Oh no! I do very much need to learn about this. I have a sniffly, sneezy kid whose exact troubles I have yet to pinpoint... but it's starting to affect him socially. Nobody wants to be around wet noises all the time! He sleeps in a room that is not *super* well insulated, because, well, old house.
Please elaborate on the difference between cotton pillow protectors and pillowcases. I never used mattress protectors when the kids were little because I couldn't stand the hot, sweaty feel of them in the hospital, myself. I thought it was more important to let their skin breathe. Now our mattresses are all pretty gross (although I always spot cleaned them as well as I could.) I feel terrible about this but can't afford to buy everyone a new mattress!
Pillow cases are part of the bedding — top sheet, bottom sheet, pillowcase. All that gets washed when you “change the sheets.” Wash the pillows themselves — you can put them in the washer and just… wash them! Put them in the dryer for a good long time and if possible, put outside to dry more in the sun. Then put on pillow protectors — zipped pillowcases that stay on them so you don’t have to wash them (the pillows) so often. I get them at Marshall’s etc.
In the hospital, the mattress cover is plastic, which is indeed awful. But you can find cotton ones (again I get them at Homegoods etc) and they cover the mattress to keep it clean, bc you wash it occasionally (not as much as the bedding).
You can invest in a steam cleaner, which is like a little vacuum that has hot water and soap in it, and clean the mattresses. You can first use a terry rag and detergent and scrub the covering (without getting things sopping wet) and then use the steam cleaner to suck it all up. I have cleaned a disgustingly dirty vintage chair (that had sat in a living room with someone smoking all day for like 50 years) and it came out totally clean! For a family, a steam cleaner is a good investment.
Leave the mattress to dry thoroughly (drag it out into the sun if you can — on the trampoline is great). Then put on the mattress cover (always wash anything new first, of course). Then the bedding.
If you have a bedwetter, use the sort of mattress cover that has a flocked layer over the waterproof layer. Then put the cotton cover over that. That way, you just wash those covers and it’s fairly breathable.
Also, do click on that link — I have seen vaseline touted for this purpose, against mites. It explains how to use it and how it is safe. The other thing that seems to work is tea tree oil, but you have to dilute it. Search tea tree oil demodex dilute with olive oil mineral oil (I can’t link here)
This is very helpful, thank you! I texted around and found a friend with an upholstery cleaner I can borrow. I'll probably start looking for one for myself too. I can't believe I've gone this long without one! Fortunately we do have a trampoline; will be making use of that soon... so encouraging to know I can clean the mattresses.
I guess I never bothered with cotton mattress covers because I figured if they weren't the awful plasticky stuff, then they weren't actually waterproof or going to do any good? One of those catch-22 situations. But now I see that they'll still be helpful!! Better many layers of cotton than nothing! I have ordered one for Allergy Kiddo and then I can get one or two a month until all the kid mattresses are covered. Fortunately we're more or less past the bed wetting stage but you never know, our last wave of stomach flu was just a few weeks ago and some of the mattresses got messy :( But now I'll be ready... this afternoon I also cleaned Allergy Kiddo's blinds, dusted all the corners in his room, diffused lavender and tea tree, and washed his bedding and curtain with hot water. It already feels so much nicer in there and hopefully this will be the end of the constant sniffles and bags under his eyes! Thank you for reminding me that I can (and should) take care of my family's health this way. xx
Thank you! This is the good motherly nudge that I needed to find some energy to do all this. My other go-to nudge is to read Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing (on project Gutenberg if curious). Her strong feelings about carpet in sickrooms and dusting with anything but a damp cloth are wonderful! She’s very spunky.
All of our bedrooms are hardwood with some kind of area rug, but we’ve been thinking of installing carpet in the children’s bedroom above the garage, as it is cold in winter and hot in summer.
This thought about dust mites has me rethinking carpet. Any advice on wood vs carpet for keeping a fresh clean home?
If you go for carpet, choose wool! It’s lovely and resistant to mold, mites, etc. There are many kinds that would be suitable for such a project. I would definitely go with wood over synthetic carpet. You can always find a big old oriental for warmth.
Oh no! I do very much need to learn about this. I have a sniffly, sneezy kid whose exact troubles I have yet to pinpoint... but it's starting to affect him socially. Nobody wants to be around wet noises all the time! He sleeps in a room that is not *super* well insulated, because, well, old house.
