantastic night's sleep, but if that bed is home to dreaded bed bugs, your sleep will be anything but satisfactory. The common bed bug has long been a pest to people. These little guys feed on blood, causing itchy bites and irritating their human hosts. The EPA, the CDC and the USDA all consider bed bugs a public health pest. Bed bugs, however, are not known to transmit or spread disease. These little bloodsuckers feed off any warm blooded mammal, that means you, and are nocturnal - they are awake when you are asleep. So when you purchase your mattress and box spring, pick up an impervious covering for your set as well as your pillows. Bed bugs are attracted to warmth, blood and carbon dioxide.
They will hide anywhere including rugs, any crevice, drawer or hidey hole, but the mattress set can be a great residence near their food supply. They have been known to go for a year without eating, so consider them tenacious little buggers. Don't just rely on bites to determine if you have bed bugs -- those could be misunderstood and from another source. A far more accurate way to identify a possible infestation is to look for physical signs of bed bugs. These are some of the earliest and most accurate methods to determine if those buggers are there. When cleaning or changing bedding look for dark spots the size of a pen point, which are bed bug excrement that may bleed on the fabric like a marker. Also look for eggs and eggshells, which are tiny and white, the skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger. Of course, if you see live bed bugs, you know you have a problem. What should you do to get rid of these pesky invaders? Remember they don't carry disease. Controlling and eliminating bed bugs does takes time and patience.
There are non-chemical approaches that are effective. In addition, pesticides are available to aid in the control process. Thoroughly clean the room. Remove the bottom gauzy stuff on your box spring and give the whole set a thorough vacuuming. Then vacuum your whole room as well as empty drawers. Pay particular attention to seams of the mattress, anything upholstered in the room. Then take that vacuum bag, seal it tight and take it out to the trash. You will need to launder all the bedding and dry at hot temperatures. Reduce clutter where they can hide. Cover your mattress, pillows and box spring with a protective cover. But if the room is heavily infested, you may find bed bugs everywhere. . . . in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains, in drawer joints, in electrical outlets, under wall hangings. Since bed bugs are tiny, about the width of a credit card, they can fit most everywhere. If a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug. Hopefully, you have caught the problem before this stage.
You can do this yourself, but remember it takes time, diligence and patience. If they have become unmanageable, you may need to call the exterminator.Seeing as how we spend almost 1/3 of our entire life lying horizontally on a mattress – one would think it would stand alone atop of our list of regular cleaning duties..but lets face it, we rarely think about cleaning the mattress. The problem is, once you strip away all the sheets, you’re left with a mattress that has a cover that you can’t remove – it’s not like there’s a zipper and you can simply unzip the cover and throw it into the washing machine – no, the sad truth is – once we pull all the sheets off, we tend to turn a blind eye to whatever nastiness might live atop the mattress itself. Mattresses can harbor spills, stains, dirt, dust, dust mites and worse – so, maintaining a clean mattress is important for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that your partially clothed body is lying on top of it with only a sheet separating you.
This is an important step because it removes the dust, dead skin cells and other debris that lands on your mattress and which accumulates, en masse, over time. Consider doing this every time you rotate your mattress; Now, the important part here is to use a clean upholstery attachment, because remember that your vacuum sucks up all kinds of nasties and you don’t want to be depositing those on your mattress. We have a post and video on how to clean your cleaning tools, which teaches you how to do this. Remember to vacuum the mattress as well as the foundation, if you can manage it. You can fancify your mattress vacuuming by adding another step, and that is deodorizing. I guess with all that sweat, dust and other fun stuff your mattress handles, it can start to develop it’s own unique aroma. To combat this, simply sift baking soda over your mattress, leave for thirty minutes and then vacuum up with that upholstery attachment. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer so it will definitely help neutralize any odours.
Note however, that it won’t really clean any stains in this ‘dry’ cleaning method. If you like essential oils, add five drops to the baking soda pre-sift and you’ll get to enjoy that lovely scent for a few nights thereafter. Stains come in 3 varieties (protein, tannin and grease), but only one usually ends up on your mattress – and that would be a protein stain – and the reason we’re only going to cover protein stains here is because blood, sweat, vomit, urine and other bodily liquids are what we usually have to contend with on a mattress. As with any stain, it’s best to tend to it as soon as possible to avoid the stain setting in. Liquid stains need to be blotted up first with a cool, wet cloth and then excess moisture blotted up with a dry cloth. Remember to use a a pressing motion, rather than a circular motion to lift the stain to avoid further rubbing the stain in. Also remember that heat sets protein stains so only use cold water when handling these.
Fresh protein stains can usually be removed with a mixture of salt, baking soda and water. Create a paste, rub it on the area and brush off 30 minutes later. Then, use some cool water on a damp cloth to remove the excess and allow to dry. If that doesn’t work, upgrade your solution and try my favourite homemade stain remover, consisting of 2 parts hydrogen peroxide to one part dish soap. Gently apply the stain remover to the area, gently brush in with a cleaning toothbrush and wipe up five minutes later with a cool, damp cloth. This should also help with any unsightly discolouration. Some people love using enzyme cleaners to remove protein stains, and you are welcome to try this, they are highly effective. Just remember to use as little liquid as possible and to ensure your mattress is completely dried before using it again to avoid growing your very own mold spores. Placing fans in the room can speed up the process. Some folks swear by deep cleaning or steam cleaning their mattresses.
Now, what I know is that mattresses don’t do well with moisture so I don’t use these methods, although I have access to both a deep cleaner and a steam cleaner. I also know that there are professional service providers who do this and those with allergies or very difficult mattress stains can consider using a professional rather than hacking it on their own. These folks are trained and have access to great extraction equipment. I’d trust them over me, particularly when it comes to my most beloved and crucial sleeping tool. Turn and/or flip your mattress so it will wear evenly, do this at the turn of every season and rotate clockwise. My husband and I have about 100 lbs difference between us, so rotating the mattress means we prolong the life of the mattress and even out the wear. It takes a grand total of 45 seconds to do. No water on your mattress – mattresses really don’t like water, and memory foam mattresses can’t actually handle liquids at all.
With memory foam or Tempurpedic mattresses, liquid gets trapped in the cellular structure and has nowhere to go. On that note, never, ever get your memory foam mattress wet. If you need to spot clean, be super stingy with the liquid and blot like a mad man or woman. Use fans to dry the mattress so if that mattress gets wet, use fans to assist in dry time and if you have access to a wet dry vac, use that to help extract moisture. Don’t think about sleeping on mattresses until they are completely dry. We’ve been asked about how to deal with bedbugs. This is a serious issue and should not be a DIY project. Act fast and call a professional. Have them treat your mattress, room and any other affected areas of the house immediately. If you get – them you want them gone, and these guys know how to do it. Now you may recall at the beginning of this video that I mentioned something about a tip which would save your mattress from spills and stains and the like – well, its not really a huge secret but a mattress protector is one of the best investments for your mattress – there are a few different types, which I have linked below if you are interested in learning more.