Do Dust Mites Prefer Cotton or Polyester? - An Expert's Guide

Dust mites are a common problem in many households, and they can cause a variety of health issues. It's important to know which fabrics are best for preventing dust mites from gathering in your home. That's why popular places for mites to gather are pillows, doonas, mattresses, and rugs. While dust mites are attracted to both polyester and feather pillows, they tend to prefer polyester pillows.

In fact, polyester pillows attract around twice as many mites as feather pillows. In the winter months, wool can be perfect for bedding. It's cozy, mite-proof, antimicrobial and breathable. It also absorbs up to 33% of its own weight in moisture without feeling damp.

By minimizing moisture, wool helps prevent skin irritations and also contains lanolin, which helps keep skin healthy. Contrary to popular belief, this natural fabric can also be machine washed, but always check the care label first. Wool is an excellent fabric for carpets and mattresses, and blends of alpaca and sheep wool produce superior quality bedding. Herein lies its indomitable power to protect allergic or asthmatic people from uninvited guests (dust mites).

This makes the material extremely breathable, comfortable and effectively prevents mites from accumulating and multiplying. There are dust mite covers for mattresses and pillows on the market that provide an effective barrier during sleeping hours. In addition, the nanofibrous membrane has a great advantage over other technologies: although neither the mite nor the allergen can cross it, the air molecule can flow freely. These fabrics can also be safely washed with hot water, which is better than cold water to kill allergens such as dust mites.

Like the classic cover, it is equipped with a zipper and will provide you with perfect protection against dust mites and their allergens. If, after following all of these tips, you still have sneezes caused by dust mites on your clothes, you can try using an air purifier. Densified microfiber or densified cotton fibers are more breathable, but they only trap dust mites (they trap particles of 3.0 µm or more) and not their allergens. There are fabrics that tend not to trap dust and dust mites as much, so you can feel comfortable wearing them.

Pillow covers for allergy sufferers should protect against dust mites, which normally live in pillow fillers, where they feast on dead human skin in the dark and heat. Dust is attracted to static electricity, a factor that can be eradicated by using the right fabric composition for curtains, rugs, and upholstery. Unfortunately, bedding is one of the main collectors of these allergens, as it traps dandruff, mold, and dust mites. Whichever version you choose, you can be sure that they make no concessions against dust mites and their allergens.

In coastal areas, which are more prone to dust mites, it's also a good idea to reduce room humidity with a dehumidifier. Dust mite allergy is particularly severe in the first few years of life, so great care must be taken in children's and teenagers' rooms. Unlike previous studies, this study examined samples of uncoated pens before processing, prior use, and subsequent use, instead of dust samples taken by vacuuming intact pillows. When it comes to preventing dust mites from gathering in your home or office space there are several fabrics that can help keep them away. Polyester pillows attract twice as many mites as feather pillows do; however wool is an excellent fabric for carpets and mattresses that helps protect allergic or asthmatic people from uninvited guests (dust mites).

Nanofibrous membranes provide an effective barrier against dust mites and their allergens while still allowing air molecules to flow freely. Densified microfiber or densified cotton fibers trap particles of 3.0 µm or more but not their allergens. Pillow covers for allergy sufferers should protect against dust mites while fabrics that don't trap dust or dust mites as much can be worn comfortably. Reducing room humidity with a dehumidifier is also recommended in coastal areas where dust mite allergies are more common. By following these tips you can ensure that your home or office space is free from dust mites and their allergens.

Investing in quality fabrics such as wool or nanofibrous membranes will help keep your space safe from these pesky critters while still providing comfort and breathability.

Brittany Kleck
Brittany Kleck

Typical food practitioner. General tv scholar. Hipster-friendly tea geek. General reader. Infuriatingly humble tv fanatic. Passionate zombie junkie.