Hello Yonik,
I've compiled a list of sites that sell top quality allergy bedding
for you. Please keep in mind that "best" is a subjective term. As
you'll also note in the articles I've provided before the bedding
recommendations, mite/allergy-proof bedding can be useful, but it is
not as critical as some folks think.
The Asthma and Allergy Network, as do many allergy and asthma sites,
state that even more important than the kind of casing one uses, it
that all bed linens be washed often and with very hot water. Some
sites suggest adding borax to the wash.
?But whatever you buy, remember to wash all bedding - and that
includes pillows, shams, comforters, and blankets - in short,
everything you?re planning to sleep in or on. Hot water is best (at
least 130 degrees Fahrenheit) at least once a week.?
http://www.aanma.org/homesweet/hs_makingbed.htm
The same site offers wonderful tips for reducing allergens in the
bedroom. This one is most relevant to your situation:
?The designation "non-allergenic" or "hypo-allergenic" on bedding
materials only means that the fibers themselves do not cause
allergies. Don?t be fooled into thinking the products are dust-mite
proof.?
http://www.aanma.org/homesweet/hs_sleepez.htm
Another page on the Asthma and Allergy Network recommends the following:
We spend more than half our lives in the bedroom, wallowing all night
in dust-mite laden sheets and blankets. And our babies are in their
rooms up to 16 hours a day! If you want to reduce your sneezing and
wheezing, keep your bedroom free of dust mites and other allergens.
First, encase pillows and the mattress with dust-mite-proof encasings.
Encasements place a barrier between you and the dust mites that live
in the mattress and pillows. The initial expense can be daunting but
buy the best quality you can afford and they will likely last longer
than the mattress on the bed!
Once a week, wash cotton sheets in very hot water (if the label says
warm water, most sheets usually do fine) - about 130° F for at least
10 minutes to kill dust mites and remove their allergens.
Look behind, underneath, and on top of every surface for dust traps,
moist or moldy areas, and evidence of critter activity. If you find
mouse droppings or cockroach nests - tangled balls of dust - vacuum
them up and stop eating in the bedroom! Also, use a silicone sealant
to caulk all holes and crevices through which these invaders run in
and out of your house.
Take curtains off the windows and toss in the washer. If they are not
washable, consider replacing them with easy-to-maintain cotton
curtains and you?ll reduce the dust load in the bedroom significantly.
Remove and clean window air-conditioning filters at this time, too.
Dust all picture frames, walls, and floor surfaces using a slightly
damp cloth (give the feather duster to the garden scarecrow to see if
it chases birds as well as it scatters dust). As you go, put clutter
away or drop into a box for sorting later. Carpet requires more
attention. The best option is to remove all carpet from the bedroom.
Carpet dust includes a motley collection of crumbs, hairs, fluff from
cloth, flecks of playdough, mold, and other debris of our home lives.
Mice and rats dribble urine and distribute fecal pellets as they
explore carpeted areas of the home as well.
http://www.aanma.org/homesweet/hs_bedroom.htm
The Asthma Organization of the UK says:
?Anti-allergen bedding does not help adults to reduce asthma symptoms
caused by house dust mites when it is the only step taken against
allergy, new research concludes.
More than 5.1 million people in the UK have asthma, and it is thought
that around one in ten buy special impermeable covers for mattresses,
pillows and quilts in a bid to cut down their exposure to house dust
mite, which is one of the most common triggers for people with asthma.
Dust mites are invisible to the naked eye and most commonly live in
bedding and mattresses, feeding on dead skin cells.
The study, funded by the Department of Health and carried out in
conjunction with the National Asthma Campaign, tested the
effectiveness of allergen-impermeable bedcovers in more than 1,000
adults with asthma. The results showed that when this was the only
measure taken to combat allergy, the covers had no effect in reducing
asthma symptoms and did not help people to decrease levels of their
asthma medication.?
