How Do Dust Mite Covers Work

A dust mite cover is a special cover you can put on your mattress, pillows, and blankets. It stops tiny bugs called dust mites and their allergens from getting through. This helps to keep your allergies from acting up. These covers can also be called protectors or encasements.

Why Use a Dust Mite Encasement?

If you suffer from a dust mite allergy, you might experience symptoms such as eczema, breathing difficulties, or nasal congestion. These symptoms are often more pronounced in bed, where dust mites predominantly reside. Using a dust mite encasement is the most effective way to minimize dust mites in your sleeping environment.

A dust mite encasement is typically wrapped around your mattress, duvet, pillow, and cushions. Made from dust mite-proof fabric, it prevents these microscopic pests from penetrating the material. Here’s how it works:

1. Dust Mites Die Inside: Any dust mites already present in the mattress, pillow, or duvet will eventually die from starvation, reducing your direct exposure to them and their allergens.
2. Dust Mites Are Confined to the Surface: Mites on the bedding surface cannot burrow into your mattress, pillow, or duvet, forcing them to remain on the top surface

• As the encasements confine dust mites to the top surface of the bedding. When you wash your bedding it will contain all the dust mites which will be killed.

Example of How Dust Mite Mattress Encasement Works

1. Dust mites inside the mattress cannot escape because of the mattress encasement and will eventually die from starvation.
2. Dust mites on the surface of the encasement can only stay on top of the encasement or go inside the bedding
3. Washing the bedding and cleaning the surface of the encasement will kill all dust mites
4. Ensure you use a hot 60 degree wash on the bedding and wash the duvet inner and pillow inner once a month if they do not have encasements

How to Effectively Use a Dust Mite Encasement

• Pillows
• Mattress 
• duvet
• Cushions
• Bed Base / Divan
• You don't need this if your bed frame is made of a hard material, like wood or metal.

• Make sure the encasement is zipped up all the way to prevent mites from getting out. Also, ensure it is fastened securely, so it doesn’t become loose with movement, such as Velcro or Zip Lock. 

• Wash all bedding on top of the encasements weekly, as they tend to harbour a higher concentration of mites given the limited places available for them to hide.

• Wash encasements at 60 degrees Celsius or freeze them monthly to eliminate allergen residues (such as faeces and dead dust mites).

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Common Dust Mite Encasement Questions