The First Step

Controlling Allergens in the Bedroom

It is most important to focus on the bedroom first, since the bedroom is where you spend up to one-third of your day, and it is also where you come into contact with the biggest allergen source — your bed! What should be a clean and restful place is packed with up to 1 million dust mites that produce the allergens that cause your symptoms. Physicians recommend covering your bed in allergy encasings to find relief.

Here are some frequently asked questions about encasings and what they do.

Q:  Why is encasing the bed important for allergy relief?

A:  Dust mites can live in any part of the bed, including pillows, mattress, box spring and comforter. While you sleep, you are inhaling allergens from the bed from dust mites or pet dander. As you move while sleeping, these allergens are released into the air and inhaling them can trigger allergic symptoms. Covering the bed with an allergy encasing blocks the allergens from being released into the air and keeps you from inhaling them throughout the night.

Q:  What is an encasing and what protection does it provide?

A:  Think of an encasing as a protective barrier (like a sealed envelope) between the source of the allergens and you. Only the right encasings can truly provide this protective layer. Encasings are either made from tightly woven fabrics or they include a membrane layer - each of which is designed to trap allergen and keep them away from your body. The encasing zips around the bedding, preventing dust mite allergens or pet dander from escaping where they could become airborne and trigger symptoms. Certain encasings also provide certified protection against bed bug infestations.

Q:  Will an encasing be comfortable to sleep on?

A:  Yes. The right encasings offer the protection you need along with the total sleeping comfort found in the quality, high thread count cotton and polyester fabrics used in Allergy Control Products encasings.

Q:  How can I be sure that encasing the bed will help my allergy symptoms?

A:  Allergy Control® encasings have been used in major independent scientific studies, which tested various environmental and health benefits associated with encasing the bed. Thousands of allergy patients took part in the studies, and test results proved the effectiveness of encasings as part of an allergen avoidance plan. For a complete list of scientific studies that include Allergy Control encasings, see our website’s Allergy Learning Center.

Q:  What other steps should be taken in the bedroom?

A:  After encasing the bed, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends washing sheets, blankets and other bedding weekly in hot water to kill dust mites. In addition, because carpet is the second largest source of allergens in the home after the bed, carpet in the bedroom should either be removed or treated with products specially formulated to eliminate or neutralize allergens in carpets.

Click here for a pdf version of this webpage. Click here if you would like to view our "Reducing Allergen in Your Home" educational video.