?Professor Ashley Woodcock from the North West Lung Centre, University
of Manchester, led the research, which looked at a group of 1,000
adults aged 18-50, none of whom were currently using anti-allergen
bedcovers. Half of the group were given the anti-allergen bedding and
half were given normal bedding, but neither group knew which was
which. The scientists measured the effects on individuals' asthma by
recording the incidence of asthma symptoms, peak flow readings, days
off work and whether the patients were able to reduce their
medication.
'This type of research is important because it addresses "real life"
questions that people with asthma routinely ask,' said Dr Matthew
Hallsworth, research manager for the Department of Health NHS Research
and Development Asthma Management Programme. 'Patients and health
professionals need to have real evidence about which allergen
avoidance measures actually work, so they can make the best choices
and help to reduce the impact of asthma.'?
http://www.asthma.org.uk/news/news84.php
?? hot wash (at 60C) sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases once a week
? this will zap the mites
? sorry ted! You should try and keep soft toys to a minimum. Either
hot wash them every 1-2 weeks or put soft toys into a bag in the
freezer for six hours to kill mites.
? vacuum carpets regularly
? dust furniture and surfaces with a damp cloth frequently
? use storage boxes to reduce clutter and make it easier to clean
? if you have a choice, choose roller blinds rather than heavy curtains
? open the window daily! Mites hate fresh air
? remember that furry pets can provide homes for mites?
http://www.asthma.org.uk/kickasthma/factfile04.php
?People with allergies to dust mites and molds are well served by
encasing their pillows, mattress, and box springs in zippered,
allergen-impermeable encasings. These covers provide the patient with
a protective barrier against dust mites, their fecal particles, and
mold antigens. This is critical in reducing your dust mite exposure
especially if you take into account that most people spend at least
one- third of each day in the bedroom. The bedroom is also a haven for
dust mites due its warmth and humidity and to the abundant food source
from human skin flakes and secretions.
Formerly, dust covers were only available in plastic. Fortunately, the
technology has improved to the point that the newer fabrics allow
airflow but completely prevent the passage of antigens through the
impermeable fibers. The flow of air and perspiration through the
fabric provides excellent comfort without the clammy feel associated
with plastic. These products are increasingly available through
various allergy catalogs, allergy supply houses, home supply stores
and an ever-increasing number of online computer sites. Grocery store
chains are increasingly carrying these products as awareness of their
effectiveness has grown. Be sure to examine the samples available so
you will be comfortable with your product choice. There is a range of
prices for these products, so be sure to compare. Your allergist will
typically have an array of catalogs and order forms to assist you in
your search.?
http://www.medicinenet.com/allergy_treatment_begins_at_home/page4.htm#4howcan
===============
Allergy Bedding
===============
The Allergy Relief Store sells several kinds of comfortable tightly
woven products that might interest you.:
Allersoft is a revolutionary, tight-weave fabric that forms an
effective barrier against dust mites, pet dander, and other harmful
allergens for mattresses, pillows, and comforters. Crib covers
available.
Allersoft eliminates the need for a membrane barrier, allowing both
air and moisture to pass through with a pore size of less than 5
microns. These anti-dust mite, zippered allergy encasings are placed
directly on the mattresses, pillows, and comforters and are the most
effective way to limit your family's exposure to dust mites.
· Our top-of-the-line and most popular & comfortable allergy bedding!
· Available individually or in a value package.
· Dept choices for mattress encasings: 9", 12", 15" & 18".
· Crib encasings available.
· Allersoft is the coolest and most comfortable fabric available.
· 40% Pure Cotton/60% Polyester.
· Total breathability, membrane free tight weave construction.
· Zippered encasings for complete and comfortable allergen protection.
· Double needle stitching. Lifetime guarantee.
· Machine washable in hot water. Tumble dry.
· Tested after completing 100 washing and drying cycles.
· Comfort Rating Durability Rating
http://onlineallergyrelief.com/bedding/bedding.html
Allersoft products can also be purchased at Achoo Allergy products:
http://www.achooallergy.com/productdetail2.asp?supercat=Bedding&subcat=Allersoft%20Encasings&productid=1055
Allergy Buyer?s Club provides this rating/comparison chart:
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/solution-dust-mite.html
According to the chart, these products were the highest rated:
?Zippered dust mite encasings provide a dust mite allergen barrier for
your pillows and, mattresses. You'll sleep and breathe better because
after using these cool, cottony and comfortable covers. Encasings are
available in these sizes: crib, twin, long twin, queen king and
15"extra deep mattress encasings.?
