How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites

August 16, 2020August 16, 2020 by Lally G.

Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night because of the bite marks all over your body? Did you try changing your bed linen but still to no avail? We listed down the most effective ways on getting rid of dust mites that will probably change your sleep forever!

What are Dust Mites?

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, one of the most common triggers of allergies and asthma attacks at home is the dust mites. Dust mites are tiny bugs that commonly lives on house dust. They are close relatives of ticks and spiders and cannot easily be seen by the naked eye. Dust mites fed on the shredded skin by the people and thrive on warm environment. This makes the bed or your mattress the ideal place for the dust mites to hide.

Dust mite allergy is a common problem of people with sensitive body. Symptoms of dust mite allergy include sneezing, runny nose, wheezing cough, red eyes, and even difficulty of breathing. These are common signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction. Most often than not, the allergic reaction caused by dust mites can be reversed by your anti-allergy medications but if it persists, you may need to visit the doctor immediately.

Ways to get rid of Dust Mites

Lower the Temperature and Humidity

Dust mites thrive on a warm and moist environment. Dust mites like it when the humidity of the room/house is greater than 50%. If it’s less than 50 percent, they may have a hard time living in the comfort of your home. The ideal room temperature is between 65 to 72 degrees Farenheit. Make sure to keep the humidity of your home low. You might want to consider buying a dehumidifier if necessary, to further decrease the humidity of your home.

On days when the weather is dry, you may open your windows to allow good ventilation of your room. Aside from keeping your room smell fresh, opening your window also helps in reducing the humidity of your room.

Cleaning is your Best friend

As much as you love or hate cleaning, this might be your best friend when it comes to stopping the dust mites from thriving at your home. Cleaning your house thoroughly and dusting the areas that are often exposed at least 1-2x weekly will help in eradicating your enemies. You might also consider using a damp cloth to avoid spreading the dust mites in the air when you are dusting. Make sure to wash the cloth at high temperature or dispose it after use.

Hot Temperature is Recommended

As dust mites cannot survive in temperature more than 130 degrees Fahrenheit, you may want to wash your beddings at high temperature. This will ensure that the dust mites that might be present on your cushions, linens or rugs will be eliminated and washed away by the heat of the water. Also, adding a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the wash will help remove at least 99% of the dust mites that are present in the beddings.

Freeze Them!

Some fabrics cannot be washed on high temperature like silk or stuffed toys. But this should not hinder you from eliminating the dust mites that are thriving in them. If these items can fit in your freezing, you might want to try this hack. Place the items on a container or a zip lock and freeze them for a day. Dust mites doesn’t love an extremely high temperature. The freezing temperature is enough to kill each one of them. After freezing it, use a vacuum and thoroughly clean each item to remove what’s left on them. If possible, you can still wash them in low temperature.

Diatomaceous Earth can do Wonders

Diatomaceous Earth is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that can easily be crumbled to a fine white sand. It is often used as a pesticide as it absorbs the oils and fats from the cuticle of an insect’s exoskeleton causing them to die. It also has sharp edges which are abrasive and is not harmful for humans but deadly for insects – such as the dust mites!

You may sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth powder on carpet rugs, mattresses, beddings and sofa to better eliminate these unwanted visitors. Leave it for a few hours or better, overnight before cleaning it up using a vacuum. You can use it as often as you want.

Keep your Houseplants to a Minimum

Having houseplants does not only make your house feel and smell fresh but also keeps the air clean. Not all houseplants are recommended because some can trigger allergic reactions. You might want to consider on investing on air-purifying plants such as Peace Lilies, Golden Pothos, Philodendron, and Dracaena. Fun Fact: It can also help you have a better sleep at night!

Essential Oils

Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants that captures the plants scent and flavor. It is more commonly used as an aromatherapy treatment either via inhaling them or applying it on your skin. These essential oils have anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties which can be used in eliminating dust mites. Make your own mite spray by using tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil and mix it with water. Spray them on areas where dust mites hide. The smell is not only refreshing but is also relaxing for the body.

