Anti-allergy mattress: does a new mattress help against dust mites?
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A new mattress contains little allergen at first, but no mattress stays free of dust mites: mites live on your skin flakes, not on the filling. "Anti-allergy" is not a protected term. What really helps with a dust mite allergy is a mattress with a removable cover that can be washed at 60 °C, or an allergen-proof cover, combined with regular maintenance.
What is an anti-allergy mattress?
There is no fixed definition. Manufacturers use the term for very different things:
Washable cover
The cover is removable and can be washed at 60 °C. This is the most useful feature: you can kill mites and rinse out allergen.
UsefulTreated fabric
The cover or filling is treated with a product that supposedly repels mites. Ask what that claim is based on and how long it lasts.
Ask for evidenceSpecific material
Latex, cold foam or synthetic filling is sometimes sold as anti-allergy. Mites don't live on the material, so that alone makes little difference.
Means littleDoes a new mattress help against dust mites?
Temporarily and partly. Old mattresses often contain a lot of dust mites and allergen, and Thuisarts says replacing old materials is sometimes necessary. But from the first night, skin flakes and moisture end up in your new mattress, and so do mites. Without maintenance you will eventually be back where you started.
A new mattress makes most sense if your old one is very old, has no removable cover or can no longer be cleaned properly.
What should you look for when buying a mattress with a dust mite allergy?
- Removable cover, washable at 60 °CCheck the care label, not just the product description. "Washable" often means 30 or 40 °C.
- Does the cover fit in your washing machine?The cover of a double mattress is large. Sometimes it comes in two parts, sometimes it has to go to a launderette.
- Question the claimsFor "anti-mite" or "allergy-free": which product, tested by whom, and how long does it keep working after washing?
- Think about the rest of your bedA new mattress under an old duvet, pillow or topper only solves part of the problem.
Instead of a new mattress, you can put an allergen-proof cover on your current one. It keeps the allergen that is already inside contained. According to Thuisarts such a cover is an addition if basic measures aren't enough, and it is uncertain whether you will notice a difference. What a cover does compared with cleaning is explained in mattress cover or mattress cleaning?
How do you keep a (new) mattress clean for as long as possible?
- Wash fitted sheets and bedding every week at 60 °C.
- Wash the removable cover regularly, for example every six weeks.
- Vacuum the mattress and seams with a vacuum cleaner with a filter that retains fine dust.
- Leave your bed open in the morning and ventilate the bedroom so moisture can evaporate.
A detailed approach is described in mattress cleaning: dust mites and stains.
Frequently asked questions about anti-allergy mattresses
Is a latex mattress better for dust mites?
Not significantly. Dust mites live on skin flakes and moisture in the top layer and the cover, not on latex or foam. Whether the cover can be washed at 60 °C says more than the filling material.
How often should you replace a mattress with an allergy?
There is no fixed period. Replace it if it is old and can no longer be cleaned properly, or if it has no washable cover and your symptoms persist despite other measures.
Is an anti-allergy mattress reimbursed?
In the Netherlands, not by basic health insurance. Some supplementary policies reimburse part of allergen-proof covers or offer discounts at certain suppliers. Check your policy conditions.
Sources (in Dutch)
This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your GP.