?The tests show that the fabric is impenetrable by the house dust mite
allergen. They also carry an Eco-Tex certificate, which is a European
standard of textile purity, which guarantees the cloth is free of
harmful chemicals and of 21 specific allergens. But best of all, the
covers are supremely comfortable to sleep on, a benefit particularly
welcome to non-sufferers too. The only chemical treatment applied to
the fabric after weaving is washing with a washing agent to remove
impurities picked up in processing followed by rinsing in water. No
other substances have been applied to the cloth.
Care: The encasings are closed by a fine zip fastener and may be
washed at high temperature. The manufacturer recommends laundering
them every few months month if used under standard sheets and
comforter covers. Wash pillow encasings once a month. The cloth is
pre-shrunk but there may be an additional 2% shrinkage if washed at
high temperatures. This extra shrinkage actually makes the weave
tighter still and therefore more protective.?
The pore size is 9 microns (That?s small!) and the thread count is
240. They are all cotton and made in England.
Scroll down the page to see Euphoria products ratings (Mentioned next
in my answer).
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/cotpil.html
Allergy Buyer?s Club sells some other good products here:
Their top of the line product, all organic covers, are described :
?Euphoria Dust Mite Pillow and Mattress Covers - 100% Organic
CottonThese mattress covers and pillow encasings provide a 100%
handpicked organic cotton dust mite allergen barrier for your
mattress, pillow and boxspring. Allergens cannot penetrate these dust
mite covers. Dust mite mattress encasings come in all sizes including:
twin xl, full xl, and california king. Organic pillow covers sizes:
standard, queen and king.?
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/dusen2.html
?New for 2005! Euphoria dust mite mattress and pillow covers are
everything you need to achieve a perfect night?s sleep without the
disruption of dust mite allergies. Protect your mattress and pillows
with luxurious covers crafted from 100% handpicked organic cotton from
the Peruvian Andes and woven in Germany and Switzerland. The extra
care taken to produce this dust mite proof bedding results in a
breathable fabric that has a silky, soft finish, and provides
long-lasting durability that you will be able to use for many years.
See the entire family of Euphoria allergy bedding including mattress
pads, dust mite covers, and pillows.?
These covers are for the person who:
· Has chemical sensitivities, allergies, or MCS, and wants completely
nontoxic, chemical-free, hypoallergenic encasings for a comfortable
and healthy night?s sleep.
· Wants relief from dust mite allergy symptoms such as: itchy, watery
eyes, nasal stuffiness, runny nose and in some cases asthma.
· Wants highest quality 100% certified organic and naturally odorless
dust mite covers
· Would like a soft, 250 thread count encasing that will last a long
time and doesn?t shift or crackle from movement.
· Wants to control allergens in the bedroom by shielding the mattress
and pillows from exposure to dust mites, bacteria and mold.
· Wants dust mite covers that are resistant to saliva and perspiration
and contain no biocide or flame retardant
· Wants a durable zippered pillow or mattress cover for easy removal
http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/euphoria-dust-mite-covers.html
===========================================================================
People with allergies or who have children with allergies recommend
Allergy Control products.
http://parents.berkeley.edu/recommend/where2buy/bedding_allergic.html
Here is their site:
http://www.allergycontrolproducts.com/
You can call Allergy Control Products for further information:
ALLERGY CONTROL PRODUCTS, INC. provides supplementary services for
physicians and other members of the allied health field through our
Physician Services Department.
Patient Information Brochures, Allergen Impermeable Fabric Samples,
House Dust Allergy video and educational posters are among the many
supplies offered at no charge to your facility to enhance an
Environmental Control teaching program.
Statistical Information and research studies pertaining to house dust,
dust mites and environmental control measures are also available
through our Physician Services Department. Extensively trained
representatives will answer any questions you may have regarding our
product line and services.
