Dust Mites Call Your Pillow Home, Too: When To Replace Your Pillow To Avoid Bacteria, Fungi, And Mold

When was the last time you thought about how clean or dirty your pillow was? If you are like most of us the answer to both questions is ” not often”

The sole purpose of a pillow is to provide you with comfort and neck support while you rest. We all know a good pillow is essential to a good night’s sleep, nap, or long plane ride. However despite how comfortable and deceivingly clean your pillow might be, it can be  home to thousands, if not millions, of dust mites and debris.

How often should you get new pillows?

That’s a good question and one many of us tend to overlook. We have a habit of becoming attached to our pillows, so the prospect of tossing an old one and replacing it can be difficult.

While the life span of a pillow is a debated topic, the average replacement time has been suggested to be around two years. However, Robert Oexman, DC, director of the Sleep to Live Institute says pillows should probably be replaced every six months. “People talk about how nasty a mattress gets,” said Oexman, but pillows are more frequently forgotten. Read complete article

The good news is, dust mites don’t spread any kind of disease, but they do pose allergy and asthmatic risks. Roughly 20 percent of people have allergies, and of those who do, around two-thirds may be allergic to the types of dust mites found indoors, The Huffington Post reported. To help reduce your allergic symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes, use an airtight cover for your mattress and pillows.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *