How to choose your pillows and quilts if you have allergies

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.

Sleep Easy in Australian Wool Bedding

When night-time comes around, the thought of getting into bed and drifting off should be an inviting prospect. However, many people suffer from lack of sleep. 

If you have ever struggled with sleeping, have you considered changing your bedding? Australian wool may help you to get that great night’s sleep that has been missing from your life and here’s why.

It gives you incredible comfort

When you look at a woolly sheep, their wool always looks soft and comfortable. By using an Australian wool underlay, you can benefit from this too. 

It provides you with snuggly comfort that encourages you to go into a deep sleep, and, as everyone knows, sleeping is a lot easier when you are feeling snug and secure. 

It keeps you at the right temperature

Have you ever felt too hot or cold during the night? An Australian wool quilt can change all of that and help you to sleep soundly. No longer will you wake up during the night feeling sweaty and sticky, preventing you from getting back to sleep. Wool cleverly regulates your temperature and keeps you feeling right throughout the night. It wicks away any moisture that is in the air and releases it when the conditions are right to do so. You’ll feel nothing but relaxed, which will help you to sink into a deep sleep.

What’s more, if you share a bed, wool will work for both of you. If one of you feels the cold more than the other, you won’t have to argue about what tog rating to get. Perfect. 

Natural bedding for naturally good sleep

Unlike synthetic materials, wool comes from a 100% natural source and as such, it is better for you. Wool is not only designed to keep sheep cool and warm, but it is also hypoallergenic. As humans, we can also benefit from this, which is why wool makes the perfect material for those who suffer from allergies. 

Dust mites do not survive within wool bedding because the material is too dry. As a result, if you ever have sneezing fits during the night, wake up with a runny nose or itchy eyes, this may all be put to rest by using wool. 

Along with this, you can feel confident that you are doing your bit to help the environment by choosing a natural and sustainable source for your bedding. 

With a great night’s sleep every night, you can wake up feeling refreshed, in better health and ready to take on whatever the day may throw at you. 

Wool can be used for both children and adults, so everyone in your household can reap the benefits. Find out more about our range of wool quilts and underlay at Halcyon Dreams.

Choosing a New Mattress: A Quick Guide

Poor sleep can be caused by many things. It could be a result of eating or drinking too much before you retire for the night, from being too hot or too cold, or it may be because your mattress needs to be changed. 

As mattresses age, they tend to provide less support and, depending on the type of mattress, may develop lumps and bumps. If you’re finding that, even with though it’s topped with a woollen underlay, your mattress is causing you problems, it could be time to buy a new one. 

There are many different types of mattress available from traditional pocket sprung types to more modern memory foam mattresses. We take a look at how to choose a new mattress. 

Understanding the Different Types of Mattress

Although there are many different types of mattress on the market, the four most popular mattresses are:

1.       Open-spring. Probably the most popular and most affordable, the open-spring mattress contains steel wire springs to offer support while you’re sleeping.

2.       Pocket-spring. These mattresses are more expensive as each spring is fully encased within a fabric pocket. Filled with either wool or synthetic fibres, they provide more support than an open-spring mattress.

3.       Latex. This type of mattress distributes your weight more evenly and thus offers a high level of support. It’s often chosen by people with allergies.

4.       Memory Foam. An increasingly popular choice, this type of mattress moulds itself to your shape. However, they do tend to make you feel quite hot, which is one of the reasons why many people prefer to add a wool underlay on top to regulate their temperature.

Soft, Medium or Firm?

If you choose a sprung mattress, you’ll find that they come in soft, medium or firm options. While this is often a personal choice, it is advised that the heavier you are, the firmer your mattress should be. If your mattress is too hard or too soft, it can cause problems. 

Always Try Your Mattress Before You Buy

The best way to ensure that your mattress will be comfortable is to try it out before you buy. And that means more than a quick sit on the bed; you’ll need to lie there for at least ten minutes. When lying down, try the ‘hand test’ – if there’s a gap between your hand and the small of your back the mattress is too hard, and if you can’t fit your hand between your back and the mattress, it’s too soft.