Please call our Physician Services Department at 1.800.422.DUST (3878)
or email us if you would like a free supply of Patient Information
Brochures or other teaching aids. Physician Services Representatives
are available to assist you Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
EST.
http://www.allergycontrol.com/physician_main.asp?mscssid=XXPLWW9VBEJQ9P2AJUHC3E3EX9500439
Products:
Encasing Kit
Create a united front against dust mites with our encasing kits to
cover your entire bed. These money-saving kits include the items you
need to cover your pillow, mattress, box spring and comforter. They're
a total package to get you off to the right start when it comes to
controlling your allergies.
http://www.allergycontrol.com/store/products_main.asp?dept_id=20050&mscssid=XXPLWW9VBEJQ9P2AJUHC3E3EX9500439
Do you or your children suffer from dust allergies and wake up
congested? Get a healthy night's sleep and feel better with Allergy
Control® encasings!
Every night, when you lay your head on your pillow, you are coming in
contact with a reservoir of symptom-producing allergens. Relief from
allergies starts with taking the first step and covering your pillow
with an allergen barrier encasing.
Try our exclusive Pristine® Complete encasings for the ultimate in
allergen protection or Pristine® Relief encasings for people with dust
allergies.
http://www.allergycontrol.com/store/products_main.asp?dept_id=20100&mscssid=XXPLWW9VBEJQ9P2AJUHC3E3EX9500439
===============================================================
National Allergy Supply make several products worth looking at:
http://www.natlallergy.com/allergy/products/cart/subcat/view.txt/subcatid/2/page/Mattress_Covers_Mite_Proof_Encasings.html
?SofTEK allergy mattress covers are the most breathable, lowest priced
mattress encasings available anywhere. For only a fraction of the cost
of other membrane-free encasings, you'll get the mite allergen
protection you need with a high tech fabric that's so lightweight you
won't even know it's on your bed. SofTEK is a high-tech, non-woven
fabric made by heat bonding three layers of material together. This
process gives the fabric a soft feel while letting the material
breathe as well as a regular cotton sheet.
SofTEK encasings are designed to be virtually maintenance-free, just
vacuum monthly or hand wash and air dry if absolutely necessary. At
these low prices, you'll want to encase all your bedding. Excellent to
take when traveling and for college students. SofTEK encasings carry a
Full 5 Year Warranty, have premium, rust-proof zippers, and reinforced
seams. You'll love them or we'll give you your money back! NOTE: For
complete protection, doctors also recommend covering your box spring
with an economical vinyl encasing.?
http://www.natlallergy.com/allergy_relief/1084/allergy-mattress-covers-softek.html
http://www.natlallergy.com/allergy_relief/1572/premium-sleep-fresh-vinyl-box-spring-encasings.html
So, to summarize, making an investment in mattress casings and special
bed lines is a good idea, IF you follow the other suggestions
presented in the beginning of my answer. This includes frequent
washing of bed linens, frequent vacuuming and dusting, and removal of
all allergens from the bedroom. I am an asthmatic and I use a simple
mattress pad, and a basic allergy-proof pillow cover I found at a
local discount store. I do wash ALL my bed linens, at least once a
week, in very hot water, with an extra rinse. I gave up my cozy
comforter for a more durable matelasse coverlet, as it stands up to
weekly washings. With all that said, select the coverings that appear
to be the most comfortable, and wash often. That will do the trick!
(Most sites don?t post pore size, by the way, but may tell you should
you call them)
Hope this helps you breathe easier at night! Please don?t rate this
answer if any part is unclear or if I have duplicated information you
already had. Simply ask for an Answer Clarification, and I will
respond as soon as possible.
Sincerely, Crabcakes
============
Search Terms
Allergy bed coverings
Asthma or allergy associations
Recommended allergy bed casings |
Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
26 Jun 2005 11:58 PDT
Hello Yonik,
Thank you for the clarification. Unfortunately rating bed casings
and bedding is more subjective than items such as cars, TVs, and
vacuum cleaners. Appliances
can be rated for a number of easily measured parameters, such as
power, durability, sturdiness, and features such as screen size,
suction in a vacuum, and safety as in a car. It is quite difficult to
enumerate numbers of mites present on bedding after it has been used
for a week.
