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There are as many pillows and duvets on the market as there are sleepless nights and, for anyone with allergies, making the wrong choice is not only an expensive mistake but can be a serious health risk. Pillows filled with latex chips or synthetics such as polyether foam or polyester hollofibre clusters are not recommended for anyone allergic to latex or who is sensitive to chemical based materials. Polyester covers should be avoided too. Synthetic fabrics and fillings are generally too hot for anyone with eczema, so natural fillings such as cotton, silk or feathers and down are a cooler choice for pillows and duvets, particularly those with a pure cotton cover. For anyone with asthma, eczema and rhinitis a common allergy trigger is house dustmite allergen. Dustmites thrive in dark, humid area where there is a ready food supply of dead skin scales, so pillows and duvets are dustmite heaven! Recent studies at St George's Hospital, London and elsewhere have shown that synthetic pillows harbour more house dustmites than those filled with traditional feather and down, but whichever filling is used, the dustmites can be killed and their allergen destroyed when bedding is washed at temperatures of 60°Cand above. It is essential, therefore, that any pillows and duvets you buy can endure repeated washing at this temperature or higher. If washed frequently (at least once every three months and preferably monthly) at a high temperature, all pillows and duvets can be kept free of dustmites and their allergenic droppings. Choices Unfortunately pillows and duvets filled with pure wool, 100%silk or other natural fillings such as cashmere or camelhair cannot be washed at 60°C, if at all. Although they can be dry-cleaned which kills the mites and removes some of the allergen, the amount is variable (20-70%). Dry- cleaning is also an unsuitable process for anyone sensitive to chemicals. Most pillows and duvets filled with synthetic clusters are washable but restricted to a 40°C wash and low temperature drying programme, which means the dustmites and their allergen remains. Synthetic: We were pleased to find the Allersafe brand of fibre-filled pillows and duvets that can be washed over 200 times at 60°C. and recommend them if you can tolerate synthetics. The Naturelle synthetic pillow from Medivac can also be washed at 60°C and has the added benefit of a pure unbleached dustmite-proof Egyptian cotton cover. The Naturelle is also available free of VAT if you have asthma, eczema, rhinitis or dust allergy. The Spundown Duo-Duvet is a synthetic-filled duvet that can endure a wash at 60°C and compresses well into a domestic washing machine. Natural: We are very impressed with the FeatherFresh boil-washable natural feather & down pillows and duvets. Because they were created for hospital use they can be sterilised by washing at up to 90°c (200°F) and are as hypoallergenic as any other filling. Don't be put off by so-called "feather allergy". Remember that your allergic reaction is to the house dustmite allergen that is present in any unwashed pillow or duvet no matter what the filling. Cotton Dream and Silk Wash Super are both completely natural duvets, are Eco-Tex certified and can be boil-washed like the FeatherFresh bedding. They are a good choice for eczema sufferers and patients with MCS. Our recommendations
FeatherFresh pillows and duvets from the Sounder Sleep Company are wonderfully comfortable. They offer a naturally luxurious feather and down filling in a dustmite proof cotton casing. Both pillows and duvets can be boil washed and dried time & time again and will remain hypoallergenic without loss of comfort or loft. They have been fully tested at the Medical Entomology Centre at the University of Cambridge and by the British Textile Technology Group Laboratories in Manchester. The pillows have double stitched seams and are filled with a carefully balanced mix of goose/duck feather and down. The duvets are sewn with box construction for even distribution of their pure duck feather and down filling and can be washed in a large capacity washing machine. Highly recommended for asthma, eczema, rhinitis, dustmite and feather allergies. Silk Wash Super duvets offer a natural, cool alternative to hot synthetics. Super-Wash Silk duvets can be washed at up to 90°C (200°F) in a non-biological detergent suitable for delicates to keep them free of allergens. Cool tumble or line dry. Cotton Dream all-cotton duvets offer a naturally hypoallergenic alternative to feather & down. These 10.5 tog luxury duvets are Eco-Tex certified free of harmful chemicals, can be washed at up to 95°C and are recommended for asthma, eczema, dustmite allergies and chemical sensitivity. Spundown Washable 4-Seasons Duo-duvet is made with a synthetic-fill that can be washed in a domestic washing machine at 60°C. tumble-dried and back on the bed the same day. Each duvet can be used on its own or clipped together for colder nights. Allersafe pillows and duvets have a filling of polyester blended with a new anti-fungal and anti-bacterial acrylic fibre called Amicor Pure. They are machine washable at 60°C and hold the seal of approval of the British Allergy Foundation. Allersafe is excellent value for money. Naturelle pillows from Medivac offer a popular combination of hollowfibre filling inside an unbleached, undyed, dustmite-proof cotton case. They are boil-washable and available VAT-free from only £14.Click here to buy:
A final note – don’t use padded headboards! Often overlooked when anti-allergen precautions are being taken with bedding, the upholstery in fabric- covered headboards provides yet another prime environment for house dustmites and is impossible to clean, although vacuuming using the tools provided with most modern machines will help. Wood, cane, iron or even leather headboards are safer alternatives. Sleep well! |
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