Pets bring an abundance of love and joy into the home. But they can also bring in unwanted allergens. This presents a dilemma, especially if you’re in the habit of sharing a bed with your pet (or simply allowing pets into your bedroom). It’s true that sleeping with pets can be a calming experience. For some, it offers security and serves as a cure for loneliness.
For allergy sufferers, having a pet in the bedroom is both a blessing and a curse. You feel comforted by their presence, but miserable from all the sneezing and itching. Instead of withstanding your allergies, you can keep them at bay with the right tools and enjoy the company of your fur kids. Here are four tips to keep your bedroom free of pet dander, hair and allergens.
A quick note: Although pet allergies are most common with cats and dogs, other furry animals such as hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs may trigger allergy symptoms as well.
4 tips for creating a hypoallergenic bedroom in 2022
Clean your bedroom regularly
For areas you can’t vacuum, we recommend wiping them down with a damp cloth or using a lint roller for rugs and sheets. It’s crucial that you avoid just dusting them, since the particles can end up airborne (triggering another bout of allergies) or remain in your vicinity. A wet rag ensures that they stick and are promptly removed.
Keep the air clear
Pet dander, also known as microscopic flecks of skin shed by your four-legged friends, tends to stay airborne for hours before they settle. This is why you need to make sure the air in your bedroom remains clean and fresh too.
The first step to achieving clear air is to sweep, mop and vacuum your room. But when you’re sharing the room with a pet, that’s not going to be enough. You need an air purifier for pets that can filter all sorts of airborne allergens. Fortunately, this includes getting rid of unpleasant smells as well.
While on the hunt for an air purifier, look out for models with HEPA filters, which can supposedly remove about 99.97% of dust, pollen, bacteria and other particles as tiny as 0.3 microns. By comparison, pet dander generally measures at around 2.5 microns. Don’t forget to consider the size of your bedroom – the larger the room, the bigger your air purifier needs to be.
Protect your bed
Got a pet that doesn’t just lie on the floor beside you, but crawls into bed with you every night? Hypoallergenic bedding products are a must. The first thing you’ll need is Heveya®’s organic mattress protector. This provides a layer of protection from dust mites, bacteria, bed bugs, pet hair, saliva and other allergy-triggering particles. Its organic cotton cover has non-allergic features, while its bamboo lyocell padding is both antibacterial and hypoallergenic.
Next, pair your mattress protector with allergy-friendly bed sheets. Linen sheets grown organically from European flax are a great option for those with sensitive skin. Its loose weaves prevent cat fur and dog hair from getting trapped, while providing great airflow so the fabric doesn’t cling onto the skin.
If you prefer sheets that are silkier and softer to the touch, go for bamboo bedding. Like the anti-allergy linen flax sheets, their bamboo counterparts are also naturally hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, breathable and Oekotex Class 1 certified, making them suitable even for babies.
While these bedding products are great for fending off allergens, don’t forget that they still need to be washed frequently. Hypoallergenic materials do not equate to the complete elimination of pet dander!
Get a hypoallergenic mattress
Since the bed is probably where you’ll spend the most of your time, the key to an allergy-proof bedroom is… an allergy-proof bed. Beyond bedding products, make sure to invest in a hypoallergenic mattress and pillows as well.
One of the safest bets for a place to rest your allergy-prone head is Heveya®’s 100% natural organic latex mattresses. Organic latex provides a multitude of benefits. It’s naturally resistant to mould, mildew and dust mites, and features an open-cell structure that allows for great breathability.
On top of that, what sets Heveya®’s anti-dust mite mattress apart from all others is its removable covers. Made from bamboo, these covers come with organic cotton padding – all hypoallergenic materials through and through – allowing you to dry clean them easily and maintain a dander-free sleeping environment.
Without any metal springs (which may amplify electromagnetic radiation), glues, VOCs or pesticide-tainted materials, these mattresses go beyond protecting you from pet allergies and other allergens. They ensure your overall health remains in check as well.
Ditch the dander, keep the critter
Being an allergy sufferer doesn’t have to get in the way of having and loving your pets. All you need is an allergy-proof makeover for your bedroom, a small price to pay for a lifetime of canine and kitty cuddles. And the fact is that the benefits are holistic, whether it’s leading a more sustainable life with organic furnishings or simply sleeping better (a foolproof way to reduce stress and improve your physical and emotional wellbeing).
