Introduction
House dust mites belong to the arachnids and live in mattresses, bedding and carpets. Although they are harmless, they are a problem for house dust mite allergy sufferers. Primarily the excrement of the house dust mites causes the allergy. The problem is that you cannot drive the small animals away by cleaning them, as this is not a question of hygiene. Although you cannot get rid of the dust mites completely, you can stop them with a few tricks.
This is what you have to take into account for pillows for allergy sufferers
It is very important that the pillows for allergy sufferers are washable at at least 60 degrees so that the mites in the pillow can be removed regularly by washing. It is also recommended to use pillows with good air permeability. Furthermore, some materials are more suitable for allergy sufferers than others (see below).
Mite-proof covers can be used independently of the pillow. These retain the house dust mites and their excrement. When buying such covers, you should make sure that they have been tested for mite impermeability.
Since house dust mite allergy sufferers are also more sensitive to other substances, such as pollutants, you should choose pollutant-tested and allergy-neutral items when buying a pillow, as with the rest of the bedding. These tests are carried out by various independent institutes. You can also get advice.
The next topic could also be helpful for you: Mite allergy – What to do? High-quality down pillows and blankets are often low in mites, as they are tightly woven and the seams are tightly sealed and therefore impermeable to feathers and mites. The advantage of synthetic materials is that some of them are washable at 95 degrees and are more often breathable.
Thus they provide a worse environment for house dust mites and they reproduce less. Furthermore, synthetic bed linen is easier to care for. Washable cotton quilts are also suitable for allergy sufferers.
There is also bed linen from kapok. Kapok is a natural fiber, which should contain a natural bitter substance against mites. However the scientific proofs which prove this fact are missing.
Other possible filling materials for pillows are viscose foam or natural latex, whereby this is not washable, but breathable. Regardless of the material of the pillow, it can be covered with a special cover that retains the mites and their excrement. It is important to change and wash the pillow, blanket and mattress covers regularly, as the house dust mites colonize the covers over time.
The bed linen should be changed every week and the mattress covers every six to eight weeks. After 12 weeks at the latest, the original mite colonization is reached again and everything should be cleaned. Besides regular washing, the bedding should be shaken out daily.
This topic might also be of interest to you: Air purifier for allergiesDust mites die during a wash cycle at at least 60 degrees and the laundry is cleaned of mite excrement. The laundry can be washed, if possible but also at 95 degrees. It does not matter which detergent is used with regard to the mites, but allergy sufferers are generally more sensitive. Therefore, when choosing the detergent, care should be taken to ensure that it does not contain any additional fragrances. Detergents on a natural basis are also recommended, as they are generally better tolerated.
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