Do you wake up to sneezing fits, a stuffy nose, or a general feeling of gross malaise? You likely pegged it on allergies or the weather or yourself. Once, I did, until I learned the truth, it wasn't me; it was my bed.
If you are fastidiously washing your bedding in hot water yet you get congested day in and day out. Well, here's the truth you want to know, the actual culprits may be before your very eyes, your bed sheets.
I know—that takes some of us years of our lives to understand, and my mom was very obsessed with everything being spotless, so to date I had always thought it did indeed make a difference, very frequent wash, top-of-the-line thread count on their mattress sets, the entire gambit, well, it all proved the antithesis.
Cotton: A Paradise for Dust Mites
And let's begin with the villain of this tale: cotton. Dust mites would like to live in cotton more than in any other place in your home. Those dust mites love cotton fibers; they move in if you have skin (spoiler: we all do). They consume dead skin cells, and move into your pillows and sheets, and even your mattress.
It matters because 10% of the populace has some sensitivity to dust mites, an infrequently thought-of, microscopic group among the most common allergens present within the home. Asthmatic and other respiratory irritants become irritated with more than usual exacerbation potential as well.
Trust me; I spent years testing cotton. Every morning I woke up sneezing and congested, having no idea my bedding was the problem. Then I did not know what I was missing until I switched to vegan silk bedsheets and pillowcases.
The Revolutionary Shift: Vegan Silk Bedsheets
If you haven't heard of vegan silk, let me introduce you to your new best friend. Vegan silk is made from eucalyptus fibers, which are natural and hypoallergenic. Best of all, it is dust mite-hating heaven. The silky surface isn't just luxurious; it's inhospitable to those pesky mites.
A week of silk sheets on my bed, the morning sneezes were gone. A runny nose and congestion disappeared. I realized only after the turnabout to which extent my previous sheets made me sick.
Vegan silk also possesses the ability to wick moisture. Unlike cotton, which absorbs sweat and, thus, leaves your bed damp feeling, vegan silk is a rather dry fit for the bed. It keeps the sheets dry, which means there will be no waking up in sweat or having moldy mattresses anymore.
Pillows: Change or Regret
Something that could have been told to me sooner is my pillows have to be changed out every 4-6 months. Why? As you get older, your pillows turn into a dust mite breeding ground. Assuming you're not using hypoallergenic pillowcases, your pillow may be causing you harm rather than helping you out in bed.
And speaking of pillowcases, if you’re still using cotton ones, it’s time to upgrade. Silk pillow covers aren’t just great for keeping dust mites away; they’re also a dream for your skin. A silk pillowcase for skin can help reduce acne and prevent wrinkles—talk about a win-win.
Comfortable Bedding For Sound Sleep
Get a Mattress Cover
Take that to an extreme: full encasement, not just a mattress cover. This won't let dust mites, bed bugs, or other allergens imprint into it. Trust me: you will never, ever be able to get that into the washing machine.
Decorating Your Home
Cute throw pillows and blankets are good, but keep them off of your sleeping area. These things collect dust and debris, which transfer onto your face and make you sick. Keep them at the end of your bed or somewhere they won't touch your pillow.
Say No to Satin
Satin looks very beautiful, but again it should not be confused with vegan silk. Most of these are made from plastic-based textiles. It could trap the body heat and make the body sweat. For comfort, try eucalyptus-based silk.
Dust the Ceiling Fan
The dust fans are silently allergens; however, cleanliness will ensure that the fresh air in your bedroom remains fresh and breathable.
Use a Humidifier and a HEPA Filter
Dry air irritates your sinuses, and poor air quality exacerbates allergies. The humidifier keeps the air moist, and HEPA filters remove allergens from the air.
Sleep Tips for Your Bedroom
- Lavender Oil: Using lavender oil in the diffuser may help sleep to come quicker, whereas peppermint oil might help sweat out the cold.
- Lighting Matters: Dump the fluorescent lights for the red ones. These work to stimulate melatonin release, so you'll be getting deeper and longer sleep.
- Ideal Temperature: Maintain the temperature of your bedroom between 67 and 72°F. Combine this with cooling sheets, such as vegan silk, for the ultimate sleeping arrangement.
My Exploratory Experiment
I finally get how long it takes me to figure this out. Years of my life were spent on super fancy, high-thread count cotton sheets, and they were honestly useless in the end. I feel like I leveled up my bedding game with that vegan silk. I sleep so much better, breathe so much easier, and wake up feeling totally refreshed.
If you wake up drenched in sweat even with fresh sheets, trust me: it's not you; it's the sheets. You have to try vegan silk—your allergies (and skin) will really appreciate it!
Conclusion:
Sleep Smart, Not Hard You might wake up each morning wondering why you'd feel bad after an even remotely fitful night of so-called "sleep." It is about time you give your bedding a rethink, if not just in terms of its dirtiness but also on the deeper level regarding the fabric that is made use of in this bedding system.
Sure, cotton sheets are very comfortable, and people tend to like them; however, they can also quickly turn into a dust mite haven, making you cough and wheeze, among other awful feelings.
Meanwhile, vegan silk completely changes the feel of your sleep time, and you wake up refreshed. It is hypoallergenic, does not let moisture accumulate inside it, and feels like being under a cloud; thus, vegan silk is a healthier and warmer place to snooze.
Change your pillowcase, get a mattress cover, and give your bedroom a little love, it totally puts you in the best of both worlds when it comes to sleep: super refreshing and rejuvenating. Sleep is healthy, and so is comfort, so let's take a peek at our bed right now.