You can sleep symptom-free again. The best bed linen recommendations, insider tips for allergy sufferers and effective measures for relaxed nights.
Healthy sleep for allergy sufferers begins with the right protection against mites and germs.
This guide will help you understand how to choose the best bed linen for symptom-free nights.
In addition, I will give you some tips on how to keep mites as far as possible out of the sleeping area.
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Volksleiden Hausstauballergie
Do you regularly wake up in the morning with a stuffy nose, itchy eyes or a dry cough?
- You may be allergic to house dust. Allergic reactions make it impossible for you to sleep well at night.
- House dust mite allergy is common. But you can help yourself with special bedding for allergy sufferers and so-called encasings.
In this guide I will explain to you, among other things, how bed linen works against mites, what you should pay attention to when buying and how you can best care for your bed linen.
Do you even need special bed linen?
Just because you sneeze every now and then in the morning doesn’t mean you have a house dust allergy.
However, if you observe allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, irritated mucous membranes or a runny nose in the morning for several weeks, you should consult a doctor.
He can easily determine an allergy.
Even if you have a mite allergy, that’s not the end of the world because:
With the right bed linen you can eliminate the cause of the allergy and significantly reduce your symptoms!
Which symptoms can allergy sufferers get under control?
The reactions range from mild allergy symptoms to dangerous asthma.
- If you suspect you may have a dust mite allergy, it should not be taken lightly.
- This allergy doesn’t go away on its own and, in the worst case scenario, the symptoms will eventually affect your health.
Allergy bedding is therefore not only suitable for alleviating existing symptoms, but also for preventing further complaints.
This is how allergy bedding works
You are not allergic to the dust mites themselves, but to their droppings. The tiny animals prefer to stay in warm, damp bedrooms.
At night you have long skin contact with bed linen and mattresses and suffer most in this room.
- The less good news first: Unfortunately, it is impossible to get rid of the annoying roommates in the apartment completely.
- You live in all the upholstered furniture and carpets. Their main source of nutrition is human dander, which we lose around the house all day.
The good news: you can make life a lot harder for mites by using the right bed linen and optimizing your indoor climate in the bedroom .
Allergy-free covers & Co. form an easy-to-clean protective barrier and significantly reduce the number of mites.
Your sleep quality will improve significantly and you will wake up refreshed and rested in the morning.
What properties should I look for when buying?
The perfect bed linen for allergy sufferers must be able to withstand high washing temperatures on a regular basis – at least 60 ° C.
Most importantly, your bedding should be zipped. Buttons or other mechanisms create large holes.
It also has to wick away moisture well. In a dry bed climate, the mites lack a livelihood.
If the bed linen is labeled “Suitable for allergy sufferers”, that is a good start.
What fabric should bed linen for allergy sufferers be made of?
Whether cotton, polyester or microfiber – it’s not about the fabric. What counts for you is the heat resistance of bed linen when washing.
In short: all materials that are washable at at least 60 degrees – in the best case at 95 degrees – are potentially suitable.
The same applies to your duvets and pillows. Polyester, for example, is only slightly heat-resistant and therefore not very suitable.
White cotton or a microfiber mix can withstand high washing temperatures longer.
Even if microfiber is super easy to care for: I prefer to sleep in bed linen made from plant fibers. They ensure a healthy sleeping environment, feel great and are environmentally friendly.
Natural materials for bed linen for allergy sufferers
These materials work well for allergy-friendly bed linen:
- Pure organic cotton
- Cotton-based blends such as jersey
- Fine batiste because the fabric is very tight
- Linen, as the fabric repels dust and dirt
If in doubt, you should choose natural substances with cooling properties. This will help prevent you from sweating excessively at night and keep your bed drier.
Allergy-friendly bed linen is only half the battle.
For complete protection, consider purchasing mite-proof encasings.
Mite-proof encasings for bed linen and mattresses
Most people with allergies are recommended to buy so-called encasings. This means something like “covering, covering”.
