dust mites

How to Vacuum a Mattress to Fight Dust Mites

April 19, 2011 by mattress1982

mattress and box springs from simmons — CC Flickr photo courtesy of castawayvintage.

Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live by eating human dead skin cells. They live all over the home in pillows, furniture, carpet and especially mattresses; since human body creates millions of dead skin cells during sleep to provide plenty of food. It is important to know how to clean a mattress since dust mites can cause health issues for people with allergies or respiratory conditions such as asthma. Proper mattress cleaning can effectively fight dust mite infestation.

Using a Vacuum Cleaner on Your Mattress

Any homeowner can get a good mattress cleaning using a high quality vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. Since dust mites multiply quickly, a thorough vacuuming should be done on a regular basis. Between the mattresses should be vacuumed as well as box springs, under the bed and anywhere the mattress makes contact with the wall. Homeowners whose bedrooms are carpeted most likely need more help with cleaning a mattress since dust mites hide in carpeting.

Using a Steam Cleaner on a Mattress

Steam cleaners, when used with specially designed cleansers, disinfect and deodorize a mattress in addition to killing dust mites. Vapor steam cleaners come in a variety of styles and price ranges and can be a big help with mattress cleaning to help control dust mite infestation. A good cleaner will heat the water to 298 degrees; which is the temperature that also kills any mold and mildew in the mattress. For households with allergy or asthma sufferers, it is especially important to learn how to clean a mattress in a thorough manner.

Hiring a Professional

Hiring professional cleaning services is the best way to get effective mattress cleaning. Employees of professional companies are knowledgeable about health issues that can arise from dust mites and other pollutants found in mattresses. They are trained to use the correct tools to thoroughly clean mattresses and other dust mite hiding places. The vacuums that are used by professionals are more powerful than the average homeowner has at home. Most have filtration systems two times the size of vacuums sold in department stores.

Professional steam cleaning is another way to solve the dilemma of how to clean a mattress well enough to kill dust mites. Most companies use non toxic and natural cleaning solutions that don’t leave a residue that could aggravate allergy symptoms. A professional steam cleaning provides a deep cleaning to your mattress. Professional cleaners also apply an antibacterial and fungicidal spray on the mattress for protection between cleanings.

Mattress Maintenance

Maintaining a mattress that has been cleaned is just as important as knowing how to properly clean a mattress. Bedding should be washed at once a week with water that is at least 130 degrees. Specially designed fitted sheets, called dust mite encasings are effective for dust mite control. Most department stores sell tannic acid which can be sprayed on the mattress to deactivate dust mite feces that can aggravate people with allergies. Since dust mites thrive in conditions where there is a 50 percent or more humidity level, running a dehumidifier is helpful to fight dust mites in between a mattress cleaning to keep the level under 30 percent.

Other Resources for Getting Rid of Dust Mites in a Mattress

How to get rid of things has a good page with solid tips on getting rid of dust mites in a mattress.

The Dust Mite Protection site has a list of tips on getting rid of dust mites in your mattress.

Net Wellness is a university based site with a lot of good advice on fighting dust mites in general.

Did we miss anything? Is there anything wrong with this page? Was it helpful? Leave a comment and let us know, so that we can continue to improve it.

What is Living in My Mattress?

March 1, 2011 by mattress1982

Not everyone knows what is sleeping in their bed with them and if they knew, may reconsider sleeping at all. Since the year 2000, pest control companies have reported an over 80 percent increase in infestations of bed bugs in motels, hotels and private residences and most people do not know how to kill bed bugs in a mattress.

In addition to bed bugs, dust mites also set up residence in your beds and dogs and cats can offer their contribution by bringing in fleas and ticks as well. If you suffer from allergies, some of the effects may be due to dust mites in the mattress. Using a dust mite mattress cover can eliminate that problem and can also help keep bed bugs out of the mattress.

All Those Hungry Pests

Using a dust mite mattress cover can help keep them out of your mattress, but bed bugs may be another story. Bed bugs can go about a year without eating so starving them out is not how to kill bedbugs in a mattress. While they wait in the seams of your mattress, they grow hungrier. Unfortunately, they feed at night, when most people sleep, and they can be quick to jump on the first meal that becomes available.

Bed bugs thrive in mattress where history has shown them that a blood meal will eventually be available. A proper mattress cover will likely keep them off the mattress but they can live just about anywhere on or around the bed. Knowing how to destroy bed bugs in a mattress can be beneficial to prevent infestation as well as the irritating bites to which many people are allergic.

