Hypoallergenic Bedding: A Guide to the Dust Mite and Allergy Free Bedding It is best to be clear whether you have dust mite allergies and you do this by going to an allergist for allergy tests. Do I have dust mites in my home? You can find out whether you have dust mites in your home by using a home dust mite test kit. You are more likely to have dust mites in your home if you live in warm southern climates or where there is a high level of humidity. You can give yourself a break by cleaning your bedroom. See article on dust mite control. Where do I focus first? Pillows, they can collect up to 2 pounds of dust mite feces [the stuff you are allergic to] over a 2 year period per pillow. Start with dust mite encasing if you do not want to bury your nose into dust mites every night. If your pillow is old and needs to be replaced, consider buying a pillow made out of a textile which is dust mite resistant. I suggest latex pillow because latex is inhospitable to dust mites.
Wool or silk pillows would be a second choice as they are naturally resistant to dust mites. My favorite dust mite covers are Solus Organic dust mite covers, they are simply worth the money. Apart from the added benefit that they are made from certified organic cotton, they are also one of the softest. Think about it for a moment, the softest and most supple dust mite cover underneath your pillowcase means that your pillow retains its soft and supple feel. Important for those of us who like to scrunch up our pillows and mash them underneath our heads. What is your BEST and most effective dust mite encasing or cover? The quick answer is, every brand we sell has been tested and certified as a dust mite barrier. However, for the ultimate protection against microscopic dust mite allergens, opt for a dust mite cover with an impenetrable barrier layer. For excellent protection, all of our woven fabrics are tightly constructed so dust mites simply cannot wiggle their way through the fabric.
All our brands have a pore size of less than 10 microns, the size of an average dust mite. The "best" dust mite cover is in reality a comfort choice, and I prefer ones which are made out of cotton because they "breath better". Looking for a cheap dust mite cover? Then encase your mattress with a plastic or garbage bag. Well perhaps, but plastic does a great job blocking dust mites because it cuts the dust mites off from their food source which is you and your skin flakes. Trouble is you would find it sweaty and the noise of the plastic would drive your crazy. Some of the dust mite encasing on the market are only a small step away from a garbage bag-with a crinkly noise designed to keep you up all night. Do you need a dust mite cover on your box spring? To my mind, unless you are super allergic, this can be overkill and you can do without one. However, dust mites do travel and crawl where they are not wanted. Since you do not sleep on your box spring, you can settle for a less expensive fabric such as a polyester dust mite cover for this job.
How about your mattress? It is well worth using a dust mite encasing on your mattress, but remember if you have a latex mattress you probably do not need an encasing at all, as latex is inhospitable to dust mites. Royal Pedic makes a phenomenal latex mattress which is a customer favorite for its unbelievably comfort and support to aching joints. How often do you need to wash your dust mite covers? This is a matter of hygiene and does not have anything to do with the effectiveness of the dust mite covering. Personally, I like to wash them as little as possible because of the risk of damaging a mattress encasing as you get it on and off. [see our article on instructions for putting on a dust mite encasing onto your mattress]. Washing dust mite covers do not increase their dust mite prevention properties. Pillow encasings can be washed regularly. With mattresses I recommend that you also use a mattress pad that is machine washable to maintain a clean bed. If you need to clean your mattress encasings without taking them off the mattress, then try using a vapor steam cleaner, which kills any surface dust mite matter and cleans all dirt and stains.
Let's face it, people drool onto their pillows, sweat and do other things at night that make it necessary to freshen pillow encasings by washing them. Wash them at a high temperature of 130°F to kill any dust mite matter on the inside of the encasing. How about dust-mite covers for your comforter or duvet? In a perfect world you would have a comforter which was comprise of a textile inhospitable to dust mites. Comforters are made out of silk or wool are perfect for minimizing the breeding of dust mite colonies. Hypoallergenic down comforters [which reduce the chance of a reaction to feathers] can still be a breeding ground for dust mites. If you need a dust mite cover for your comforter, we think Cottonfresh wins out as it is the lightest and most supple covering. Why bother with a dust mite cover if your regular duvet cover is very high thread count? Unless your duvet cover has zippered tight closures and has an extremely tight weave, those adolescent dust mites will muscle their way through any opening.
