Allergies and Your Mattress

If you have ever tried to get a full nights sleep while suffering from allergies, then you know how disruptive it can be. Itchy eyes, stuffy noses, and asthma can make it impossible to get a good nights rest. Knowing what causes your allergies is half of the battle. The second half is knowing how to avoid allowing those allergens in your bed in the first place.

Keep reading to get all of our allergy knowledge tips and tricks in order to get the best sleep possible. We also have lists below of our top favorite hypoallergenic pillows, mattresses, and mattress protectors.

Allergens in Your Mattress:

Are allergies kicking your butt? Your bed may be the culprit. But it isn’t your beds fault! We have to protect our mattress from nasty allergens from pollen and dust mites to mold. We always suggest using a mattress protector, cleaning your sheets regularly (at least every 1 to 2 weeks.) and going to sleep clean. By that we mean taking a bath or shower, and only jumping into bed in clean pajamas.

Pajamas are not just for comfort, having clean clothes to go to bed in is good for your health and keeping your bed clean. So be sure to change into pajamas before jumping into bed. Also avoid jumping into bed the second you get home without changing. While it doesn’t seem like something that will effect your sleep at the time all of the germs and allergens can then lay on your bed and grow before you climb into bed later.

Are You Allergic To Your Mattress?

Could it be? Are you allergic to the very thing you spend 8 hours a night? It is possible that something your mattress, pillow or bedding is made from is causing you to have some issues. Though this is usually a rare case, below are a few possibilities of materials that may cause an allergic reaction.

Down Allergies:

Different materials you could potentially allergic to that might be used inside your mattress or pillow. A common irritant found in pillows is down, which is the main reason there are so many down alternatives.

While not everyone is allergic to the goose feathers themselves, they tend to hold onto and carry more dust and pollen than other hypoallergenic options.

Wool:

If the sound on wool brings up thoughts of sheep running through fields of hay or the itchy sweater your grandma gave you for Christmas years ago, then you might not think of this material as being hypoallergenic.

However, wool is actually a great material to guard your mattress against nasty allergens like dust mites. Wool has an ability to absorb and wick away moisture, which creates a dry environment within your mattress.

Moisture, like sweat, is needed for mold, fungus and dust mites to grow. Wool keeps your mattress cry which helps to keep these nasty allergens at bay.

Latex Allergies:

One questions we get a lot is whether or not Latex in mattresses can cause issues for those with latex allergies. Typically if you are looking at a latex mattress, you are looking at a natural mattress.

Latex can be created with very minimal processes making it a natural and eco friendly material. These natural latex materials are processed differently than medical latex (commonly used in latex gloves, balloons, and condoms.) Since it is a more natural product it does not cause the same irritation that medical latex can trigger.

Another reason not to worry about potential latex in your mattress is that it is otherwise hypoallergenic and does not have any contact with your skin. So even if it was a potential irritant it will never be in contact with your skin.

Not sure whether you want a Latex or Foam mattress? Visit our page Memory Foam VS Latex: Which One Is Better? to see the pros and cons of each.

Cheap Foam:

While you may not have an “allergic reaction” to a cheap foam, it is important to know what types of foams your mattress contains. There are now fantastic certifications for foams like CertiPUR US and Intertek’s Clean Air Certification etc that help you as a customer buy your new mattress with confidence.

Unfortunately some mystery memory foams and other polyurethane foams can be created using nasty chemicals that can irritate your body. So be sure to look for certifications to ensure you’re getting a quality product.

Want to know more about the different certifications out there? Visit our page Mattress Certifications: What to Know to learn more.

Common Allergens found in Mattresses

Beyond the materials of the mattress itself, the real culprit is more than likely an allergen that isn’t from the materials. But instead something that has acquired a home their over time. Below are the most common allergens that can be found in a mattress and bedding that are more than likely keeping you up at night.

