When we were kids, we used to worry about monsters hiding under our beds. Well, in all honesty, that was true. Monsters don’t hide under your bed; they don’t have to hide because they are too small for you to see, and no matter how small they are, they still can harm you pretty badly when you are asleep.
Beds and bedrooms are the prime stomping ground for allergens like dust mites, pet hair, and even molds. These unseen irritants can easily make your sleep miserable; even when you wake up in the morning, you aren’t going to feel well rested, especially if you are suffering from diseases like asthma and allergies.
But there is a way, a superhero that can protect you and your bedroom from these tiny monsters. We are talking about hypoallergenic bedding which is designed to make sure that every single infectant doesn’t reach your body.
Today, with this article, we are going to decode the benefits of using anti-allergy bedding, how it keeps you and your family safe, a list of common allergens that disrupt your sleep, and more. So, without wasting any minute, let’s find out what anti-allergen bedding is all about.
Common allergens that disrupt sleep (dust mites, pollen, etc.)
According to one of the studies, approximately 20 to 30% of the US population is affected by allergic rhinitis, and the percentage is even more when we look at infants and children.
Here’s the list of common allergens that help you understand your personal triggers and how anti-allergy bedding can help you avoid them.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are one of the most common household allergens, and they are the first ones that can cause issues in young children. You need to understand that these tiny creatures do feed on dead skin cells that were present on your mattress, pillows, and even on box springs.
In addition to this, dust-mite allergies can grow by the build-up of dust, as a result, it can occur at any time, no matter if it is cold or warm.
Pollen
Pollen results in another common allergy, which is hay fever; pollen comes from trees, grasses, and weeds such as ragweed. Pollen allergies tend to be seasonal, and when individuals are attacked by it, they will feel irritated throughout the night and suffer from sleepless nights.
Allergies related to pollen can occur in spring-time, late summer, and even in the early fall season, depending on the plant or tree in question. Keep in mind that hay fever is much worse when it is warm outside and on dry days.
Mold
Similar to pollen allergies, mold allergies also take place during the fluctuation of the seasons. Molds tend to grow better in the cold and in damp areas. The best way you can prevent the growth of mold is by reducing the humidity in your home.
It is important to clean off the mold as soon as it appears to make sure all the allergies will be at bay.
Pet Dander
Both pet owners and pets love to cuddle, and the cuddling doesn’t stop even if the owner goes to bed. Lots of pet owners know about all the pet allergies that can affect them by keeping their pets in bed. Pets leave hair, skin, salvia, and other things wherever they are.
As a result, putting them on your bed is not the best way to keep your bed clean and yourself healthy. The most common form of allergies that comes from the presence of pets is dander, and people who share their bed with pets are more vulnerable to nighttime allergy symptoms.
What is Anti-Allergy Bedding?
Now let’s talk about the savior, the watchful guardian, the anti-allergy bedding that can protect you from all sorts of allergies and diseases as you sleep.
Anti-allergy bedding is those materials that go under antimicrobial treatment. The fabric used can be synthetic or natural, depending on the manufacturer. The treatment will prevent the growth of microorganisms, dust mites, and bacteria.
By inhibiting the growth of dust mites, these beddings will keep the levels of allergies, which result in asthma and other problems, pretty low. There are other ways to instantly kill allergens, but they are not very popular as they can also cause breathing problems.
Features of Anti-Allergy Bedding
How can you check if your bedding doesn’t appeal to the cultivation of dust mites? Well, here are a few features that are pretty common in anti-allergy bedding. See for yourself if your bedding has it or not:
Hypoallergenic materials used in bedding.
There are two types of hypoallergenic materials that can be used for bedding: the first one is synthetic, and the second is all-natural; both of these do a similar job: the natural fabric uses plant-based oils to inhibit the growth of dust mites instead of man-made treatments which uses chemical-based treatment.
Dust mite resistance and breathability.
Dust mite resistance mattresses are designed specifically to eliminate the growth of and buildup of dust mites, mildew, and bacteria, which finally results in a cleaner and healthier resting environment for your body during the night.
Furthermore, it is also beneficial in terms of enhancing the indoor air-quality and preventing any form of respiratory problems which were caused due to the presence of allergens present in the bedroom.
With dust-mite resistance comes multiple sets of features like cooling gels and breathable coverings, which keep you comfortable throughout the night and result in a better sleep cycle. Having to face allergens where you sleep will make your entire sleeping experience cumbersome and filled with irritation; using an anti-allergy mattress will give you a bedding environment that is clean, resulting in much better sleep quality.
Safe For Sensitive Skin
Anti-allergy bedding does not contain any form of volatile organic compounds and it does not have nasty chemicals that react with your skin. See, when you sleep on a bed, your skin is in direct contact with the materials used in the bedding; with anti-allergy bedding, you will find that your bed sheets, quills, mattress protectors, covers, and pillows will simply glide on your skin. This means there’s no friction present in these materials, and thus, they are great for skin care.
On the other hand, mattresses are quite difficult to clean, and if the owner is not careful, they can quickly become breeding grounds for allergens. With anti-allergy bedding, you will be creating a safety net around your body, which results in a much-reduced exposure to a variety of allergens, as bacteria, molds, and dust mites will be dead on their own and won’t cause you trouble.
