Gardening For Not-Quite Beginners

Keep These Pillow-Related Considerations In Mind When You Have Dust Mite Allergies

If you've been diagnosed as having an allergy to dust mites, it's important that you take a proactive approach to reduce your exposure to these allergens in your home. A common place for dust mites to reside is in your pillow, feeding off the dead skin cells that fall off your head and face during the night. As you sleep, you'll be exposed to the dust mites and can wake up with bothersome symptoms such as congestion and watery eyes. Here are a number of important pillow-related considerations to keep in mind to help you avoid developing symptoms of this allergy.

Replace Your Pillow Frequently

If you've been using the same pillow for years, there's a good chance that it's filled with dust mites and is affecting your breathing. (Additionally, old pillows often lack the support that you need to prevent neck pain during the night.) It's a good idea to replace your pillow more frequently than you may think. Experts recommend doing so at a minimum of every two years; with extreme allergies, you may wish to do so every six months.

Use A Dust Mite-Proof Pillow Cover

A simple way to get longer use out of your pillow is to cover with a dust mite-proof cover. These products are readily available online and where you shop for your pillows. Their material forms a tighter barrier that will ideally keep dead skin cells out of your pillow itself, and thus discourage dust mites from inhabiting the pillow.

Vacuum Your Pillow

If you haven't yet bought a new pillow, it can be helpful to vacuum your current pillow — and this is also a good idea if you decide to buy a pillow that isn't hypoallergenic. Vacuuming pillows is an effective way to remove not only dust mites, but also the dead skin cells that attract dust mites. This is preferable to washing the pillow in the washing machine, as doing so can leave it lumpy and uncomfortable to sleep on. Buying a St Geneve down pillow or a similar product may allow you to vacuum the pillow less often since the down is so dense.

Don't Travel With It

While the idea of traveling with your pillow if you frequently visit hotels might be appealing, this isn't necessarily the best choice. Using your own pillow when you're away from home can indeed help you to sleep better, but exposing the pillow to different environments may also cause it to come into contact with dust mites, which may be present in the hotel bed or bedding.


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