If you need to get a dust mite mattress cover and have a very limited budget, don’t overlook the Linen fabric.

For years, dust mite covers were made by fusing vinyl or plastic to fabric..  The result was a material that was highly effective at stopping allergens.  It was also very hot, very uncomfortable, and difficult to launder.  As technology advanced, the allergen fabric industry figured out how to replace the vinyl with a water vapor transmissive coating of urethane.  As a result, the material was still highly effective at stopping allergens and was much lighter and cooler.  Laundering was not difficult, but care had to be taken when drying the fabric. Right after the urethane membrane fabrics appeared on the scene, the first microweaves appeared..

Microweaves are fabrics where the fibers are so tightly woven that allergens cannot penetrate the fabric. They were initially referred to as barrier cloths, because they put a barrier between the sleeper and the allergens.  The microweaves became highly popular because they were lightweight and could be woven from a variety of fabrics.  The downside to these microweaves is that they require a great deal of raw material to produce and as a result the fabric is very expensive.  When the economy was clicking along at 4 and 5 percent unemployment the microweaves became all the rage and the coated fabrics faded quietly into the background. 

Until recently, the coated fabrics were marketed primarily for their ability to keep bed bugs from feeding through the material and thus were an important part of controlling an active bed bug infestation.  The dust mite stopping characteristics of these fabrics faded in the background.

Well, I say “No More!”  If you need a budget-friendly dust mite mattress cover then please consider our Linen Cotton/Poly Blend material..  The blend of cotton and polyester (equal amounts) woven to a percale-type finish is fused by heat to a 1 mil urethane backing.  This urethane makes the fabric allergy-proof and water-proof.  With proper care, this membrane can last for years.  Heat and chemicals are the dangers.  When you wash your membrane coated covers, you must not use liquid chlorine bleach.  Also, when you place them in the dryer, you want to use the lowest setting possible.  High heat will cause the membrane to separate from the fabric.

Because I sleep on a soft-sided waterbed, a zippered encasement is not possible for my bed.  I must use a fitted cover, and the fitted cover is only available in the Linen fabric.  While I live in South Florida, I don’t find the fabric to be hotter than any of the other fabrics.  I have zippered covers on my other mattresses and I don’t see a big difference as far as temperature is concerned.

In these tough economic times, you have to save where you can.  Don’t leave your mattress unprotected because of the higher prices of the microweave fabrics.  Use the Linen on your mattress.  If you can’t afford the SMS or vinyl box spring cover right now, get that later.  For the best bang for your buck, get the mattress and pillow covered first.  Cover the duvet second and worry about the box spring last.  Get the Linen for the mattress and a microweave for the pillow and get relief now.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store