The ultimate guide to allergy-proofing your bedroom for healthier sleep this spring

Spring is here again, bringing with it more daylight, warm breezes, delicate blossoms, and a wave of microscopic allergens that will inflict misery upon millions. According to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), approximately 20% of Australians suffer from hay fever, typically caused by pollen, dust mites, moulds, and animal dander. Hay fever causes poor sleep, impaired cognitive function, poor concentration and memory difficulties, so it’s not something you should resign yourself to living with. As environmental allergens begin their annual rampage, spring is the perfect time to allergy-proof your bedroom so you can sleep – and breathe – easily.

Why Spring is prime time for environmental allergies

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, isn’t restricted to spring. Still, there are some reasons we usually see more of it as winter ends:

Plants are getting frisky: Trees, pasture grasses and weeds release pollen in abundance during spring. Interestingly, apart from the White Cypress pine, northern hemisphere plants are more likely to be allergenic than natives. It’s time to stop blaming the Wattle for everything!

More outside time: As the weather warms up we spend more time outside, increasing our exposure to pollen and contact with grasses.

We welcome the outdoors indoors: Opening doors and windows to air out the house invites airborne allergens inside. Flowering house plants and spring bouquets can also trigger fragrance allergies.

Conditions are perfect for growing: Spring’s increased warmth and humidity create ideal conditions for dust mites and moulds to thrive in our homes.

Pet parasites are multiplying: Flea, lice, mites, and tick populations all start surging as the weather warms up. These cause pets to scratch more and can also cause flea allergy dermatitis and other itchy skin conditions that contribute more dander to the environment. 

Celebrate spring in style (by cleaning your bedroom)

When the sneezing starts, it’s time for the annual spring clean. Wash curtains and bedding, dust and clean all surfaces thoroughly, vacuum and rotate your mattress, and clean the floors. Check out our comprehensive bedroom spring cleaning guide for a complete rundown.

The importance of mattress care in allergy management

Millions of allergens can hide in your mattress, and the older it is, the more it’ll have going on under the cover. One often-quoted (wildly apocryphal) statistic is that mattresses double in weight every ten years due to the amount of dead skin and dust they accumulate. While the figure might be inflated, it is true that dead skin cells, dust mites, and other microscopic irritants collect in our mattresses over time, increasing both our allergen exposure and the risk of reaction. Regular mattress cleaning is important, and the right bedding will make a big difference.

Choosing the right bedding for allergy sufferers

The right bedding can help with your symptoms and prevent allergens from settling into your mattress. Look for antimicrobial-treated or naturally hypoallergenic bedding that can handle regular hot washes.

Mattress Protectors: Invest in a quality mattress protector that will also serve as a dust mite cover. SleepMaker makes Ultra-Fresh treated protectors that contain natural fibres for comfort, helping keep your mattress dry while giving it an additional barrier against allergens.

Bed linen: Opt for high thread count, breathable sheets and pillowcases that you can wash in hot water. If you can’t hot wash, line-dry your bedding and throw it in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to finish off any dust mites. In a pinch, dry cleaning can remove mites, but it is much less effective at removing allergens than hot water washing.

Pillows: Choose pillows filled with allergy-friendly materials like foam, polyester or bamboo. These are less likely to harbour dust mites than traditional down or feather fillings and are usually easier to clean. Some SleepMaker pillows contain antimicrobials, or feature naturally hypoallergenic minerals like copper. Finally, using a tightly woven high thread count pillowcase over the top of a pillow protector will create a barrier that helps prevent allergens from getting into the filling.

When to consider a mattress upgrade

Regular mattress cleaning is essential but will only take you so far. If this list sounds familiar, it’s probably time to start looking for a replacement: 

– Your mattress is more than 8-10 years old.

– You’re waking up with new aches and pains.

– There’s significant wear, or tears in the quilt.

– There are new dips or lumps in the mattress, or you’re suddenly getting poked by springs.

– Your mattress has developed untreatable stains or mould. Be sure to inspect the underside when you’re rotating it.

– Your allergies are worse or reactions more frequent despite regular cleaning.

If you live in a humid area or sleep hot, your mattress may have a shorter lifespan due to the increased moisture. Keep that in mind!

Choose mattress features that relieve allergies

When you’re shopping for a replacement mattress, look for features designed to help with allergies. Breathable layers promote air circulation and minimise the moisture that can lead to mould and mildew growth. Top quilts and covers should be easy to clean and quick to dry, ideally made from naturally hypoallergenic fibres or treated to repel allergens. And if you have a dust mite allergy, science suggests springs may be better for you than all-foam mattresses.

In addition to a wide array of Aussie-made foams and springs, SleepMaker mattresses include a range of allergy-friendly technologies:

Ultra-Fresh and Fresh Protect: SleepMaker mattresses contain Dunlop Foams with antimicrobials for increased protection against dust mites, bacteria, mould, and mildew.

KülKōte Silver: combines thermo-regulating phase change technology with silver’s natural antibacterial properties.

Fusion Copper: a comfort layer that infuses pressure-relieving memory foam with antimicrobial copper particles to help conduct heat away from the body.

Natural fibres like bamboo, wool and alpaca: these are breathable and moisture-wicking for a cooler, drier sleep. They are also naturally hypoallergenic to guard against common allergens.

Latex: Natural latex is inherently antibacterial and antifungal for a hypoallergenic sleep surface that’s ideal for sensitive sleepers.

Whether you’re specifically looking for a mattress with these technologies to help with your allergies or a better night’s sleep all round, our Sleep Selector will help you find your perfect bed match.

Keeping allergens at bay year-round

Keeping on top of the environmental allergens in your bedroom will take more than a once-a-year clean. It’s important to prevent clutter from accumulating and dust from forming. You also want to ensure your bedroom is dry and well-ventilated and that you clean your mattress frequently:

– Wash bedding weekly. Hot washing at 55-60 degrees or higher will kill off dust mites and remove their allergens.

– Ideally, remove any major dust catchers. This means clearing blanket or pillow piles, soft toys, fluffy rugs, or pet beds. It might even mean trading your carpet for hard floors.

– Dust, clean and vacuum your bedroom regularly. 

– Use a microfibre cloth for dusting: the tiny fibres generate static that captures dust particles. Fluffy dusters simply create fluffy dust. 

– Choose a vacuum with a HEPA filter and clean it regularly. If you’re particularly susceptible, have someone else vacuum and wait 20 minutes before entering the room` – this gives any stirred-up dust a chance to resettle.

– Use a dehumidifier during the day, especially if you live somewhere sultry. Maintaining humidity under 50% will make your room hostile to dust mites. Depending on the size of your house and the humidity levels, you might need to use AC and more than one dehumidifier to achieve this.

– Consider an air purifier (again, with a regularly-cleaned HEPA filter) to remove airborne allergens.

– Vacuum your mattress every 2-3 months: more frequently if you have pets.

– Deep clean your mattress at least twice a year (follow our guide), or consider bringing in the experts if it’s been more than five years since its last clean.

– When your mattress needs replacing, choose one designed to minimise allergens.

Spring clean your way to healthier sleep

Deep cleaning your bedroom can significantly improve your sleep health, but if you’ve cleaned everything you can and you’re still itchy, watery and sneezy, it might be time to take extreme measures in the war against bedroom allergens. 

Check out our range of allergy-friendly bed technologies and hypoallergenic mattresses, and head into a store to try a few beds out. 

Don’t let the microbes win: take back your sleep with SleepMaker!