Dust mites are tiny insects that can be found living in pillows and mattresses. Contrary to popular belief, the way that dust mites cause harm to humans is not by biting them but by producing substances known as allergens, such as faeces or body parts. According to research carried out by an American university, there is a simple explanation as to why there are likely to be many more dust mites to be found in pillows stuffed with feathers than foam.
Dust mites thrive best in higher humidity environments and since feather pillows take a lot longer to completely dry out, moulds may grow and the feathers will remain moist. These are perfect conditions for a dust mite to survive and procreate. Foam and other synthetic materials will dry more quickly and this, in turn, will reduce the overall population of dust mites living in an average household’s dust. Replacing feather pillows with pillows filled with foam rubber is therefore an effective way of eliminating the dust mite population.
There are many other ways to complement the use of foam rubber fillings for pillows in an effort to get rid of dust mites. You could completely encase the mattress in a plastic cover. This is effective because when you lie in bed, this is when you are nearest to the mite and its faeces and the plastic separates you.
These two methods of encasing the mattresses in plastic and using foam are viable alternative to feather pillows. Using foam, you are all but completely eradicating the dust mite population and its attendant threat of allergic reactions and this will be of particular use to those who suffer with asthma and some forms of eczema.
At Technical Foam Services we manufacture high quality foam for the purpose of acting as an alternative material with which to fill pillows.