However, here is how bedding is tested:
"Mean pore size is best determined by using a capillary flow test. PMI
(Porous Materials, Inc.) has performed capillary flow tests for many
textile manufacturers and is a leading authority in this field of
study. You can learn more about how those tests are performed by
visiting PMI?s web site. The U.Va. study did not develop a test method
or protocol for determining mean pore size. Often the reporting of
pore size is done either by the manufacturer of the fabric (like we
do) or by the retailer selling the finished goods. In addition to the
results reported by the manufacturers of fabrics used in our
encasings, we have employed PMI to test samples we sent them. The
results of that testing are posted here."
" It's important to remember that there is no requirement to use a
company like PMI when reporting mean pore size. Anyone with a
microscope and a lens with a built-in micrometer (used to measure
things in terms of microns) can give an opinion concerning the mean
pore size of a woven fabric by simple observation. And this leaves
open a number of questions. For example, how many samples are needed
to come up with a "mean"? When using a simple observation technique,
that's left up to the one doing the reporting. Additionally, the pore
size of fabric will not remain completely uniform simply due to the
fact that it is woven material. That means some pores are larger than
others. So that leaves open the possibility of taking samples until
the desired result is reached - be that good or bad. Consequently, it
becomes important to find out how a reported mean pore size was
determined and to request a copy of the independent test results."
"There is a notable push in the marketplace by companies and
individuals who want doctors to insist on the much more subjective
measurement of pore size as the main determinant of performance. We're
glad to publish that information for all of our encasings to which it
applies (waterproof encasings like SatinSoft Classic? don't have
"pores"), and you will find it in the product description for all of
our woven fabric styles. We report what the fabric manufacturers tell
us, but please be aware that these are still very subjective numbers
because they are averages and anyone else taking the readings could
come up with a different average. If you want any of the IBT test
results we have for our fabrics, please don't hesitate to contact us
and we'll be glad to fax or mail them to you - call 1-800-522-1448 or
email physiciansupport@nationalallergy.com"
http://www.natlallergy.com/poresize.html
You can see test results for three products (Some of which are listed below) here:
http://www.natlallergy.com/images/pmiresults.pdf
On one of the sites I posted previously, has this information:
"There are several methods for judging the effectiveness of encasing
fabrics. While some encasing products boast a tiny "pore size" as a
mark of mite-resistance, the smaller the pore size, the less
breathable the encasing. In addition, there is no standard for
measuring pore size in non-membrane materials because the weaves all
vary slightly. The best assessment of a dust mite encasing's
effectiveness and comfort is to measure how much allergen is actually
transferred through the material vs. how much airflow the material
allows. Independent labs perform various tests to measure each of
these properties.
IBT Reference Labs performs rigorous testing both on National Allergy
fabrics, and the fabrics of other companies as well. The following
chart shows the airflow and amount of mite allergen and cat allergen
(used because it is ten times smaller than mite allergen) that passes
through three of our different encasing styles versus the lab-control
poly-cotton fabric."
"The latest generation of allergen-proof encasings are free of
membranes altogether. SofTEK is a very popular economical choice for
thousands of our customers. While it does not carry the lifetime
warranty of our other bedding encasing products, SofTEK is our most
lightweight, inexpensive material. SofTEK is a non-woven fabric.
Non-woven fabric manufacturers employ technology that blows fibers
from different angles, one on top of another, to create an
impenetrable barrier to dust mites with maximum comfort for you.
Non-woven materials are used in a variety of industries and
professions from home furnishings to hospitals.
The SatinSoft Supreme and Cotton-Guard Ultra materials take
membrane-free, barrier-weave technology to the next level.
World-renowned textile innovators like Milliken & Co. have invested
much time and money to produce only the softest, lightest barrier
fabrics for encasings. The image at right is SatinSoft Supreme
magnified to show this barrier-weave technology. These woven
allergen-proof encasings are offered with a lifetime guarantee against
defects in materials and workmanship.
