Have you been suffering from sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes, or irritated skin lately, especially when at home? While there are various factors that trigger allergy symptoms, you might be surprised that the culprit has been so close to you all along.
Aside from dust particles, smoke, scents, and humidity, another place that you should monitor at home is your mattress.
Your mattress is supposed to be the perfect place where you can rest and relax, but it can also be the perfect place for dust mites and allergens to build up. Symptoms can range from nasal congestion to skin irritations and many other discomforts. They can even result in sleep deprivation and other health implications caused by the discomfort.
Let’s look at the factors that make your mattress susceptible to allergens and some ways you can prevent your sleeping surface from housing these nasty elements.
How Can Your Mattress Worsen Your Allergy?
Despite regularly cleaning your home and using an air purifier, mould and dust mites can still find shelter in your mattress and pillows. As your mattress ages, it becomes a house of dust, dust mites, stains, and other elements that trigger allergy symptoms.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are minute, ¼ mm long, insect-like pests that thrive in hot and humid areas. This is why homes in Singapore are at risk of having high levels of dust mites. These feed on humans' dead skin cells but are too small to be noticeable.
Unlike bed bugs and other insects that thrive on mattresses and upholstery, dust mites do not bite the skin and leave marks, but inhaling proteins from their faeces, urine, or decayed bodies can cause allergic reactions. Dust mites themselves also trigger allergy symptoms.
Compared to other allergens that stay in the air, dust mites tend to burrow on surfaces like upholstery, curtains, bedding items, and mattresses. Anywhere in your home that has fabric where they can stick can house dust mites.
Exposure to dust mites can cause mild to severe allergy symptoms as well as asthma attacks. Signs of dust mites on your mattress include:
- Persistent sneezing when you are in your bedroom
- Congested nasal passages
- Postnasal drip
- Coughing and a sore throat
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Skin irritation
Dirty Mattress
Imagine using your mattress for almost 10 years already. Since you spend 1⁄3 of your day laying on your mattress, you’re also exposing yourself to 10 years' worth of sweat, body oils, stains, and dead skin cells. These loads of dirt can cause skin rashes and allergy symptoms. They also make the perfect environment for dust mites to thrive.
Mould
Aside from dust mites, hot and humid places are also more susceptible to mould buildup. From the extra indoor moisture to spills and your nightly sweats, an unprotected mattress can house mould that can both destroy your mattress and affect your health. This is the single most common indoor air quality problem that households in Singapore face because of our climate.
Like dust mites, mould spores grow in humid places where there is always excess moisture. When you perspire at night, your mattress sips the moisture, which may later cause yellow stains or mould growth. Positioning your mattress directly on the floor can also attract mould buildup. This is due to the lack of ventilation the other side of the mattress receives.
Inhaling or coming into contact with mould spores can cause allergic reactions such as sneezing and skin irritation. Mould buildup can also cause asthma attacks.
Pet Dander
Pets with fur, like your adorable dog or cat, shed dead skin cells called dander that can trigger allergy symptoms. Proteins from their saliva, urine, or faeces can also trigger the symptoms of people with pet allergies. These can stick to your mattress and other surfaces and cause swollen nasal passages, sneezing, or skin irritation.
How to Prevent Your Mattress from Housing Allergens
Your mattress is a perfect hideout for allergens and other nasty elements that can affect your health. Prevent your supposed safe space from impacting your health by thoroughly cleaning and protecting your mattress.
Some things that you can do are:
- Vacuum your mattress regularly. Tackle all the crevices, including the box spring and bed frame.
- Mop your bedroom to remove dust.
- Wash and change your bedsheets at least once a week. If you are suffering from allergy symptoms or if you have a pet, change your bedding accessories more often.
- Deep clean your mattress to remove yellow stains or spills. Use baking soda to deodorise your sleeping surface.
- Use a zippered mattress protector to guard your mattress against spills and excess moisture.
- Change your pillows at least every 1 to 2 years, depending on their type.
- Open your windows once in a while and let air circulate around your bedroom. This can help remove the excess moisture in your bedroom.
- As much as possible, give your pet a separate mattress.
- Use a dehumidifier to remove the ambient moisture that allows dust mites and mould to thrive.
- Use a HEPA air filter to tackle allergens and airborne particles that can harm your health.
Fighting allergen buildup in your bedroom requires effort and consistency. Following the tips above can help you create a safer environment for you to rest in.
When Should You Replace Your Mattress?
If your mattress is over 6–10 years old, you may want to look for a new one. If your mattress has been exposed to allergens for years, stains, dust mites, and mould can live on parts of your old mattress that simple cleaning can’t tackle.
When buying a new mattress in Singapore, make sure to look for one with anti-dust mite, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties. It’s also worth looking into the materials used in making the mattress to prevent possible allergic reactions to the mattress itself.
Once you find the right mattress for your needs, pair it with a mattress protector upfront to prevent future accumulation of dirt and mould growth. Don’t forget about changing your pillows too! Moreover, choose bed sheets that are breathable enough to allow air to flow around your sleeping surface when you sleep.
If you are looking for high-quality, comfortable, and safe mattresses in Singapore, browse through our thoughtful collection of Somnuz mattresses in Singapore!