Remember, if you share a bed with someone, you’ll both need to try it out. 

Invest in the Best Mattress You Can Afford

We spend almost one-third of our life sleeping, so it makes sense to invest in the best mattress you can afford. And don’t forget to add an Aussie wool underlay for an extra level of comfort.

4 Things to Consider When Buying an Underlay for Your Bed

Having an underlay on your bed can make your bed more comfortable and therefore allow you to get a better night’s sleep. But just how do you choose the right one?

1. Choose an underlay that is designed for comfort

Getting a comfortable night’s sleep is key. When you feel uncomfortable at night, you can toss and turn, and it can prevent you from drifting off. 

A wool underlay is designed to keep you comfortable throughout the night thanks to its thick pile. With wool, you can make your bed feel like sheer bliss to get into at night and transform your bed so that it has all the comfort of a 5* hotel.

2. Get an underlay that fits your mattress

The last thing you want at night is an underlay that slips around underneath you. By choosing the right quality woollen underlay that is designed to fit the size of your mattress, you can be confident that it will stay in place and you will be able to sleep comfortably. 

3. Choose a hypoallergenic material for your underlay

Allergies can be a huge hindrance and can stop you from sleeping. With the right underlay, you can keep your allergies at bay, protect your mattress and keep pesky dust mites away from you during the night. 

Wool is the best material for allergies, thanks to it being naturally hypoallergenic. Mites and other bugs that can cause allergies struggle to survive in wool and this, in turn, keeps them away from you.

4. Choose a natural material that is going to help you sleep

Natural materials are often a lot more effective at helping you to get a better night’s sleep than those that are manmade. 

As wool is natural, the warmth of the fleece on your underlay will help keep you cosy and snug throughout the night. However, if you are worried about getting too hot during the night, you don’t need to worry. Wool will naturally wick away any additional moisture that is created during the night, like sweat, and keep you cool and dry. 

Get the best night’s sleep

The right underlay can help you to get a great night’s sleep and protect your mattress, meaning that you can get years of use from it. For the best range of quality woollen underlays, browse through the product range at Halcyon Dreams. 

Create the Perfect Guestroom This Summer

When you have guests to stay this summer, you can create the perfect guestroom for them with a little help from Halcyon Dreams. When your guests are staying away from home, the one thing they will want is a comfortable bed and restful night’s sleep, and the best way to do that is by using wool on your guest bed. 

Creating the perfect bed

With an Australian wool underlay, your guests will have one of the most comfortable nights of sleep of their lives. This is because wool improves your sleep. By nature, this material is breathable and regulates body temperature, not to mention that it is soft to lie on. 

As wool can regulate your guest’s temperature, they will remain cool and comfortable throughout the night. There is no fear that they will wake up feeling hot and sticky from the summer heat as the wool wicks away any additional moisture that is created. What’s more, even if you have more than one person in your guest bed, the wool regulates the temperature of each person, so both will wake up happy. 

Guests can rest with ease

With an Australian wool quilt, your guestroom will feel like a peaceful haven of calmness and serenity. With wool being naturally hypoallergenic, allergies can be kept at bay. Dust mites and bacteria struggle to grow in wool, so this minimises the risk of any sneezing fits, runny eyes or other symptoms of allergies. 

It can all be washed

The great news is that when you choose to use Australian wool from Halcyon Dreams, it can all be washed when your guests leave should it be necessary. That said, wool is a hygienic material and a simple airing can often do the trick, but it is always good to know washing is possible. 

Other tips

Making your guestroom a home away from home is a great way to ensure that your guests feel comfortable. A simple gesture such as a vase of flowers in the room can show that you have thought about your guests and it will make them feel valued and welcome. 

Also, don’t forget to invest in good quality sheets that feel soft and luxurious against the skin. 

Your guests will want to keep coming back

With the perfect guestroom for your summer visitors, you may find that they are queuing up to come back and stay again. 

Just make sure you also try out your guestroom and experience for yourself the difference bedding from Halcyon Dreams can make.