What lives in your mattress? It can be a hard pill to swallow when you’re told that your bed is the dirtiest thing in your room. Not yours personally, but any bed that has been in any room for a couple of years can be regarded as a dirt-bag. While you might be changing the sheets on a regular basis and flipping your mattress whenever you deem necessary, there are some things that make their homes in your mattress over the years which you just cannot prevent.
The old saying goes: “goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite”. If taken seriously, this saying really sheds light on the various types of micro-sized critters that have set up camp in your mattress and which you have no idea about. It can be a troubling thought to even consider that you spend one third of your life rolling around in filth that is made up of bacteria, fungi, human skin cells, dust, plasticisers and flame retardants. While most of these substances are not directly harmful to you, they can overtime become the cause of health issues including different types of allergies and asthma. Let’s look at the various types of micro-organisms that might be living in your mattress.
The most common microorganism that might be inhabiting your year old mattress is bacteria. Old mattresses are breeding grounds for skin, oral, intestinal and fecal bacteria. These can sink into your mattress and multiply in numbers overtime. Another common companion for you in bed are dust mites. These mites basically originate where dust accumulates and if the mattress is not clean on a regular basis. These can be the cause of hay fever, asthma, eczema, dermatitis and various other serious diseases.
Fungal spores are also some of the commonly found bedtime friends. Feather and synthetic bedding are most likely to contain different types of fungi and these are known to facilitate the occurrence of different allergies and even asthma. While substances like dust and fungi originate in our environment, there are things that the human body produces that contribute to the filth that accumulates in our beds. Sweat, skin cells and even bacteria are some of the examples.
Over the course of a year, one human body can generate up to 26 gallons of sweat. This along with the heat that is generated by your body being trapped in the mattress provides the perfect environment for fungi and bacteria to grow and multiply. It should be understood however that the filth in your bed is just not because of you. It accumulates over time and can be sourced from your pets, the environment in general or anybody else that you share your bed with.
All of the above mentioned substances become harmful when they are not paid attention to for a long time. The older your mattress is, the more likely they are to create long term problems for you. The only solution to the entire ordeal is to not use one mattress for more than a few years.
Majority of our mattresses and ensembles use foam from Dunlop which is treated with ultrafresh. Ultrafresh helps control dust mites and other household bugs that trigger allergies and asthma. It also helps keep foam cleaner and fresher for longer by controlling bad and unwanted odours caused by bacterial growth.
Some mattresses and ensembles that would be suitable if you have allergies and asthma are as follows:
Single Mattress : Sensor Deluxe for $329
King Single Mattress: Spinal Sensor for $449
Double Mattress: Spinal Sensor for $599
Queen Mattress:Spinal Contour Contour Harmony for $1399
King Mattress: Spinal Contour Harmony for $1799
Feel free to call us on 3279 4444 for any further queries.
FAQs
But, before you arrive at any conclusion, you should know that besides bedbugs, your mattress can be a jungle of dust mites and other insects feasting on dead skin and dried remnants of blood, saliva, sweat, and any other bodily fluids you can imagine.
What animal can live in a mattress? ›
The saying “Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite” really does hit differently if you've ever been unfortunate enough to find bed worms in your mattress. Small white, brown, or grayish worms may be the larvae of several different types of insects. This may include carpet beetles, fleas, or moths.
What lives inside a mattress? ›
The most common microorganism that might be inhabiting your year old mattress is bacteria. Old mattresses are breeding grounds for skin, oral, intestinal and fecal bacteria. These can sink into your mattress and multiply in numbers overtime. Another common companion for you in bed are dust mites.
What could be moving in my mattress? ›
Why does my mattress move when I sleep? This could be due to worn-out springs, an unstable bed base, your partner's movements, the material of the mattress, uneven weight distribution, or external vibrations.
What bug is in my bed but not bed bugs? ›
While bed bugs are a common concern, there are several bugs that resemble bed bugs but pose different risks and require different treatment approaches. These look-alikes, such as carpet beetles, spider beetles, booklice, co*ckroach nymphs, and bat bugs, can often be mistaken for bed bugs due to their similar appearance.
Can parasites live in your mattress? ›
The epitome of bed parasites, bedbugs are extremely unpleasant. They cower from light in any cracks they can find, be it in the walls, floors, or even inside your mattress. These nocturnal parasites also feed on blood, and they locate their prey, i.e. you, by your body heat and the CO2 which you exhale.
What lives in a dirty mattress? ›
Fungus and Bacteria
The average adult sweats 26 gallons a year in bed. That makes your mattress a warm, moist home for fungus and bacteria. Recent lab tests from swabs taken from 7-year-old mattresses found more than 16 million colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch.
What are mattress worms? ›
Bed worms, also known as mattress worms, are not a specific type of pest, but a group of pests and their larvae that can end up infesting your mattress or bedding. Unlike adult bed bugs and fleas, their larvae have not yet developed into an insect with a hard exoskeleton, giving them a worm-like appearance.
What insect lives in a mattress? ›
Bed Bugs will try to live as close to their food source as possible. They can often be found directly on the mattress in the tufts and folds, along the seam, and even inside the mattress. They can also be found in the box-spring, bed frame, headboard and furniture near the bed.
What's living in my bed? ›
Bacteria and viruses. A number of bacteria may thrive in mattresses, feeding on skin and hair cells. Among these are the common Staphylococcus aurea, as well as bacteria in the families Micrococcus, Enterococcus, Psuedomonas, Bacillus, Fel d1, Can F1 and Coliforms.
Booklice are pests that are occasionally mistaken for bed bug nymphs. These wingless, soft-bodied pests are typically between 1/25–1/16 inch long (1–2 mm) and whitish-yellow or tan in color. The main differences between booklice and bed bug nymphs is the shape of their bodies.
Can mites infest your bed? ›
The dust mite is so small that it's virtually invisible. These mites do not feed on humans but can easily become airborne. Dust mites and their feces are one of the most common allergens found indoors. Pillows, mattresses and upholstered furniture are typical nesting sites for dust mites.
Could there be something living in my mattress? ›
The mattress can be a jungle of dust mites and bedbugs, milling around among dried remnants of blood, saliva, sweat and basically all the other bodily fluids you can think of.
How do you know if mice are in your mattress? ›
Waking up to find mouse droppings in your bed is a clear indicator that your bedroom is dealing with a mouse infestation. Gnaw marks. View source in your room are another sign you're dealing with rodents like mice.
What are the signs of bed bugs on a mattress? ›
Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed. Dark spots (about this size: ), which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would. Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and pale yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger.
Can bed bugs live inside a mattress? ›
Bed Bugs will try to live as close to their food source as possible. They can often be found directly on the mattress in the tufts and folds, along the seam, and even inside the mattress. They can also be found in the box-spring, bed frame, headboard and furniture near the bed.
How to tell if mice are in your mattress? ›
Waking up to find mouse droppings in your bed is a clear indicator that your bedroom is dealing with a mouse infestation. Gnaw marks. View source in your room are another sign you're dealing with rodents like mice.