Some Facts about Bed Bugs

These bugs are small, about one-quarter-inch long and nearly as wide, they are flat with an oval shape. They can slither into many areas in the bed or bedding, even in some anti dust mite covers, remaining hidden from view and come out at night to feast on nearby warm-blooded animals. Humans are not the only source of food for bed bugs as dogs, cats and any other warm-blooded animal that ventures near could be considered a healthy blood meal. Keeping your mattress encased in a dust mite mattress cover can offer some protection from them hiding in the mattress and contain them if they do.

Knowing how to kill bed bugs in a mattress is one reason many people call in a professional service as soon as they see indications they are present. Others will try many of the powders and sprays available on the market before reaching out for professional help. Portable steam cleaners are one way how to kill bed bugs in a mattress, but if not used properly can cause injury as well as be ineffective. Many of the chemicals sold for residential use are not strong enough to work as well as those used by professionals.

Another method of destroying bed bugs in a mattress is to vacuum the mattress frequently making sure you get into the seams and small spaces. Remove any dust mite mattress cover before vacuuming and get your fingers into the seams and pull them open to make sure you get as many as possible.

Water Bed Mattresses

March 1, 2011 by mattress1982

One of the most important pieces of furniture in most homes is the bed and the type of mattress that is on the bed generally sets the tone for how the day will go. Backaches from a bad night’s sleep or a smile on your face if you wake up rested bring out the difference between a good mattress and one that’s not so good. Information about the best types of beds can be found in a mattress review based on the size and type of bed you’re looking for.

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down For a Water Bed Mattress?

In terms of water bed mattresses there are typically only two sides: one side loves them, the other side hates them and usually there is no middle ground. The amount of water in the mattress can be raised or lowered to help adjust the firmness. However, if the bed is shared, one may like it firmer than the other and that can cause dissention in the bedroom. Although traditional mattresses are the same firmness across the board, something in the middle can sometimes be found to benefit both partners.

In cold climates, a water bed mattress is heated and can be much more comfortable climbing into than a regular mattress. Many people say that they like the warmth when they get into bed. In warmer weather the adjustable thermostat can be turned down on a water bed mattress for a cooler sleeping environment.

Water bed mattresses are not always one large bladder that can cause motion sickness in some people. Most of the newer water bed types of mattresses have baffles to make them waveless or at least semi-waveless. This can also stop one problem often cited in a mattress review of one person being disturbed by their partner getting in or out of bed. This can be especially bothersome, along with unwanted noise, if any air is in the mattress.

No Dust Mites, What a Revelation!

One of the other advantages of a water bed mattress is that it does not offer a friendly home for dust mites. Although the mites can live in bedding, they will not find a home in the mattress. Typical sheets for water bed mattresses are also different than those for traditional beds. The so-called fitted sheet and top sheet are usually attached at the bottom, basically because you can not tuck them under the mattress to hold them in place.

The mattress itself may take getting used to, especially for someone who has slept on a regular mattress and box spring for many years. However, in the event of an accidental spill they are much easier to clean. Simply remove the bedding and wash them down with warm, soapy water and you’re good to go. Some couples have commented that they thought intimate activity would be different in a water bed, but found that not to be the case.

Another issue posed on mattress review sites is the weight of mattresses. When filled with water, a water bed mattress will be impossible to move. However, when empty, most of these mattresses are lighter than traditional mattresses and box springs, depending on the size of the bed.

Like most beds, different manufacturers offer different features and it is best to read many mattress reviews before buying one to hear about other people’s experience with a particular brand.

Visit American National Manufacturing to see the newest in waterbed technology.

UV Lights and Mattresses

March 1, 2011 by mattress1982

Mattresses are not the most sanitary item in the home. They are often embedded with bacteria, viruses, and most notoriously, dust mites. Dust mites are difficult to kill by ordinary means as they are practically invisible to the human eye, and burrow deep down within the layers of the mattress. They feed off of dead skin that sheds from the body while sleeping, and excrete droppings, which can cause allergies, headaches, inflammation of the mucus membranes and other health problems.

Most Effective Methods of Mattress Cleaning

The older a mattress is, the greater the infestation. Although vacuuming is helpful, it only removes the mites on the surface, and leaves behind countless other mites in the deeper layers. So then, how do you deal with these creatures effectively?

One of the most effective mattress cleaning methods is the use of UV light. UV stands for ultraviolet, and is a technology that mimics the rays of the sun, which is a natural purifier. UV light, specifically UV-C light, when used as an indoor cleaner, serves as a germicide, destroying bacteria, viruses, mold and even dust mites within a split second.

