Did you sleep well last night? Snuggle up tight to your fluffy pillow? Does that pillow seem heavier than it did two years ago? If so, you’re probably not just dreaming. The average 2-year-old pillow can gain about 2 pounds in weight. Where does it come from, you ask? The answer might make you think twice before you bury your face in your pillow again-so be forewarned!

10 percent of an old pillow’s weight often comes from a combination of allergens like mold, mildew, fungus, dust mites and dust mite feces! MOST of it is dust mite feces!
With this in mind, one could basically assume that a microscope photo of your pillow may very well look like this:

That’s right-there is a good amount of insect crap in your pillow!!! You can see below what one of these guys looks like…not very cute, is he?

Dust mites feed off of our dead skin, which is constantly being shed off of our bodies every day. The waste they produce (about 20 droppings per day) can lead to allergic diseases like asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis.

Sorry, are you having trouble getting to bed now?? Don’t worry-here are some tips for keeping your pillow free of all that nasty stuff!

First, the best environment for dust mites to live in is one that is warm, humid, and poorly ventilated. Make sure your room has plenty of circulation, and doesn’t get too warm and sticky during the day. Who can sleep in that temperature anyways???

Next, try using synthetic fabrics in your bed. Replace your feather and down pillows with fillings that are from synthetic fabrics.

Also, wash your pillow at least once every week or two, and the same goes for your bed sheets/blankets. Be sure to use hot water…this is VERY important if you want to kill those little bed bugs!

Last, consider using a mite-proof pillow casing. This is basically a plastic-like cover that goes under your soft pillow case. It’s said to be the best way to keep the bugs out of your sleep cushion! That’s it! Stay clean and sleep tight little ones!