This is followed by a useful chart.
http://www.natlallergy.com/learning/allergenproof_encasings.html
"According to allergy specialist Susan Tarlo, a professor at the Gage
Occupational and Environmental Health Unit at the University of
Toronto, that depends on what kind of allergy you're dealing with. And
it's important to realize that not all products are created equal; in
fact, only a few are worth investing in."
"In addition to regulating your home's humidity level, you also need
to mite-proof your bedding. That means encasing mattress and pillows
with special dust-mite barrier covers. Even so-called hypoallergenic
pillows provide happy homes for dust mites, and regular mattress
covers that slip over the top of the bed won't shield you from
allergen exposure.
Dust-mite covers can be hard to find in regular stores; one good
source is The Allergy Shop in Ottawa, which carries several brands and
delivers throughout North America (call 1-800-387-3082 or shop on the
Internet at www.the_allergyshop.ca). Mattress covers go for $50 to
$208 depending on the size of your bed, while pillow covers start at
$20.
Be sure, also, to wash your bedding at least once a week. You don't
need any special detergents to get the bugs out, but you will need to
use hot water ? they can live through a cold rinse.
Fortunately, they don't survive subzero temperatures: you can snuff
out dust mites in stuffed animals by putting them in your freezer
overnight."
http://www.moneysense.ca/spending/shopping_sense/article.jsp?content=1002428
Products:
http://www.theallergyshop.ca/products_dust_mite_control.htm
Home page:
http://www.theallergyshop.ca/
I should have included in my answer that I did check the following
consumer review sites for mattress casings and bedding. Using search
terms such as bed casings, bedding, mites, allergies, sheets,
hypo-allergenic, I found nothing in line with what you are seeking.
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/home.jsp
http://www.consumersunion.org/health.html
epinions had products but no reviews
http://www.epinions.com/search/?submitted_form=searchbar&search_string=allergy+bedding&tax_name=&dyn_nav=0&dyn_nav_id=&search_vertical=all&searchbar_submit=Search
http://www.epinions.com/search/?submitted_form=searchbar&search_string=pristine+mattress+covers&tax_name=&dyn_nav=0&dyn_nav_id=&search_vertical=all&searchbar_submit=Search
Consumer Search had only this:
If you have allergies, look for non-allergenic or antimicrobial
materials in the padding.
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/house_and_home/mattress-reviews/fullstory.html
Allergy Consumer Reviews are from customers:
" Cottonfresh dust mite covers are made of 100 percent pure, natural
and unbleached cotton. They have been tested at the Entomology Center
at the University of Cambridge and by the British Textiles Technology
Group. The tests show that the fabric is impenetrable by the house
dust mites allergen. They also carry an Eco-Tex certificate which is a
European standard of textile purity, which guarantees the cloth is
free of harmful chemicals and of 21 specific allergens. This is
excellent news for anyone with asthma, eczema, rhinitis or multiple
chemical sensitivities.
But best of all, the dust mite covers are supremely comfortable to
sleep on, a benefit particularly welcome to non-sufferers too.
The pillow covers are for both Standard and Queen pillows in this
country, but not the King size.
I would like to be frank, the price is higher than our Pristine dust
mite covers, also an excellent product , but I really like the feel of
Cottonfresh - very soft and silky. These dust mite pillow covers are
so nice, I could hardly believe that they were actually dust mite
proof. Price of $54.95 for 2 standard Cottonfresh dust mite pillow
covers (remember to allow about 2 weeks for delivery from the UK)."
http://www.allergyconsumerreview.com/pillowcovers-mattressencasings.html
http://www.allergyconsumerreview.com/allergy-free-bedding.html
Did you check the link I gave you in my original answer?
http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/compare-mattress-pads.html
As you can see, there is no one best casing or bedding product. Since
the key is washing often with hot water, you should find relief with
most, if not all of the products contained in my answer.
Oh, did you notice that some sites recommend sealing the casing zipper
with blue painter's tape to prevent mites from escaping through the
zipper teeth?
Sweet Dreams!
Sincerely, Crabcakes
|
