General Hygiene - Perspiration, Pets, Mums-To-Be
Sleep Hygiene:
It is easy to understand why we need to keep our beds as healthy as possible when we consider not only the amount of time we spend in bed, but also:
- The average person perspires approximately 1 Litre per night. This body liquid then stains our mattresses, linen and pillows. Of course this doubles when we sleep with a partner
- Perspiration in unprotected beds can lead to bacteria and mould causing several health conditions such as asthma
- Every person sheds and regrows skin every 27 days! The skin cells are the primary source of food for dust mites
- The average person loses 100 hairs a day
- Around 1 in 4 Australians have an allergic disease – which can be made worse in unprotected beds.
Every mattress needs protection from bacteria, dust mites, liquids like body fluids and stains!
To improve the hygiene of your sleep environment – you should consider:
- Covering mattresses, pillows and quilts with dust mite/bacteria-resistant covers – for example;
- Protect•A•Bed® StainSafe® and Premium Mattress and Pillow Protectors,
- Protect•A•Bed® Elite Mattress and Pillow Protectors,
- Protect•A•Bed® AllerZip® Mattress Protectors and
- Protect•A•Bed® Quilt Protector and Pillowcases,
- Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in water hotter than 55°C,
- Hot tumble dry, (for half an hour after sheets are dry)
- Use synthetic rather than feather doonas and pillows,
- Remove sheepskin or woolen underlays,
- Vacuum weekly.
Mums-To-Be:
Expectant mothers and lactating mothers – can ensure the protection of their health and their investment in their mattress and bedding with the application of the following products:
- Protect•A•Bed® StainSafe® and Premium Mattress and Pillow Protectors,
- Protect•A•Bed®’s Elite Mattress & Pillow Protectors, (with the added benefit of all natural Tencel® ensuring a hypoallergenic environment)
- Protect•A•Bed®’s CumfySafe® sheets and pillows, (revolutionary waterproof linen)
- Protect•A•Bed®’s Mattress Pad, (for waterproofing and additional comfort)
- Protect•A•Bed®’s Quilt Protector (for waterproofing/stainproofing).
Pets On Bed:
Australia is a nation of pet lovers, with 63% of Australian households having some type of pet and 91% of people reporting that they feel “very close” to their pet – almost as many people as report feeling close to their family!5
Most people who have allergic reactions to dogs and cats are allergic to the dander — the dead skin cells shed by animals — rather than the hair. All breeds of dogs and cats shed dander. Other people react to a protein in the animal’s saliva and this is more likely to cause problems to cat owners, as cats self-groom by licking their fur.
Should you like to sleep with your pet on your bed, there are some steps which you can take to improve hygiene and minimise the allergies to dog and cat hair and/or dander.
Use protective bed linen and mattress protectors such as:
- Protect•A•Bed® StainSafe® and Premium Mattress and Pillow Protectors, Protect•A•Bed® CumfySafe® Sheets and Pillow Protectors, Protect•A•Bed® Mattress Pad and Quilt Protectors,
- Clean and vacuum often,
- Groom and brush the pet often so its hair-shedding is minimized,
- Bathe the pet regularly.
For more information, please seek advice from your local veterinarian.
For more information on general hygiene, download a brochure here.
(PDF format - 668 Kb)
