Millions of
Australians live with allergies of various descriptions, some with occasional
symptoms, some more severe. Sneezing, itchy eyes, eczema, and sinus issues,
these are just some of the crippling symptoms of allergies affecting
Australians every day. However, one of the key contributing factors can often
be overlooked – your quilts and pillows!
That’s right - your
quilt and pillows, which you lay to rest with every night, could be wreaking
havoc with your allergies.
How do
pillows and quilts affect allergies?
Dust mites,
sweat, dead skin and other allergens can become trapped within your cushions
and pillows, meaning you are wrapping up with such allergens for 6 to 8 hours
every single night. Washing pillows and quilts regularly will help to rid your
bedding of some of these nasties – but not all.
If you suffer
from allergies, investing in protective anti-allergy bedding could make a
significant difference on your quality of sleep, and your quality of life – but
there are some things you need to consider:
1.
Know the difference
between hypoallergenic and anti-allergy
Some pillows and
cushions will be advertised as “hypoallergenic” and others as “anti-allergy” –
these are not to be confused as one of the same.
"Hypoallergenic" means
that the pillow or quilt is less likely to cause allergies while
an "Anti-allergy" pillow or duvet has been treated
specifically to combat the development of dust mites and offer protection
against other allergens.
Therefore, if
you want to experience a major difference in your allergy symptoms, an
“anti-allergy” quilt or pillow is best choice for you.
2.
Look for a recognised
seal of approval
As with any
products, there are some that will make claims but be of far less quality than
others. Lots of cushions and quilts may be labelled as “aiding allergies” but
you can only truly trust in products that carry a seal of approval from a
recognised Australian allergy body such as the National Asthma Council
Australia, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy or
similar. A product that carries such a seal of approval can be trusted to
deliver the anti-allergy benefits it promises.
3.
Ensure they still
deliver the comfort and warmth you need
Some brands will
only carry anti-allergy duvets in certain weights or pillows of a certain
firmness – but you don’t have to compromise. You CAN have the best of both
worlds – you just need to shop around. You can purchase anti-allergy pillows
and quilts to meet whatever level of comfort and warmth you require with wool quilts
and pillows your best bet.
4.
Understand the
maintenance and care required
Anti-allergy
pillows and quilts can be made from various materials and treated in various
ways to offer the anti-allergy protection they promise. Because of this, the
level of maintenance and care can vary quite a lot from product to product.
Some just require regular washing to provide continued protection, a wool quilt
largely just requires regularly airing while other materials require specialist
cleaning or the use of specialist cleaning materials.
There is no
better investment than in the quality of your sleep and the quality of life. If
you are an allergy sufferer, purchasing anti-allergy quilts and pillows could
prove a small investment that has significant benefits on your life, now and in
the long term.
