When you’re not feeling well, where’s the first place you turn? Back to bed? Not so fast. Your mattress could be what’s adding to your illness. Here are four ways your mattress is making you sick.

How Your Mattress is Making You Sick

While slipping back under the covers may seem like a good idea to get well soon, a dirty mattress could be harboring allergens that will make you feel worse. Here’s what could be hiding and hindering your health:

• Dust. It easily collects on the sheets, bed frame, and in the crevices of the mattress.
• Mites. These microscopic organisms prefer warm, humid environments—like a mattresses dappled in sweat—especially when there’s also dead skin cells to feed on.
• Pet Dander. Even if you don’t allow pets on the bed, their hair gets trapped everywhere.
• Mold and Mildew. Sweat and breath creates a warm, damp environment prime for fungal growth.

Allergens like dust, dander, and mite droppings can trigger sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and other allergic reactions such as skin rash and itching. Mold spores can also cause respiratory issues and exacerbate asthma attacks. When bacteria from sweat and dead skin cells accumulate, these germs can lower immunity and cause a variety of illnesses. But there’s relief in sight.

Keeping Your Mattress Clean

There’s a way to help ensure your bed remains a restful place and not a breeding ground for disease. All it takes is regular cleaning.

1. Invest in a mattress cover. There are specially designed covers designed to prevent dust mites, mold and allergens from collecting on your mattress.
2. Change your sheets. This is especially important in the summer when there’s an increase in moist, humid conditions.
3. Vacuum your mattress. Even if you use a cover and change your sheets, vacuuming your mattress regularly helps remove any leftover particles.
4. Deep clean your mattress. To keep your space as clean as possible, steam clean your mattress about every six months. Be sure to follow any care instructions depending on the type of mattress you have.

If you’re still unsure of the best way to maintain a clean mattress, contact the specialists at JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care. We use a gentle cleaning process to protect your mattress while making it a healthier place to sleep. Call 844-GET-JDOG to learn more about all of our cleaning options and to schedule a service today.