Guide to Wellness – July 2019

IF YOU FIND yourself sniffling as you snuggle in for the night,

it might be a sign that it’s time to clean your mattress.

House dust mites—tiny microscopic bugs that feed off

of the dead skin cells of humans and their pets—can

take up residence in bedding. When we inhale their feces,

it can trigger an allergic response, leading to a runny

nose, itchy eyes, coughing, and other symptoms.

Giving the mattress a thorough cleaning can provide

relief by reducing these and other offending allergens, such

as pet dander. “Those with sensitivities to indoor allergens,

such as to pet hair, dander, and house dust mites, will

generally see a reduction in symptoms with cleaning,”

says Clifford W. Bassett, M.D., medical director of

Allergy & Asthma Care of New York, a medical practice.

Even if itchy eyes or a runny nose isn’t a concern,

cleaning your mattress twice a year can help extend its

life. Follow these steps for a fresh start in the bedroom.

Note: The process requires you to leave your mattress

undisturbed for 24 hours, so you’ll need to find

another place to sleep for one night.

The Right Way to

Clean a Mattress

STEP 1

Strip the mattress bare and toss

all bedding in the wash. (Launder

according to the care instructions.)

If dust mites are a concern, make

sure to wash bedding materials

at 130° F or hotter: The water

must be at least this temperature

to effectively reduce their

populations. (You may need to

increase the temperature setting

on your water heater. Most are

set at around 120° F.)

STEP 2

Thoroughly vacuum the entire

surface of the mattress with

your vacuum’s upholstery or

crevice attachment. The surface

probably won’t look dirty, but

you can bet that dust, dead

skin cells, and mites are there—

they’re just not visible.

STEP 3

Spot-treat any stains with an

enzyme-based upholstery cleaner

or pet stain and odor remover.

You can also try a simple solution

of 1 teaspoon mild dishwashing

liquid and 1 cup warm water.

STEP 4

To deodorize the mattress,

cover the surface with a layer

of baking soda. For best

results, leave it undisturbed

for 24 hours, then vacuum

it away.

Sleep Better

62 GUIDE TO WELLNESS CR.ORG