mites

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.

Pillow Covers and Dust Mites

March 1, 2011 by mattress1982

regular pillow covers — CC Flickr photo courtesy of andybutkaj.

If you wake up in the morning feeling stuffy and have trouble breathing it may not be due to a change in the weather or the coming on of a cold. It could be something even more troubling, dust mites. Allergens from dust mites is the number one cause of allergen rhinitis and these unattractive tiny critters, smaller than a grain of sand, can be living in your pillows and blankets without being seen.

How to Protect Yourself if You’re Suffering from Allergies?

If you suffer from allergies, you can take steps to protect yourself from the effects of allergens by using dust mite pillow covers as well as dust mite mattress containment covers. Many of these dust mite pillow covers look like the regular covers, but are made of special material that prevents the allergens from getting through to the pillow. Most are designed for you to use as a decorative pillow case over dust mite covers.

In addition, these covers can also protect you from pet dander and other allergens that accumulate on bedding. Some dust mite mattress and pillow covers use a urethane membrane to block allergens and can be especially useful for children as they are waterproof. However, dust mite covers without membranes are softer and more comfortable.

Depending on the severity of allergies, a dust mite mattress cover should be used with dust mite protective covers for your pillows to offer full protection. How well the covers will stop mites from getting to your pillows and mattresses will depend on the fabric being used. Fabrics have openings in the weave that allows the material to breathe. A dust mite cover should have openings no larger than 2.8 microns, which will block out most dust mites that average about 10 microns. Cat and dog dander averages about 3 microns.

Cleaning the Covers

It’s the tight weave in the fabric that keeps the allergens out, but they do need some care and cleaning to remain effective. In general, dust mite mattress covers will only need cleaned every four months and the dust mite pillow covers should be cleaned in warm or hot water about every two weeks. Although washing instructions may vary slightly by manufacturer, they should be tumble dried on low heat and never used with bleach.

Keep in mind that buying dust mite pillow covers and using a dust mite cover for your mattress will keep any more allergens from accumulating on pillows and mattresses, but will not eliminate what may already be living there. Before putting the covers in place you should vacuum the mattress with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. Pillows can be placed in the dryer, without washing them, to help remove existing allergens before placing them in dust mite covers. The heat in most residential driers is not high enough to kill dust mites, but can remove some through the lint filtering system.

Dust mites thrive in a humid atmosphere with 75 to 80 percent humidity, but can not survive when the humidity level drops below 50 percent. They may not present much of a problem in the dry, winter months, but maintaining a dust mite mattress cover all year will reduce the effects dust mites have on your health.