UV Light against Mites and Germs

While you can’t purchase UV light in a bottle, there is a product on the market that uses UV rays to sterilize mattresses from these notorious microorganisms. The Hygienitech Mattress Cleaning System is a portable cleaning device that uses high frequency waves along with UV-C light and powerful suction to eradicate and extract mites and other particles and germs from the layers of the mattress. In as little as 15 minutes for a single mattress, and 30 minutes for a double mattress, the fibers can be purified just as if the rays of the sun were to clean it itself. There is also a plant-based spray that comes with the system, which is a deodorizing and sanitizing spray that can be used not only on the mattress, but also on the carpeting and upholstery.

It is suggested to use the Hygienitech Mattress Cleaning System every six months to rid your mattress of the accumulation of any of these bacteria and skin-eating critters. If your mattress is old, you’ll want to put it to use right away. Also, if you’ve been having allergy problems such as sneezing or itchy eyes when waking up in the morning, you may notice a great improvement, since you will no longer be breathing in foreign objects that can often be irritants and thus cause allergy flare-ups.

Something as simple as cleaning a mattress with UV light can help make for a better night’s sleep, not only literally, but also in regard to peace of mind. If we were to see the multitude of germs and creepy critters that are thriving in the fibers of our mattresses, we would be extremely repulsed. And since we can’t bring the sun indoors, it’s good that there are modern inventions that can help replicate the sun’s purifying qualities.

So, say goodbye to dust mites in your mattress, and say hello to sleeping in more sanitary conditions. UV light does it all!

Mattress and bedding related UV products and services:

EcoGecko UV Light and Vacuum

Verilux CleanWave UV-C Sanitizing Wand

Verilux CleanWave UV-C Sanitizing Bed Vacuum

Hygienitech Mattress Cleaning System

Should I Ever Buy a Used Mattress?

March 1, 2011 by mattress1982

Let’s face it. Most of us like to find ways to save money, and that includes purchasing items that are used. Some have no reservations about hitting the rummage sales or browsing through the local thrift store.

However, when it comes to choosing a mattress, most experts agree that you should never buy a used one.

Used Mattress vs. New Mattress

Used mattresses can pose a health issue and sanitation issue, and no matter how much you clean them, you never know if you’ve gotten them clean enough. Years of dead skin and microscopic insects are likely lurking in the layers of the mattress, which are quite deep. Additionally, you never know what kind of prior accidents might have happened on the mattress, including bed-wetting mishaps, blood stains or nausea outbreaks. Cold and flu germs could even possibly be embedded in the fibers.

Choosing a Mattress – Think about Dust Mites and Bed Bugs

One of the most common insects that live in mattresses is the dust mite. Dust mites are not visible to the human eye, so even after you’ve cleaned, there is no telling whether or not all of the little critters have been eradicated or if any still remain. Dust mites feed off of the dead skin that flakes off of the human body, and leave feces wherever they go. These invisible bugs love mattresses, logically because there are loaded with dead skin, and they likely take up long-term residence in the fibers. For some, dust mites cause allergies, and no one wants to break out into a sneezing fit when they’re trying to get some sleep.

Bed bugs are another concern. Although they seemed to have been unheard of since the early 1940’s, bed bugs have actually been on the rise again over the past decade or more. A bed bug, also known as a wall louse or redcoat, is a parasite that feeds off of human blood. Certainly no one wants to be the late night dinner of these insects, let alone have them crawling within the four walls of your bedroom!

In fact, if you were to examine the fibers of a used mattress under a scientific microscope, it would be enough to make you run away screaming in complete disgust. All of the filth and bacteria that you would be subjecting yourself to is not worth shortcut of trying to buy used. And, the greatest horror is that it’s not even your dirt! Who knows who used the mattress before you!

Sure, you could hire a professional to come and deep clean the mattress, but since services such as these are pricey, in the end you would not be saving yourself money in the long run. Additionally, most mattresses are not meant to last that long anyway. The maximum life expectancy for a mattress is approximately ten years; so if you were to purchase a used mattress, who knows how long it would be usable? It could be completely shot within a year or two.

Finding the Best Mattress for You

In conclusion, when choosing a mattress, it’s best to buy new. Just like you would not want to buy a used pair of shoes or someone else’s previously sampled cosmetics, you don’t want to rub someone else’s bacteria from their mattress all over your body. The best mattress is a brand new, perfectly clean mattress – one that you know will last you a number of years, and when you clean it, you at least know that the germs you are removing are your own.