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Fall is in full force now. It’s a great time to start thinking about changing out your summer bedding. Even if you don’t live in an area with significant changes in temperature, it is still a good time to freshen up your bedding, especially if you have dust or dust mite allergies.
Your first line of defense is your zippered dust mite covers that you have on your pillows, mattress and box springs. If you didn’t take the cover off your mattress in the Spring and wash it, now is a great time to do that chore.
A great snuggle season starts with bedding that is freshly laundered. Be sure to wash in either hot water or add some De-Mite Laundry Additive if you are washing in cold. Wash with the zippers in the open position and be sure the cover is totally dry before you put it back on the bed. If you didn’t wash your mattress cover last Spring and haven’t done it recently, there is no time like this weekend to get that done!
You are probably washing your dust mite pillow covers every 2 months or so. If you haven’t washed them in the last two months, throw them in the load with your mattress cover.
Also, try to make it a habit to wash those pillow covers at least every 6 to 8 weeks. The oil from your hair and head can come through your pillowcase case and make the zippered cover look really dingy.
It’s also time to start thinking about warmer blankets and quilts. If your Fall bedding includes a blanket or quilt that was not stored in a closed container, then before you put it on your bed, toss the item in your dryer and set to the fluff setting for 20 minutes.
Do not use any heat! The tumble action of the dryer will help shake loose any dust that might have collected while it was in storage.
If your quilt/comforter isn’t protected with a dust mite proof zippered duvet cover, then you should think about using one. The zippered cover will provide complete protection against any allergens embedded in the comforter and also help to keep the duvet/comforter itself clean.
If you don’t use a zippered cover, then you can always spray your duvet, quilt or comforter or other bedding with ADMS Anti-Allergen Dust Mite Spray. Just give it a light mist on both sides and make sure it is dry before you put it back on the bed.
If you change to jersey or flannel sheets in the fall months, make sure that your Spring/Summer sheets are washed in De-Mite or Allergen Wash before you store them. If you didn’t wash your sheets in either of these solutions, then make sure you do wash them before you put them on the bed. You want to start fresh.
Now if you are going to take your summer quilt/blanket/comforter and get it ready for storage, make sure it is clean first. If it is washable, wash it and make sure it is completely dry.
If it wool or silk that is not washable, take advantage of these last sunny days and expose your wool or silk to the sunshine. The ultraviolet light will freshen the silk and reactivate the lanolin in the wool.
If you have large plastic storage bags or tubs, they are great for protecting your summer bedding until you need it again next year. If bugs are a problem, I recommend the use of cedar chips and cedar oil versus toxic mothballs to repel pests.
If you have allergies and are thinking about adding a new quilt or comforter to your Fall bedding collection, then I recommend wool over down or synthetic fibers. The lanolin in wool naturally repels dust mites and also provides some antibacterial protection.
I have used both wool and silk comforters on my bed. I prefer wool over silk, my hubby likes silk better. The compromise is silk in the warmer months and wool in the cooler months (yes we do have what we think are “cool” nights here in South Florida during the winter).
I know people really like down but it causes problems. Not only is it a dust mite heaven, but even if you cover your down quilt with a dust mite proof cover, the protection won’t last forever. Eventually, the quills on the down will penetrate the microwave and your cover will lose its effectiveness.
Some people like to vacuum their mattresses a few times a year. It really isn’t necessary, but if it makes you feel more protected, then, by all means, use this time of year as an excuse to do it.
Till next time
Cheryl