Vacuum!!

Vacuuming is more important than you think it is. It is a great way of reducing the dust mites and also makes it easier for you to clean the house. Here are some tricks that can make cleaning with a vacuum easier:

Choose a vacuum cleaner that has HEPA filter to decrease the dust emission from it.
Vacuum at least 2x a week and thoroughly clean areas where dust often accumulates such as under the bed or near the door.
Wear a mask when cleaning to avoid inhaling the dust that was dispersed. If you are allergic to dust, hire someone who does not have allergies.
Wet vacuuming or steaming is effective in removing mites and their dropping on rugs and carpets.

Benefits of Waterproof Mattress Protector

August 12, 2020August 12, 2020 by Lally G.

coffee spilling on waterproof matress protector

Ever experienced having tick bites all-over your body after a good night sleep? Or did your child pee while sleeping and you woke up in a smelly and wet bed? Worry not because we just found the perfect solution for saving your well-loved mattress.

What is a Mattress Protector?

Mattress protectors are used as a barrier around your mattresses to protect you from almost everything. The warm mattress is a good thriving environment for allergens like dust mites which can trigger asthma or eczema attacks. The mattress protector prevents you and your bed from waking up on a pool of pee and from having itchy tick bites all-over your body. Aside from that, waterproof mattresses also prolong the mattress’ life. It is a good investment because it ensures that you will have a comfortable sleep after a tiring day at work.

Types of Mattress Protectors

Fitted mattress protectors – This type of protectors is easy to use. It is like a bottom sheet, so you just need to tuck them around the mattress. It is easy and quick to remove especially when it needs cleaning or changing.

Waterproof mattress protectors – this type of protectors is recommended as a protective cover for your child’s bed. It’s waterproof quality offers protection against any kind of spills and stains. Also, it reduces the ability of the molds to grow on your mattress prolonging its life.

Polyurethane mattress protectors – This mattress protector is soft and fine. Some of it has a waterproof option, depending on which style or brand you’ll buy. It is made with comfort in mind because of its breathable reverse which does not cause sleep interruption that is caused by other waterproof protectors.

Polypropylene mattress protectors – This mattress protector may be the lightest of all the others. It also provides the same use as the others and but its advantage is its low moisture absorption which makes it easier to clean and remove stains.

Choosing a Waterproof Barrier

Getting a waterproof protector may be life changing especially for first-time parents. It will lessen your laundry and also saves your mattress from drowning from your child’s pee. In purchasing a waterproof mattress protector, these are things you should consider:

Mattress pads with a vinyl barrier

This type of waterproof mattress cover is often not breathable but is much cheaper. Cleaning it may take more time than usual because of its design and also it is quite hot to sleep on because it has high moisture absorption. It also makes a squeaky sound or feeling when you move on the bed.

Mattress pads with a urethane barrier

This type of waterproof mattress barrier may cost more but it is the most comfortable as it allows heat transfer which means that it stays cool on summers and warm on winter. It doesn’t also make a sound when you move on the bed unlike the vinyl type. Cleaning it is easy as it is washed fast and dries quickly. Lastly, its quality ensures you that it will last for a long time.

Why buy a Waterproof Mattress Protector?

Protection against Soiling

Waterproof mattress protectors does not only provide a water-proof environment for your bed but also acts a barrier against dirt. Its designed to prevent invasion of the bed from bed bugs, bacteria and dirt that may cause you harm.

Allergy Control

Waterproof mattress protector is beneficial for people who have sensitive skin and is asthmatic because it limits their exposure from possible allergens. People who often wake-up with red tick bites all over their body will definitely benefit from this as bed bugs and dust mites flourish on areas where people live and thrive on shredded skin. For best protection, buying a waterproof mattress cover that provides total encasement of the mattress is recommended.