An encasing is a barrier between the inside of your duvet, pillow or mattress and your skin. It prevents the allergens from reaching your skin and your respiratory tract.
Encasings are available as an intermediate cover for blankets and pillows and mattress covers. So you have two covers on your bedding: first the encasing and then your regular bedding.
Mite protection covers do not replace your normal bed linen but are an additional barrier.
What properties encasings should have
Your encasings need to be washed less often than regular bed linen, but they still need to be washed at high temperatures.
So you should make sure that they are labeled accordingly by the manufacturer.
A high-quality encasing should not rustle and be light, soft and cuddly.
Many manufacturers recommend washing their encasings at high temperatures before using them for the first time so that they become softer.
Encasings should of course be tested for harmful substances and, at best, be awarded a seal of approval such as Oeko-Tex 100.
Covers for the zippers
In the best case scenario, your encasings have an additional fabric flap under the zipper. This holds back even the smallest particles.
Always make sure that this fabric cover runs correctly under the zipper in order to achieve the best possible protection.
Is down mite friendly?
Natural bedding and down as filling material for blankets are very breathable and create a dry bed climate. In addition, the mites only feed on human skin cells and not on the feathers.
The inlets of down comforters are extremely tightly woven so that the down remains inside the comforter. This has the pleasant side effect that allergens cannot get into the ceiling either. The small meshes of the blanket prevent the mites and your droppings from getting into the blanket. In this way you keep the load low from the start.
So down is an excellent filling material for your blanket and pillows, especially if you are allergic. Down comforters for the summer are light, breathable and easy to ventilate.
Attention: This only applies to high-quality down products that are sufficiently tightly woven.
If you use down bedding, it is also important that it does not contain hard quills. These can pierce the encasing and reduce the protective effect. So pay attention to a high proportion of down and little feathers.
Subsidy from the health insurance for bed linen for allergy sufferers?
According to estimates, around 10% of the population in Germany is affected by a house dust allergy.
Meanwhile, some health insurances pay a subsidy or at least a lump sum when you buy anti-allergic bed linen.
Apply for reimbursement
Not all registers pay. Please obtain more detailed information from your advice center.
Basically, a few requirements must be met in order for you to be reimbursed.
- You must submit an application for funding before purchasing.
- You need a medical certificate for your allergy.
- The doctor must write a prescription for the bed linen.
- Often you need to buy not only duvet covers but also encasings.
So you don’t have to bear the costs alone. Some health insurance companies have contracts with manufacturers of bed linen for allergy sufferers. If so, the bed linen will usually be sent to your home, but you cannot choose it yourself.
House dust mites in the mattress
Dust mites feed on your dander (and those of your pets) and do best in humid climates.
Your mattress absorbs a lot of moisture throughout the night and only releases it very slowly.
Because of this, they are a real paradise for mites. Even if you are not allergic, you should change your mattress after seven to ten years.
In my experience, natural latex mattresses as well as synthetic gel mattresses & visco foam mattresses offer the best compromise between comfort and allergy protection.
If you are allergic, you should change your mattress after about five years.
Alternatively, mattress toppers & viscoelastic mattress toppers are also available – they are cheaper than a new mattress and ensure relaxed sleep.
When is encasing for the mattress worthwhile?
Buying mattresses is particularly worthwhile if you have bought a new mattress.
If you put an encasing on an old mattress, you isolate the mites already living there and possibly create even better living conditions.
Allergic mattress or mattress cover?
The selection of different allergy-free mattresses is huge. There are many high-quality products that are advertised with anti-allergenic properties.
When you buy such a mattress, you can be sure that its surface prevents the flakes of skin from penetrating the mattress.
However, mattresses for allergy sufferers are very expensive and should not be considered a must-have.
If you use a normal mattress with a mite cover, you basically achieve the same result. In addition, you can wash the encasing regularly.
If you are looking for suitable encasings, then I will present a few great variants in the next section.
Recommendations from the test: The best bed linen & covers
In this section I will introduce you to the products that have emerged as particularly recommendable during my research.