Types of Anti-Allergy Bedding
There are many different styles and types of anti-allergy bedding materials that you can buy for yourself, given below; we have mentioned a few of them for you:
Anti-allergy pillows
If you are someone who has a hard time sleeping or you feel like you have been robbed of a good night’s sleep due to numerous sneezing attacks and coughing fits, then it is time to make a change to your pillows, as anti-allergy pillows could be a godsend for people who suffer from breathing and skin problems.
Likewise, there’s a growing popularity of anti-allergy pillows because they are the ones that keep your bedding safe from becoming a hotbed for bacteria, bed bugs, and dust mites. Use these types of special pillows to stop your sneezing and coughing for the night.
Hypoallergenic duvets
There are fabrics that can be too abrasive for your skin, and they can cause irritation and even redness, making it hard for you to sleep at night. Duvets are made from a cloth sewn to form a big bag, then it is filled with the fabric which keeps your body cool or hot depending on the requirement. Duvets are used as a top layer of bedding that keeps you warm.
You can go with duvets that are filled with Egyptian cotton, which is also hypoallergenic in nature; it will make you sleep comfortably all night long without discomfort. Also these forms of duvets also provide tons of breathability and a massive reduction in allergic reactions.
Mattress protectors and covers
Dust particles tend to accumulate overtime if you are not cleaning up the mattress regularly, but people do not wish to clean their mattress every single day in the morning. That’s why mattress protectors and covers were invented. These protectors will keep the mattress safe and sound from dust particles, bed bugs, bacteria, oily hair, and skin.
With the use of mattress covers and protectors you can almost double up the lifetime of your mattress while making sure that it does not catch any molds throughout the years.
Bedding sets designed for allergy relief.
There is one more thing that you can do, which is buy an entire set of anti-allergy bedding. The set will include all the bedding material that we have mentioned above and combine it together so you have the proper theme for your bedding. In addition to this, having an entire set of bedding in one place will surely help you with increasing discounts and become more affordable.
In bedding sets, the properties of different materials will remain the same, it is just that you will be saving lots of your time because you are getting everything from one place only.
Maintenance Tips
To keep the anti-allergy bedding performing at its best and keeping you safe, you need to make sure that it is properly maintained; here are a few tips and tricks that you can use to keep your bedding in healthy condition:
Regular vacuuming
In bedding, a mattress is one thing that is constantly being used. As a result, with time, it will accumulate some debris, such as dust, hair, pet dander, and more. Even if it is an anti-allergy mattress you still need to vacuum it up regularly.
Doesn’t matter if your mattress looks clean; it is required that you vacuum it at least twice a month for the best results. Use upholstery attachment in your machine and gently run the attachment over every area and in those corners where debris tends to collect.
Try Not To Keep Your Pets On Bed
This is more of a precaution; if you stop your pets from resting on top of your bed, there are so many allergies and dust particles that you can keep at bay. You can keep your bedroom when you are going out. Apart from this, you can also buy them a separate cozy bed where they can lay and sleep all the time. Try to put it in some other room or on the far side of your bedroom so that the allergens from their bed don't transfer to yours.
Regular Washing Of Duvets & Covers
Even if you have the best of the hypoallergenic covers and duvets, if you don’t clean it off regularly it will start having some allergens. Try to machine wash your covers, bed sheets, and pillow covers once every week. Make sure to set your washing machine to the highest setting and get the detergent that is safe for hypoallergenic laundry.
Conclusion
Suppose there’s anyone in your family who is suffering from allergies, asthma, and other forms of breathing problems. Then, it is advisable to go with anti-allergy bedding. With the benefits of anti-allergy bedding, you will be able to manage your allergy symptoms by minimizing the impact of triggers such as molds and dust mites.
On the other hand, if you are lucky enough to have no one in the family suffering from these issues. You can still choose these bedding materials because they provide you with comfortable and clean sleep at night while making sure that all the hygiene criteria are met properly.
Now that you know about anti-allergy bedding and its benefits, it is time to go out or go online to search for the best anti-allergy bedding that comes in your budget and sleep soundly because your health won’t be compromised.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials are used in anti-allergy bedding?
There are a number of materials and fabrics used in anti-allergy bedding; for synthetic filling, polyester is most often used as it is the most affordable material that provides hypoallergenic properties. For natural fillings, manufacturers use silk and a certain combination of wools which works as anti-allergens.
How do I clean and maintain hypoallergenic bedding?
Wash your bed sheets once a week to maintain all the benefits of hygiene. Washing bed sheets once in 10 days can reduce the presence of allergens by 80%. Use warm or hot water setting your washing machine to kill off bacteria and dust mites,
Are anti-allergy duvets and pillows suitable for kids?
Yes, there are specific kid blankets and allergy prevention pillows that are designed to meet children’s needs as they are more susceptible to allergies, rashes, and other forms of diseases.
What is the difference between hypoallergenic and regular bedding?
Hypoallergenic bedding keeps you safe from allergens, bacteria, dust mites, and other forms of harmful microorganisms. Regular bedding is the most basic bedding material that you can find at an affordable cost. It won’t give you the level of comfort and protection that your body needs during the night time.
Is anti-allergy bedding effective against dust mites?
Yes, even hospitals use it to massively reduce the levels of dust mites and other forms of bacteria. So you, too, can use it in your bedrooms and be safe from allergies.
How long does anti-allergy bedding last?
A good anti-allergy bedding can easily last up to 5 to 7 years if you clean and maintain it regularly.