How to Use an Allergen Barrier Mattress Protector

If you awaken each morning congested with a stuffy nose, or with itchy, watery eyes, you could be allergic to the dust mites in your bedding. One of the most highly allergenic contaminants in your house is dust that contains fecal material and debris from dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic organisms with eight legs; they cause allergy and asthma symptoms for many adults and children. Our mattresses are a prime habitat for breeding dust mites. They are attracted to the warm, moist environment in the mattress and feed on dander (skin flakes).

If you have dust mite allergy, the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology recommends using zippered, "allergen-impermeable" covers on mattresses to avoid contact with dust mites (Reference 1). You should also encase your pillows and box springs to prevent contact with dust mites. These will prevent dust mites from crawling in and out of the interior of your mattress, box spring and pillows.

Things You'll Need

• Allergy-proof mattress, pillow and box spring encasings
• Painter's tape

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Instructions

How to Allergy Proof Your Bedding

• 1

  Purchase allergy-proof mattress, box spring and pillow encasements. They are available online, at furniture stores, mattress stores, department stores and medical supply stores.

• 2

  Shop for cotton encasings with high thread counts (260 or more threads per inch) if you are sensitive to chemicals. This will be better for you than purchasing encasings made with vinyl, nylon or other synthetic materials.

• 3

  Air out the encasing for one or two days in the open air or sunshine before putting it on your bedding to get rid of any strong vinyl smell.

• 4

  Wash your pillow encasings in hot water (130° F.) every 10 to 14 days. Close the zipper before washing. Don't bleach, iron or dry clean the encasings.

• 5

  Vacuum the surface of your mattress and box spring encasings every 10 to 14 days to remove surface allergens. Wash the encasing once or twice a year in hot water. Close the zipper before laundering. Tumble dry at the lowest setting.

• 6

  Consider purchasing and using dust mite tape to cover the zippers on your encasings for added protection. Dust mite allergens can come through zippers. You can use painter's tape for this purpose. Scotch brand 3M painter's tape does not contain latex, which causes allergic reactions in some people. The painter's tape also comes off easily when you want to wash the encasings and won't leave a sticky residue.