My recommendations are mostly based on the rigorous analysis and comparison of user reviews and many years of experience with bed sets of all types.
In general, the products from Pulmanova, Softsan, Blumtal and Allersoft are similar in equipment and quality, which is why I can advise you to include these in your shortlist.
- Almost all products are available in the common sizes for mattresses, duvets and pillows.
- You can take it courageously or use the knowledge from the buying guide to search for it yourself.
First things first: encasings for your bed linen. With these you build the protective barrier between yourself and the allergens.
Price-performance tip microfiber bed linen
Just because you’re allergic doesn’t mean you have to go without good-looking bed linen. This fashionable and at the same time suitable for allergy sufferers bed linen from etérea proves this.
It combines the advantages of microfiber with the properties necessary for allergy sufferers:
The cover has a zip instead of buttons and can be washed at 60 degrees without any problems. This set is therefore very well suited to pull you over your encasing.
Natural fiber: cotton bed linen
Even if microfibre is super easy to care for: I prefer to sleep in bed linen made from natural fibers. It ensures a healthy sleeping environment, feels great and is environmentally friendly.
During my research I became aware of this bed linen, for which the manufacturer gives a guarantee of up to 10 years. That made me curious.
The bed linen is woven from pure cotton and has a well thought-out design trick: You fix the bed cover in the corners of the cover. It can no longer slip.
Of course it has a zipper and is printed with a chic two-sided print.
Price-performance tip: Tauro mite protection encasings
The inexpensive encasings from Tauro made of Evolon microfiber protect you reliably against house dust and mites. They are tested by TÜV and certified with the Oeko-Tex 100 seal. No chemicals, no coating and – after the first wash – no crackling.
The pillowcase from Tauro comes in the same good quality and is the perfect complement to encasing for the duvet.
Tip for couples: Blumtal mite covers, sets of 2
You will only get the best possible protection if all blankets and pillows in your bedroom are equipped with encasings. So if you sleep as a couple, it is worth investing in two sets and thus saving.
Blumtal encasings have been rated very well hundreds of times. They represent the standard when it comes to protective covers: boil-proof, robust zipper and breathable.
The covers are made of Evolon, a high-strength yet soft fiber blend.
Encasings made of natural fibers: Allersoft protective covers made of cotton
Allersoft encasings are made of 100% cotton and are extremely tightly woven. Due to the high number of threads, they feel very firm, but are still supple.Thanks to the reinforced seams and branded zip from YKK, these encasings will give you long, restful nights.
In order to achieve complete isolation from allergy-causing mites, you should also equip your mattresses with encasings.
In the following I will introduce you to my two test winners.
Low-maintenance price tip: Microfiber mattress encasing from Softsan
The same applies to your mattress encasings as to the covers of your pillows and blankets: they should be comfortable, easy to cover and washable at high temperatures.
Softsan encasing for your mattress meets all of these requirements first-class. In addition, many users speak out in favor of the longevity of the fabric and good sleeping comfort. It is available in all imaginable sizes and is guaranteed to fit on your mattress.
The three-sided zipper makes it quick and easy to cover.
It is also tested for quality and pollutants by three independent institutes.
Natural fiber: mattress encasing made of cotton
Here, too, I would like to introduce you to a high-quality alternative made of cotton.
The Allersoft Encasing is made of 100% cotton and feels like a normal, very high-quality bed sheet. The zipper is nice and long and makes putting on the protective cover particularly easy.
What to do when traveling
You have made your bed at home completely allergy-friendly, but now you should go on vacation.
Hotel bedding is usually of high quality and is often cleaned – mostly even boiled. Unfortunately, you can still never know how heavy the load on the bedroom and bed really is.
Travel sleeping bags and sheets
A good way to set up your temporary home for restful nights are travel sleeping bags and sheets.
Admittedly, a bit of a hassle, but definitely better than when you wake up with a cold head and a thick head.
For on the go: Allergy travel sleeping bag from Softsan
The Softsan travel sleeping bag is light, mite-proof and still breathable. I particularly like the small pack size: When folded, it is thinner than a bath towel and you can easily stow it in any hand luggage.