Cushioning

Waterproof mattress protectors are designed to provide extra cushioning and support to the sleepers. There are different materials that is used for waterproof mattresses like cotton, cotton cover with silk, feather and synthetic fibre filling. Quilting these mattress covers helps hold the filling in place and prevent occurrence of uneven padding. Remember that waterproof mattresses that provides extra cushion should not be washed on the laundry but should be dry cleaned only.

Prolongs the Mattress’ Life

Waterproof mattress cover provides extra protection for your mattress and prevents it from wear and tear. Hence, extending its life. Also, it prevents the fluids from going into your mattress which may cause damage on the coil springs and the like inside your mattress.

Difference Between a Mattress Topper and Mattress Protector

February 1, 2017February 13, 2015 by moliver3

Do you Know the Difference Between a Mattress Topper and Mattress Protector?

When there are so many elements of bedding available to help create the perfect place for guests to sleep their worries away, it’s only natural that many of us mistake mattress toppers and mattress protectors as being the same thing. On the contrary, each has its own special place on a bed and serves a different, but just as important purpose. This is why we decided to clear up the misconceptions surrounding these essential bedding products and answer a question we hear surprisingly often – “but why use a mattress protector or mattress topper anyway?”

What is a mattress topper?

A mattress topper is essentially an extension of your mattress. Usually measuring about 4-8 inches thick and providing you with extra comfort and cushiony softness, they’re a great addition to a bed and will help improve a guest’s night’s sleep. Some mattress toppers (such as the memory foam variety) even mould to the sleeper’s body to provide the ultimate in luxurious comfort, supporting the neck, back and pressure points to banish uncomfortable aches and pains. Toppers can even give older mattresses a new lease of life if you can’t quite afford to invest in a brand new mattress just yet.

However, perhaps one of their greatest advantages where small hotel, B&B and guest house owners are concerned is how quick and easy they are to clean.

We know how hectic day to day hospitality ownership can be, but extra bedding products like mattress toppers simply require you to vacuum their surface in a well-ventilated area, using a circular motion that ensures each fold and crease is covered. What’s more, using a mattress protector on top will help prolong the life of your luxurious topper for even longer.

What is a mattress protector?

Like it or not, you can sweat up to 220 milliliters per hour in a warm room, meaning that as well as allergens like dust mites, animal hairs and dead skin cells lying dormant in mattresses to irritate conditions such as asthma and eczema, things like natural perspiration can seep in and leave that tell-tale yellow tidemark that often never comes back out. This is where a mattress protector comes in.

Doing what it says on the tin, mattress protectors form a barrier around your mattresses to protect against everything from stains to allergens, thereby prolonging their life. It’s a true piece of investment bedding, promoting enduring quality, hygiene, comfort and reliability in all mattresses. They’re even available in a range of different types to suit the needs of every small hotel, B&B or guest house owner:

– Zippered mattress protectors zip closed around your mattress, meaning they won’t slip off if guests are prone to tossing and turning in their sleep and form an impenetrable barrier against stains and allergens.

– Fitted mattress protectors simply tuck around mattresses like a bottom sheet, making them a quick and easy bedding item to change when time is scarce.

– Waterproof mattress protectors offer unrivalled protection against stains and spills and greatly reduce the ability of mould to grow on a mattress.

– Polyurethane mattress protectors are a soft and fine waterproof option, incorporating a breathable reverse which doesn’t interrupt sleep with irritating crackling noises like some conventional waterproof protectors.

– Polypropylene mattress protectors are lightweight yet incredibly strong and incorporate low moisture absorption, making them not just moisture and stain resistant, but easy to clean.

Although adding a mattress topper and mattress protector to your guest beds might be a little more expensive and require that little bit more effort, you can’t deny what a great impact they can have on the comfort of guests and the quality of the rest of your bedding. We even stock a fantastic range right here at Hilden Linens, all manufactured to the highest quality and available at wholesale prices that won’t tear your pockets.