Waking up Stuffy? Check your Pillow

It’s a common misconception that people begin ‘waking up stuffy’ in the winter because of the change in the seasons, the dry, cold air, or because they must be just getting that ‘wintery stuffiness’ that always seems to happen. If you’ve ever woken up with half of your nose plugged up for no apparent reason, you’re going to want to read the rest of this post.

Get ready for some not so appetizing facts. The reason you’ve been sniffing in the morning is because of mold, fungus, and dust mites in your pillow and sheets. A pillow study conducted by the University of Manchester, England, observed up to 16 different types of fungi in assorted pillows that they sampled. How does this happen? A doctor associated with the university study says that we sweat over 100 liters while we’re sleeping each year. That, of course, is absorbed into our beds – our sheets, our blankets, our mattresses, our pillows. We also slough off a lot of dead skin cells, which are like candy for dust mites and fungus. As the fungi grow, the dust mites consume that, and then create fecal matter which is actually what sensitive sleepers are allergic to, not the mites themselves. Your pillow can accumulate 2 pounds of dust mite feces over a 2 year period, according to allergybuyersclub.com. The fungus could also lead to chronic sinusitis or other dangerous conditions.

To make matters worse, most people wouldn’t even think to throw a pillow in the wash on a regular basis, or to vacuum a mattress, so the colonies just grow and grow. Any kind of moisture provides a breeding ground for fungi, bacteria and mites. Only some people are particularly sensitive to these particles, so you may not be bothered at all, but if the thought of microscopic creepy crawlies sends shivers down your spine, thankfully there are things you can do to get control of this situation.

• Stay dry. NEVER go to bed with wet hair. This provides the perfect dark, warm, damp breeding ground that fungi and dust mites thrive in.

• Wash all of your bedding in hot water. This might not be the most energy efficient option, but if you’re concerned that you have a dust mite problem, this is a surefire way to stop it. According to WebMD on CBS News, washing your laundry at 140 degrees or more kills every last one. Lowering that temperature even 30 degrees drops the elimination rate down to only 6%. There are some other alternatives if you just can’t put delicates in the wash at that temperature.

• Use protective covers. You can purchase dust mite casings or other protective slipcovers and sheaths for your pillow and mattress at hypoallergenic stores online.

• Wash your bedding regularly. Think of the last time you washed your sheets or changed your pillowcase. If you can’t remember right away, you’ll know it’s time to wash them. Ideally, you could change your pillowcase every night to keep allergens, but that’s not likely to happen. Try to wash your sheets and pillow cases every week and be sure to put your pillows on the gentle cycle or dry clean them regularly. If you’re even slightly stuffy, you’ll know you’re overdue for a washing.

• Get a new mattress. If you’ve had your mattress for a really, really long time, it may be best to just get a new one. If that’s beyond your budget at the moment, try vacuuming it regularly or try a super hot steam cleaning to try to undo some of the damage that’s been collecting over the years.

I hope these tips have helped you! Do you have any other tips you could offer to winter stuffiness sufferers? What do you do to combat dust and breathing hazards in your bed?