The pillow goes into the designated pocket and you are completely cuddled in your own mite-free bed linen.
If you then combine the sleeping bag with a travel sheet, you have done everything possible.
Complete mite protection when traveling: Pulmanova travel sheets
The Pulmanova travel sheet is a very good way to shield the mattress of someone else’s bed. With its huge size, it looks a little unwieldy at first. But because the fabric is so thin, it takes up very little space even when folded.
In addition, the dimensions allow it to be adapted to almost any bed.
It completely shields you from the unwelcome occupants of the mattress.
Wash and care for allergy bed linen correctly
Antiallergic bedding will undoubtedly increase your quality of life. However, it only develops its full benefit if properly cared for.
In the following I will summarize for you what you should consider when cleaning your allergy bed linen.
Temperature and detergent for anti-allergic bed linen
Washing temperatures as low as 60 ° C are usually sufficient to kill the mites and remove their droppings. Some bed linen for allergy sufferers can even be washed at 95 ° C without any problems, but please pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions as always.
Wash bed linen for allergy sufferers properly
Organic detergents based on plants are generally suitable. If you can do without fabric softener, bleach, and laundry perfumes, all the better.
Often these additives do more harm to your allergy bedding than they use and are also not environmentally friendly.
Do the bed linen have to go in the dryer?
By the way, you don’t need to put your bed linen in the heat pump dryer. The mites are already removed by the high temperatures in the washing machine. You can dry your covers easily and gently on the clothesline.
If you do not have this option and opt for the dryer, the temperatures should not be too high. Otherwise, your beautiful bed linen may warp and no longer fit.
How often do you have to wash your allergy bedding?
Experts recommend changing hypoallergenic bedding ideally every week.
Fortunately, encasings are less expensive to maintain. It is enough if they go into the washing machine once every three months – preferably individually. In fact, you shouldn’t wash your encasings too often, otherwise the protective effect may be lost.
Change bed linen properly
When you change your bedding, you inevitably swirl the particles that cause the allergic reactions. Of course, it would be best if someone else could do this for you.
Of course, this cannot be implemented for everyone. It may feel a little over the top, but my recommendation is to just wear a dust mask when changing bed linen.
In addition, you should keep the door to the bedroom closed and the windows open.
Tips for your bedroom if you have a mite allergy
Antiallergic bedding helps a lot, but it is not the only factor so that you can sleep peacefully despite a mite allergy.
Take the following tips into account in order not to provide a habitat for the small animals.
Keep the dust exposure low
As difficult as it is, you should not allow dogs and cats to enter the bedroom. The four-legged friends also promote the population of mites with their hair and dander.
Put your sleepwear on and off in the bathroom. A large amount of flakes of skin is swirled up when putting on and taking off.
If your children are allergic to house dust mites, you should wash the cuddly toys regularly. Or, if that is not possible, put them in the freezer for three days.
Ventilate bedrooms and bed linen properly
Ventilate your blankets and pillows in the fresh air regularly and for a long time.
Do not use bedspreads: They create a warm climate in which the mites feel comfortable.
Turn your mattress every month. If possible, place your mattress upright outside or by the open window for a few hours.
Open all windows in the morning and in the evening for at least 15 minutes. Thorough ventilation drives away the mite-friendly room climate in your bedroom.
If possible, do not use a humidifier. These create better living conditions for mites.
In addition to your anti-allergic bed linen and encasings, you should use a breathable mattress or a suitable mattress protector.
If you and your partner have separate duvets (or mattresses), both duvets must always be equipped with allergy-free bed linen (and encasings). Otherwise the best bed linen is of no use to you!
Closing word
Dust mite allergy is a nuisance.
But if you equip yourself with the right bed linen and follow my tips on cleaning and care, your sleep is guaranteed to be restful again.
At best, you still ensure an optimal indoor climate, then bad times will break for the mites.
And then for you it will finally be again: Good night!
I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.