Mold:

Not just a threat for allergens. When the air is damp or a leak goes unnoticed in can cause very serious health issues. You should be especially mindful of mold in the bedroom if your room is near or connected to the bathroom or laundry room.

Ways to avoid mold collecting is to ensure you do not have any leaks in the house and that there is proper airflow in your home.

Air conditioning units helps to regulate humidity and you can also open up the windows on dry days to get a fresh breeze throughout the house. (Unless you’re allergic to pollen, beware open windows)

Pet Dander:

At Our Sleep Guide we are big animal lovers. Dogs and Cats are all welcome for a snuggle up on the bed. We understand the temptation to snuggle up with your fluffy friends. However, if you’re allergic to their dander, having your pets in bed with you may make it very difficult to get a healthy nights rest. Baths and pet bed throughout the night are the best choice in this case.

Dust Mites:

These nasty little buggers love dust. They want to eat it and live wherever it exists. Unfortunately dust will naturally collect in our homes and beds tend to collect a lot.

The best way to avoid these little irritants is to wash your sheets often and use a mattress protector. (We always suggest using a mattress protector) This is the best way to keep dust from collecting within your bed.

Since dust mites tend to hang out where dust is abundant, it is likely that you are irritated by that dust as well. Which is why dust mites are a bad sign. You are going to be irritated by the dust and the dust mites simultaneously.

Pollen:

Typically pollen allergies will come and go in waves as the seasons change. While these allergies can range from mild to severe different medicines can help ease the symptoms. We would like everyone to note that pseudoephedrine can keep you awake and antihistamines can make you drowsy during the day.

So take with precaution and according to what time of day it is. Side Note: If you are not allergic to your pets but you are allergic to pollen, be aware that animals that go outside often carry pollen with them inside. So bath time is important and if you skip the bath perhaps sleeping in their own bed might be helpful for the night.

Top Tips for Preventing Nighttime Allergens

• Shower Before Bed
• Don’t Lay On Your Mattress in Day Clothes
• Avoid Sleeping with Pets
• Try Nasal Washes Occasionally
• Use Mattress Protectors Always
• Change and Wash Sheets Often
• Invest in Hypoallergenic Mattress
• Use Pillow Protectors
• Invest in Hypoallergenic Pillows

Top Hypoallergenic Mattresses

Avocado Green & Vegan Mattress

Up to 20% OFF Avocado Mattresses Coupon

Zenhaven Latex Mattress

Latest Zenhaven Mattress Coupon

Brentwood Home Mattresses

10% OFF Brentwood Home With Code: OSG10

Happsy Mattress

Happsy Mattress Coupon

Tuft & Needle Mattresses

Up to $800 OFF Tuft & Needle Coupon HERE!

Purple Hybrid Mattress

$900 OFF Purple Mattress Coupon HERE!

Top Hypoallergenic Pillows

Birch Pillow

Layla Pillow

Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow

Belly Sleep Pillow

Purple Harmony Pillow

Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Pillow

Coop Home Goods Pillows

Avocado Green Pillow

Best Mattress Protectors for Preventing Allergies

Avocado Waterproof Mattress Protector

Bear Mattress Protector

Brooklyn Bedding Cooling Mattress Protector

Helix Mattress Protector

Tuft & Needle Mattress Protector

Allergies and Your Mattress

When you are sensitive to allergens, nighttime can be a dreaded time of day. Mattresses have a tendency to soak up dust, dust mites, pollen, and pet dander creating an allergy cocktail.

Depending on what mattress you get, whether or not you use a mattress protector, and how often you wash your sheets can all make a huge difference on how intense those allergies can be. If you invest in a quality hypoallergenic mattress and take care of it, you are going to get much more sleep throughout the night.

We hope our product suggestions along with our tips and tricks help you to get an allergy free nights rest. If you try out these tips we would love to hear how they helped you. Head over to our Contact Us page and send us a message. We would love to hear from you.