bedding for allergies?

[SamSF]

Hi

Can anyone recommend any anti allergy bedding sets i.e. duvet cover/pillowcases please? I’ve seen there are a few materials that are best for reducing dust mites etc and wondering what others experiences have been please. Thank you!

[peege]

I spent out on a complete change of bedding. From M&S I bought hypoallergenic k. size duvet and pillows made from recycled plastic bottles. Weekly changed bedding and thoroughly vacuumed the mattress, bedroom and damp dusted everywhere. Wasted my money, time & energy because it turned out I wasn't the slightest bit allergic to dust or dust mite (or the dog for that matter )!

[SamSF in reply to peege]

Thank you! That’s a shame it didn’t help. I had allergy tests done many years ago that did show a reaction to dust mites so I was wondering if it’s still an issue. I’m sorry it didn’t help you

[Homely2 Administrator]

Last spring I just replaced our duvets and pillows with whatever from Tesco and dunelm. I did not get anything special, but it solved my asthma issues in the bedrooms.

I also did a major clean up, including a mountain of teddy bears.

However I am starting to get issues again when changing the sheets, so this time I will be more careful and pay a bit more for allergy free items and see if they last more than a year.

[SamSF in reply to Homely2]

Thanks for replying. I’m sorry your issues are back and I hope changing to allergy free items helps you

[flowerjunky]

I bought a John Lewis hypoallergenic duvet and use it with 100% cotton sheets and duvet cover/pillowcases which came from Dunelm.

100% cotton can be washed at 60 degrees which is the recommended temperature to help reduce dust mites (I am allergic to dust mite).

Regularly replacing pillows should also help with an improvement in night time symptoms.

[SamSF in reply to flowerjunky]

Thank you. I’ve been washing my cotton/polyester bedding at 60 however I’m not able to wash it as often as I’d like to my energy limiting illness. I may try and find 100% cotton ones though. I’ll remember about pillows too thanks

[My_fairy]

Hi

Tumble drying kills the dust mites aswell.

[SamSF in reply to My_fairy]

Thank you, we luckily have a tumble dryer now so hopefully that will help

[runcyclexcski]

Placebo-controlles studies and meta-reviews (see google scholar and pubmed) showed that these covers do not do anything for asthma, although companies will be happy to sell them. Some folks here regularly steam-clean their mattresses (like, once a week), at least that makes sense scientifically. I sleep on the hardwood floor or on a camping foam mat, with no mattress at all. Works for me, and verified with a laser particle counter. I would at least try to control the humidity (measure it and dehumidify if regularly above 60%).

[SamSF in reply to runcyclexcski]

Thank you for replying. That’s interesting about humidity. I’m glad you’ve found a way to sleep that works for you

[Allbranuser in reply to runcyclexcski]

Interesting about humidity, being asthmatic and currently 4 weeks into Whooping cough a humidifer is thought to be helpful so as not to dry out lungs? Any thoughts?

[runcyclexcski in reply to Allbranuser]

Keeping the humidity at 50% is a good compromise between not turning the place into a mould/dust mite incubator while not drying out the lungs. Of course I do not know your exact situation and how sensitive you are to dry air.

[Allbranuser in reply to runcyclexcski]

Thank you very helpful. I put the machine on low for two hours. Seems to help with this Whooping cough.

[Poshcards]

I have been reading up on this and highly recommended is pure wool duvet, pillows etc, it is 100% natural, please google it x

[SamSF in reply to Poshcards]

Thank you, I’ll investigate that x

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Poshcards]

I have one of those and it's great, but I think some people with asthma can have issues with wool, so it may not be suitable for everyone - I'm sure I've seen someone saying their asthma was worse with wool bedding, but can't remember who/where.

Unfortunately natural does not mean something is always safer or better, especially with asthma where plenty of triggers are natural!

[Poshcards in reply to Lysistrata]

It says its non allergic so suitable for asthmatics x

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Poshcards]

For some asthmatics, yes, but not everything that can be an asthma trigger has to be listed as an allergen (and not all asthma triggers are allergens).

I have problems as I have several asthma triggers that can turn up in foods/cosmetics and skincare which are not considered major allergens that must be flagged. Unfortunately my lungs are not up on laws about allergy listings, and will still react to them (very inconsiderate of my lungs!)

[EJS87]

Got everything brand new from dunelm, the mattress goes inside of the mattress protector. Consultant said to wash on 60c cycle, my washing machine has a Allergy Care setting. Also got an air purifer for my bedroom and going to be changing curtains to a roller blind.