If you have asthma or suffer from allergies, you may already be aware that sleeping in hypoallergenic bedding can reduce allergic reactions. However, you may have discounted the idea of a wool quilt as you’ve heard that woollen bedding provides a great environment for dust mites. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth; so, let’s dispel this myth once and for all.
Unfortunately, dust mites are a fact of life. Although we can’t see them without a microscope, they do exist in all types of bedding. Contrary to the suggestion implied by their name, dust mites don’t eat dust. Neither do they eat wool. They do, however, love beds. They love the warm and humid conditions created by our hot and sweaty bodies. But they prefer bedding that’s made of feathers, down or synthetic fibres. This means that wool quilts are a much better choice.
Dust mites love warm and humid environments
It’s a well-known fact that dust mites require a warm and humid environment to survive. So, the suggestion that your wool quilt may be home to an extra-large colony of dust mites is unlikely to be true. The natural properties of wool ensure that any moisture that’s released from your body as you sleep is absorbed by the wool fibres and then released into the atmosphere to keep you and your bedding dry and cool. This is not the kind of environment that helps dust mites to thrive.
The idea that dust mites thrive in wool comes from a 1970’s study
A study carried out in the 1970s suggested that dust mites were able to survive and thrive in woollen fibres. However, if we tell you that this study was carried out on a tropical island in temperatures of around 40oC and humidity not far short of 80%, you can perhaps see why there is a problem. These temperatures and levels of humidity provide an excellent breeding ground for dust mites in any kind of material. It’s not necessarily because they used woollen blankets.
Woollen bedding has fewer dust mites than other types of bedding
As we’ve already said, you’ll find dust mites in all types of bedding. The mites themselves are harmless. It’s the protein they produce that causes the typical allergic reactions such as wheezing, sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, and itchy skin. So, while there may be dust mites in your woollen bedding, there won’t be as many as found in bedding made of synthetic fibres, duck or down.
Choose Woollen Bedding for Better Health
Wool quilts not only have fewer dust mites than other types of bedding, but they can absorb harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). VOCs are found in a wide range of things from paints, varnishes and glues to cleaning products and cleaning products, and can be problematic for anyone with allergies or asthma. So, there’s another great reason to choose woollen bedding for your home.
