Everyone has their favorite pillow to sleep on. Some prefer the firm and crisp type, others the memory foam, soft and bunched, contoured foam, or those floppy ones that they sell on TV.
I have a good friend who has one that is an indistinguishable blob. She takes it with her everywhere, and even carries it with her on planes. I’m pretty sure that she’s had it since our childhood. I try not to think about what it is that she might be sleeping with, but it’s given me a great holiday gift idea for her this year!
If you have trouble falling asleep, what follows may cause you to lay awake all night long. Much like mattresses, bed pillows harbor a lot of unwanted debris that result from being human, and which pose potential health risks.
Dust mites are the biggest culprit though. These little spider-like creatures live, breed, and die in your pillows and mattresses. The natural perspiration that is exuded from our skin while we sleep provides the perfect warm and humid environment for them to thrive – an average of 26 gallons per year! But what do they eat you ask? Oh, that would be the thousands of dead skin cells that you shed each minute of your life. They wait for you to turn out the lights, and then crawl onto your pillowcase for an all-you-can-eat buffet. The other thousands of dead skill cells and human dander that are trapped in your pillow are just a snack for later.
Don’t worry, they don’t bite, but a great many people are allergic to dust mites. Some estimates top two million dust mites in the average bed! The worst part though, it’s actually their excrement that is an allergen for so many. Are you starting to get the picture now? Yeah, it’s not pretty.
If you have a pet that sleeps with you, the contamination rate increases , to include pet dander, Lyme Disease, MRSA, and yes, FECAL MATTER, and even a harmful parasite if you own a cat.
There’s more…many, many types of bacteria, fungus, and mold feast on the contents of your pillow. One of these in particular can be very harmful to those that suffer from respiratory ailments, as well those with compromised or weakened immune systems.
To top it all off, hotel pillows are the worst offenders because they have been shared by so many different people, and are not laundered or replaced often. They might smell fresh and clean, but you may as well bring your own when you travel.
If you experience anything from allergic reactions to lung or other organ infections, your pillow could be the culprit. If you’re waking up with allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, or stuffy nose, or are highly susceptible to respiratory infections then it’s time to take action!
Here’s what you can do:
- DON’T make your bed when you first wake up in the morning. Pull the covers back and let the sheets and bedspread breath and dry completely of any heat and perspiration. I usually wait at least 20-30 minutes to be sure that I’m not creating an inviting environment for dust mites. I go back and make the bed after I’ve gotten ready for the day.
- Vacuum your mattress and then rotate it end to end. I find that it helps to sprinkle it with baking soda beforehand and let it sit a while. I use a recipe that contains Lavender, Tea Tree, and Eucalyptus essential oils, which are known to deter dust mites.
- Wash your pillows regularly (every 1 – 3 months) in hot water and dry them in the dryer with tennis balls to ensure that they dry thoroughly and fluff back up. If you’ve had them for more than 2 or 3 years, chances are that they already have a fortified colony living in them, so you should skip the above step and just buy new ones.
- Once you have clean and dry pillows, make it a habit to use a padded pillow protector or other type of zippered pillow cover for use under the pillow case. This will help protect the pillow from saliva and perspiration that might otherwise penetrate and stain the pillow itself. As with any bed linens, the pillow covers and pillowcases should be laundered frequently. This will also help protect your complexion from any oils that have accumulated on the pillow case.
So for now my friend enjoys her lifelong sleeping buddy, but come Christmas there’ll be a health intervention!
Pauline Heals 