Adolescent dust mites for the uninitiated, as we found out from a man who breeds them for researchers, tend to be pushy creatures which find their way through anything and will jump around in pursuing more food. Need I say more? What about your child's bed? I suggest a cheaper dust mite cover that has a barrier layer which will give the added benefit of water proof protection. A great choice would be our White Mountain Textile Stretch Knit Encasings. Cold & Flu Map Cold & Flu Relief Advisor Are You Allergic to Latex? Some people are allergic to latex, which is found in rubber gloves and other products, such as condoms and some medical devices. Doctors don’t know what causes it. Coming in contact with latex and rubber products over and over may be part of the reason why it happens. About 5% to 10% of health care workers have some form the allergy. Other people who are more likely than most people to get it include those who have: A defect in their bone marrow cells
A deformed bladder or urinary tract Had more than one operation A urinary catheter, which has a rubber tip Allergy, asthma, or eczema Food allergies to bananas, avocados, kiwis, or chestnuts Rubber industry workers and people who use condoms are also more likely than others to get a latex allergy. You can get exposed to latex: Through the skin, such as when you wear latex gloves Through mucous membranes, such as the eyes, mouth, vagina, and rectumRubber gloves contain a powder that can be inhaled.This can happen when some medical devices containing rubber are used. There are three types of latex reactions:This is the least-threatening type, and it’s not an allergic skin reaction. It usually happens due to repeated exposure to chemicals in latex gloves and leads to dryness, itching, burning, scaling, and skin problems.This is a delayed reaction to additives used in latex processing. It results in the same type of reactions as irritant contact dermatitis.
But the reaction is more severe, spreads to more parts of the body, and lasts longer. Symptoms can start up to 4 days after you've come in contact with latex.This one is the most serious. It can show up as a nasal allergy with hay fever-like symptoms, conjunctivitis (pink eye), cramps, hives, and severe itching. It’s rare, but symptoms may also include rapid heartbeat, tremors, chest pain, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, or anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. If you have severe symptoms, call your doctor or 911 immediately, or go to the nearest emergency room. Doctors diagnose a latex allergy in people who: Have had symptoms of an allergic reaction -- like a skin rash, hives, eye tearing or irritation, wheezing, itching, or trouble breathing -- when exposed to latex or a natural rubber product Are known to be at risk for a latex allergy and blood or skin tests show that they have it, even if they haven’t had symptoms. If you need a skin test to check on a latex allergy, an allergy specialist must supervise it, in case you have a severe reaction.
If the symptoms are irritant contact dermatitis, antihistamine or corticosteroid medicines may be enough to treat the symptoms. If your reaction is severe, you may need epinephrine, IV fluids, and other emergency medical care. If you have a latex allergy, wear a MedicAlertbracelet or another type of ID in case of an emergency. You may also need to carry two epinephrine shots if your doctor recommends that. Changes to Make at Home A allergy to latex can become worse the more you come in contact with it. So if you know you have this condition, be aware of products that may have the potential to cause a reaction. Ask your doctor if you need to avoid them. Many items have latex in them. You may need to ask product makers to be sure. Home goods that are made with latex include: Rubber sink stoppers and sink mats Rubber or rubber-grip utensils Rubber electrical cords or water hoses Bath mats and floor rugs that have rubber backing Toothbrushes with rubber grips or handles
Sanitary napkins (that contain rubber) Diapers that contain rubber Adult undergarments that contain rubber Waterproof bed pads containing rubber Undergarments, socks, and other clothing with elastic bands that contain rubber Adhesives such as glue, paste, art supplies, glue pens Older Barbie dolls and other dolls that are made of rubber Rubber bands, mouse and keyboard cords, desktop and chair pads, rubber stamps Mouse and wrist pads containing rubber Keyboards and calculators with rubber keys or switches Pens with comfort grip or any rubber coating Remote controllers for TVs or recording devices with rubber grips or keys Camera, telescope, or binocular eye pieces Bathing caps and elastic in bathing suits Outside the home, latex is also in many items, such as: Grocery store checkout belts Restaurants where workers use latex gloves to prepare food Car races that give off tire and rubber particles ATM machine buttons made of rubber