An old mattress poses more serious health risks than you know. You may not feel it, but if you have been using your mattress for some time, your mattress can be extremely unsanitary.
Bed bug bites by James Heilman, MD from Wikimedia Commons
- Bed bugs – The first thing you should be worried about are bed bugs. Though they’re not known to transmit diseases to humans, their bites can cause hives and other skin infections. Since they literally live in a mattress, it’s where they also defecate – which screams unsanitary.
The below video shows what might happen to your home with bed bug infestation.
- Dust mites – If you thought bed bugs are the only pest to worry about, these facts will surprise you. According to a study conducted in 2015 by Dyson and the National University of Singapore, the highest concentration of house dust mites in homes can be found in mattresses.
The study also shows that dust mite droppings contain highly allergenic proteins that may trigger – or even cause – asthma or allergy symptoms.
Just what causes dust mites? Where do they come from?
- Dead skin cells and other human waste build-ups – years of oil, moisture, and skin flakes accumulated on it, making it an ideal breeding ground for dust mites – unless covered by a mattress topper the whole time.
If the mattress has been used for 10 years already, it most probably contains about 4.5 kilograms of dead skin.
The Health Risks with Your Old Mattress
Photo of dust mites by Jacopo Werther from Wikimedia Commons
- Your asthma and allergy could worsen. If you don’t have one, you might develop a symptom because of this, as the study says. Nevertheless, Skin rashes, sneezing paired with itchy eyes, and constant itching whenever you are in bed are likely caused by these pesky pests and the worst part is, sometimes it’s hard to clean it off especially when the dirt has penetrated the inner part of the foam.
- Adding to the wear and tear, an old mattress will give you poor back, spine, and neck support, which makes for an uncomfortable sleep. You’ll wake up in pain and feeling unrested the rest of your day. Imagine feeling like this every single day.
- Sleeping on an old mattress affects your sleep, and in turn, affects your health. It could be the other way around.
- It has now been proven that the materials used in most old mattresses contain toxic and potentially harmful chemicals.
This is true, especially with petroleum-based Polyurethane foam. This type of foam usually contains hazardous substances such as benzene, surfactants, catalysts, toluene, and formaldehyde. These substances are linked to headache, breathlessness, nausea, and cardiac arrhythmia, among others.
Due to it being highly flammable, chemical flame retardants which also cause different medical issues, are used in Polyurethane foam to prevent fire.
Your Options
Eco-Friendly Mattress
The Better Sleep Council recommends you to replace your mattress every 7-10 years. It is best to replace a mattress regularly and to protect it with a mattress topper.
It is best to invest in a mattress made of high-quality materials that leave no harmful impact on the environment.
When shopping for your new mattress, you should look out for the following to make sure it is eco-friendly and good for your health. It may not be a complete list, but these are the most important materials in a natural or organic mattress:
- Organic cotton – contrary to conventional cotton, organic cotton doesn’t need pesticides to grow. It uses natural fertilizers and is processed without risky chemicals. Consequently, this kind of cotton is safer for your skin, and it lasts longer.
Bear in mind, though, that organic cotton is not wrinkle-free; so you have to get used to it. But it’s just a small trade-off compared to using synthetic, let alone unsafe material.
- Natural latex – if you’re looking for a memory foam mattress, make sure it uses natural latex.
Natural latex is made from rubber tree sap. It is sand and clay-free, hence the term natural. It is water-resistant to avoid the accumulation of moisture, anti-microbial to prevent dust mites and bed bugs, and most of all, hypoallergenic.
- Wool – 100% pure wool is naturally fire retardant. Just like natural latex, wool is also hypoallergenic because it’s not chemical-processed, and it prevents microbes from growing.
It is important that a mattress batting is made of either wool or organic cotton. A batting is wrapped in the spring of a mattress to prevent it from prodding your back when you lie down.
Some mattress companies use natural and organic interchangeably. Though they’re almost the same, if you have a specific requirement, it is best to ask them so you can shop with confidence.
Mattress Toppers
Whether you have an old or new mattress, a mattress topper is a great item to have. Unlike mattresses which you cannot clean thoroughly, a mattress topper can be machine-washed. It is like you are laying on a new mattress. Washing your mattress topper every 2 weeks will keep bed bugs away. Why so?
A bed bug lays one egg a day, its egg takes 10 days to hatch, and another 5-6 weeks to develop into a full adult bed bug. So, the life cycle of a bed bug is rather long, and washing your mattress every 2 weeks will be enough to protect you.
Not to mention that, if you use a mattress topper on a brand-new mattress, then right from the start, you can have peace of mind that your mattress will be protected from trapping dead skin cells and other unwanted elements. This means more protection for your mattress.
The Takeaway
Practically one-third of your life is spent in bed. That being said, you should make sure that your mattress does not cause health risks. Having a clean mattress and keeping it that way with a mattress topper is your best option.
