What is the surprisingly little-known necessity of mattress protectors?
How clean do you think the mattress is where you spend one-third of your life?
We typically sleep for about 6-8 hours each day, recharging ourselves before engaging in daily activities. Have you ever wondered how clean your mattress is, given that you spend one-third of your life on it? With daily use, an alarming amount of dirt accumulates in mattresses. If a mattress isn't kept clean, it can have various negative effects on your body. Since mattresses aren't easy to wash, keeping the mattress cover clean is key.
View mattresses with washable covers
What lurks in a mattress used continuously for 7-10 years?
Sweat
It's well-known that people sweat about a cup's worth while sleeping. In summer, it can be even more. All of that sweat is absorbed by the mattress. A damp mattress can lead to mold. Moreover, human sweat contains many nutrients for pests, helping them to emerge and multiply.
Mold
Mold is a prime resident found in mattresses. Mold thrives on human sebum and secretions contained in sweat, multiplying at an alarming rate. Once it appears, even daily sun-drying of the mattress cannot completely remove it. Washing and drying are the only sure ways to eliminate mold.
Dust Mites
Since dust mites feed on mold, it's a reality that where mold proliferates, dust mites also appear. Their bites cause itchy red bumps, and their feces and carcasses can trigger allergic reactions.
Bed Bugs
You might wonder, "Lice in this day and age?" but due to the increase in inbound foreign tourists and international travelers, bed bugs have actually been on the rise since 2000. Once inside a home, they hide in the seams of futons and mattresses, coming out at night to feed on the blood of people and animals. Eradication is difficult, so it's essential to maintain cleanliness daily.
Bacteria
Even a new sheet can harbor bacteria that multiply more than fourfold after just one night, indicating their strong reproductive power. In fact, it has been revealed that bacteria found in bedding multiply more vigorously than those on a toilet seat. Furthermore, these bacteria can increase about 11 to 12 times in a week. The sources of bacteria are sweat, waste products, and sebum. Frequent washing is the key to preventing bacterial growth.
Odors
Sweat is the primary cause of mattress odors. In addition to the smell of sweat itself, hair oil and foot odor contribute, and the mold, dust mites, and bacteria that multiply due to sweat intensify the smell. Odors that cannot be removed by simply washing the surface sheet. Recently, mattresses with removable covers are available, so frequent washing can eliminate odors from the source.
Yellow Stains
Have you ever removed your sheets for washing only to discover yellow stains on your mattress? This is a sign of accumulated sweat and oxidation. If you have small children, bedwetting can also be a factor. In such cases, having a mattress cover allows you to wash it immediately, preventing yellow stains from forming.
Allergies
Contact with live dust mites can cause skin allergies such as atopic dermatitis. Furthermore, dust mite feces and carcasses, mold spores, and dust are so small that they can enter the bronchial tubes, causing respiratory allergies such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Bedding is the perfect environment for such dust mites. Regular countermeasures and maintenance are essential.
How to keep your mattress and mattress cover clean?
Wash your mattress cover to remove the source of dirt
Washing your mattress cover can remove sweat, flakes, and sebum that cause mold, dust mites, and bacteria. This is a crucial point for keeping your mattress clean. Some mattress covers, such as those made from Tencel, are delicate, so be careful with how you wash them. Tips for washing Tencel include avoiding friction, using a neutral detergent rather than an alkaline one, and washing with water below 30°C. On sunny days, air dry in a well-ventilated, shaded spot until completely dry, instead of using a dryer.
Sun-dry your mattress to eliminate mold and dust mites
Since mold, dust mites, and bacteria are very vulnerable to "dryness" and "heat," on a sunny day, hang your mattress outside, expose it well to the wind, and release moisture such as sweat. Also, to eradicate dust mites accumulated on the bottom, it is recommended to lean the mattress against a sunny wall indoors. After drying, thoroughly vacuum up dust mite feces and carcasses. For dust mite control, it is important not only to exterminate them but also to vacuum up their feces and carcasses, which can be harmful to your body.
How to choose a mattress (mattress cover) that can be kept clean
To keep a mattress clean that cannot be washed frequently, choose a high-resilience + low-resilience mattress with excellent breathability and durability, or a mattress made with bamboo charcoal fibers that have deodorizing and antibacterial effects and act as a dust mite repellent. Since the mattress cover comes into direct contact with your skin, comfort is an important factor in addition to the material. Tencel mattress covers are highly recommended over commonly used cotton or linen because they offer better comfort and have moisture-absorbing and releasing properties. Please use this as a reference when choosing a mattress material for a better environment, sleep, and life.
