Bedding and Covers Archives

Allergies – Know the Enemy – Dust Mites

Sadly you can be the cleanest person in the world and you would still have a problem with dust mites.

Household Dust & Dust Mites

An allergy to dust found in our homes is the most common cause of perennial allergic rhinitis. House dust allergy usually produces symptoms similar to pollen allergy.

What Is House Dust?

Rather than a single substance, house dust is a varied mixture of potentially allergenic materials. The particles that can be seen floating in a shaft of sunlight may contain fibers from different types of fabrics; cotton lint, feathers, and other stuffing materials; bacteria; mold and fungus spores (especially in damp areas); food particles; bits of plants and insects; and other allergens peculiar to an individual home.

Dust also contains microscopic creatures known as dust mites. These mites also live in bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and other fiber-containing surfaces. Ordinarily, they would thrive in summer and die in winter. However, in a warm, humid house, they continue to thrive even in the coldest months. Their waste products, which contain proteins, are what actually provoke the allergic reaction.

What Are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are tiny creatures you cannot see. Every home has dust mites. There are two major species, the Dermatophagoides farinae or North American Dust Mite, and the Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus or the European or Old World Dust Mite. Both species feed on shed skin flakes and are found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed toys, and fabric or other fabric-covered items. In fact, your bed can have millions of dust mites living in it and you will never see them (great reason to cover the mattress with dust mite covers). It is the reason old mattresses, box springs, and pillows weigh so much more than the same item when new.

Dead dust mites are just as bad for you as a living one. Body parts and feces of dust mites can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. House dust mite allergy is the major year-round allergy in the world. Dust mites do not bite, you cannot feel them on your skin, and you cannot see dust mites.

Next up – Pets and Animal Dander

Till next time

Cheryl
Allergy Store – Helping customers since 1989

Wool Is the Ideal Allergy Proof Bedding Fiber

wool makes best allergy proof bedding — image courtesy Dr Joseph Valks

If you are looking for allergy proof bedding, look no further than your friendly neighborhood sheep. If there are no sheep in your neighborhood, don’t worry. The Allergy Store offers a wide range of allergy proof bedding made from wool.

Wool Makes Great Allergy Proof Bedding – Naturally!

Whether you are concerned about toxic chemical treatments to make your bedding flame retardant or dust mites, mold, and bacteria are your major concerns, wool is the answer. Wool is naturally:

Anti-static
Anti-bacterial
Dust mite resistant
Temperature regulating

Washable Wool is Revolutionary

Advances in wool processing technology means that many wool wool is ideal allergy proof bedding fiber products are now washable. Shropshire wool is now available that retains loft and softness even with repeated washings.

Organic Wool Allergy Proof Bedding for Babies to Adults

From organic wool crib mattresses to mattress pads for king size beds, The Allergy Store has you covered. And if you want to cover your wool duvet, we’ve got a cover for that as well!

Why Did Your Bed Bug Treatment Fail?

If you have ever had to deal with bed bugs or know someone who has, you know how bad it can get. You do everything you were told to do but the bugs just won’t go away. Why?

We had some send us this great article and we thought you may want to read it when you get the chance. It is titled “4 Reasons Your Bed Bug Treatment Failed”

You did not kill all of them or get rid of the eggs. Bed bugs will hide in the smallest of cracks and while they are there lay eggs. They also will move around the house.
The wrong treatment was used. Bed bugs are already becoming resistant to some pesticides. One problem is you won’t know that until after it is done.
You weren’t persistent enough. You have to be tougher than the bed bugs. You have to be relentless in your bed bug treatment and not let your guard down.
You didn’t apply preventative measures. The best offense is a better defense. Keep bed bugs out of their favorite hiding place in the first place. Make sure you cover the beds with bed bug-proof mattress covers. Make sure they are bed bug proof and not just bed bug resistant.

There is no easy answer or treatment for bed bugs. Bed bug treatment should be considered a war. But is a war that can be won. It just might take more than one battle.

Wishing you the best of health

Mike Krause
Allergy Store – Helping customers since 1989