Please elaborate on the difference between cotton pillow protectors and pillowcases. I never used mattress protectors when the kids were little because I couldn't stand the hot, sweaty feel of them in the hospital, myself. I thought it was more important to let their skin breathe. Now our mattresses are all pretty gross (although I always spot cleaned them as well as I could.) I feel terrible about this but can't afford to buy everyone a new mattress!
Aw, I understand!
Pillow cases are part of the bedding — top sheet, bottom sheet, pillowcase. All that gets washed when you “change the sheets.” Wash the pillows themselves — you can put them in the washer and just… wash them! Put them in the dryer for a good long time and if possible, put outside to dry more in the sun. Then put on pillow protectors — zipped pillowcases that stay on them so you don’t have to wash them (the pillows) so often. I get them at Marshall’s etc.
In the hospital, the mattress cover is plastic, which is indeed awful. But you can find cotton ones (again I get them at Homegoods etc) and they cover the mattress to keep it clean, bc you wash it occasionally (not as much as the bedding).
You can invest in a steam cleaner, which is like a little vacuum that has hot water and soap in it, and clean the mattresses. You can first use a terry rag and detergent and scrub the covering (without getting things sopping wet) and then use the steam cleaner to suck it all up. I have cleaned a disgustingly dirty vintage chair (that had sat in a living room with someone smoking all day for like 50 years) and it came out totally clean! For a family, a steam cleaner is a good investment.
Leave the mattress to dry thoroughly (drag it out into the sun if you can — on the trampoline is great). Then put on the mattress cover (always wash anything new first, of course). Then the bedding.
If you have a bedwetter, use the sort of mattress cover that has a flocked layer over the waterproof layer. Then put the cotton cover over that. That way, you just wash those covers and it’s fairly breathable.
Also, do click on that link — I have seen vaseline touted for this purpose, against mites. It explains how to use it and how it is safe. The other thing that seems to work is tea tree oil, but you have to dilute it. Search tea tree oil demodex dilute with olive oil mineral oil (I can’t link here)
This is very helpful, thank you! I texted around and found a friend with an upholstery cleaner I can borrow. I'll probably start looking for one for myself too. I can't believe I've gone this long without one! Fortunately we do have a trampoline; will be making use of that soon... so encouraging to know I can clean the mattresses.
I guess I never bothered with cotton mattress covers because I figured if they weren't the awful plasticky stuff, then they weren't actually waterproof or going to do any good? One of those catch-22 situations. But now I see that they'll still be helpful!! Better many layers of cotton than nothing! I have ordered one for Allergy Kiddo and then I can get one or two a month until all the kid mattresses are covered. Fortunately we're more or less past the bed wetting stage but you never know, our last wave of stomach flu was just a few weeks ago and some of the mattresses got messy :( But now I'll be ready... this afternoon I also cleaned Allergy Kiddo's blinds, dusted all the corners in his room, diffused lavender and tea tree, and washed his bedding and curtain with hot water. It already feels so much nicer in there and hopefully this will be the end of the constant sniffles and bags under his eyes! Thank you for reminding me that I can (and should) take care of my family's health this way. xx
In hilarious confirmation of your maxim, my normally continent three year old did indeed wet his bed last night. Ha!
Oh noes 🙈
Those sheets told you, all right!
Thank you! This is the good motherly nudge that I needed to find some energy to do all this. My other go-to nudge is to read Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing (on project Gutenberg if curious). Her strong feelings about carpet in sickrooms and dusting with anything but a damp cloth are wonderful! She’s very spunky.
She was ALL about LIGHT and AIR!
Start with washing the pillows! and the mattresses.
Washing pillows could be another whole post! There must be an art to having unlumpy but clean pillows.
Yes actually, how does one wash them while maintaining shape? Ours get wildly lumpy and uneven when thrown in the wash.
All of our bedrooms are hardwood with some kind of area rug, but we’ve been thinking of installing carpet in the children’s bedroom above the garage, as it is cold in winter and hot in summer.
This thought about dust mites has me rethinking carpet. Any advice on wood vs carpet for keeping a fresh clean home?
If you go for carpet, choose wool! It’s lovely and resistant to mold, mites, etc. There are many kinds that would be suitable for such a project. I would definitely go with wood over synthetic carpet. You can always find a big old oriental for warmth.