Is Your Pillow Making You Sick?

Pillows are a favorite habitat of bugs, fungi and mold. The average pillow is expected to contain over one million fungi spores. This is especially dangerous if you have an immune deficiency disease, or if you suffer from asthma or allergies. But even if not, sleeping on bugs, fungi and mold can still have adverse effects. There are important and easy steps you can take to help mitigate this problem. 1) Dry your hair before bed. This is because all these things love moisture, so be sure not to give them any. 2) No pets in the bedroom. This seems obvious but some people love to wake up with their pets on the bed. So do bugs. 3) Get rid of extra pillows and bedding. 4) Declutter, dust and vacuum. 5) If you can afford it, use a HEPA filter. These extract pathogens and microscopic bugs from the air, leaving the room fresh and clean. 6) No sheepskin underlays. 7) Replace your pillows. You should do this at least every couple of years. A five year old pillow has double the mold of a two year old pillow. Just sayin. 8) Wash your bedding regularly. It is recommended to do this once a week, and be sure to use hot water and dry everything thoroughly. 9) Get a dust mite cover. 10) Stay cool. Don’t let yourself get too hot at night, because that’s what bugs, mold and fungi like. It is also recommended to buy the best pillow you can afford. Cheaper pillows actually grow mold and attract mites more than the expensive hypo allergenic kind.