Ever heard of memory foam mattresses? A lot of people are used to the traditional springy type of mattresses that unfortunately provide a breeding ground for dust mites and other kinds of allergens.

This is because the coil and springy ones have so much space in which mildew, dust, and mites can accumulate in. Memory foam mattresses are actually seen as a miracle type of mattress because of the comfort they provide and protection from allergens, which we will discuss in this article.

What Is Memory Foam Made Of?

Memory foam mattresses are usually very comfortable. They are made of a combination of polymer polyurethane and strong chemicals that give it that viscosity. It is these hardworking chemicals that give memory foam mattresses that soft feel and make them sink whenever you get on them.

When a memory foam mattress comes into contact with heat, it becomes softer and will usually transform itself into your body’s shape so that you feel comfortable and well supported. When you get up from it, it automatically returns to its original shape.

Other benefits of memory foam mattresses include that they:

  • Are suitable for different types of bodies and different weights
  • Have high density and as such, do not allow dust mites and other pests to penetrate through them
  • They are very long-lasting so when you buy one, you do not have to think of replacing it any time soon
  • They have movement absorption to ensure any movements from someone sleeping next to you do not cause disturbances

Common Types Of Memory Foam

There are four main types of memory foam. They include:

Air cool memory foam

Memory foam mattresses are usually made in such a way that they react to the temperature of your body. As such, they tend to produce a lot of heat as well which might feel uncomfortable.

However, air cool memory foam mattresses offer a great solution for that. They respond to your body’s heat faster and will then channel this heat or warmth out, preventing additional heat from making you uneasy while you sleep. With their technology, they also evenly distribute heat so that you sleep soundly through the night.

Gel-infused memory foam

As the name suggests, this is memory foam that is full of gel. There are two types of gel memory foam. One absorbs heat and the other has a phase-changing material. This phase-changing material regulates your body temperature while you sleep. It does so by absorbing the heat then releasing it.

In the event two people are sleeping on the same bed, the gel technology will usually stop any motion transfer. It provides great support because the kind of gel used is the same kind as that in sports equipment.

Gel-infused memory foam is very highly recommended for people who suffer from severe aches because of poor sleeping posture. It is very durable which often means you can get a better warranty for one.

Plant-based memory foam

While chemicals used in the manufacturing of memory foam are usually petroleum-based, plant-based memory foam incorporates the use of certain plant-based ingredients. The traditional memory foams sometimes have people complaining of heat retention, chemical-off gassing, excessive viscosity, and very slow response time.

As such, these plant-based ones were created to address these very same issues. They offer better breathability and do not have issues of heat retention. Aside from that, they are more environmentally friendly compared to the rest and relatively contain fewer chemicals.

Traditional memory foam

Traditional memory foam mattresses keep your body well cradled while you are sleeping. As such, your blood circulation is improved and you will get less stress on your body joints while you sleep. They are also anti-microbial meaning they provide you with a healthier sleeping environment.

Traditional memory foam is also helpful in motion transfer that is when you are sleeping next to a person who moves a lot. In such a case, the traditional memory foam will control this.

Are Memory Foam Mattresses Inhabitable For Dust Mites?

Memory foam is somehow safer when it comes to dust mites, which are often found in bedding. This is because the material is dense making it difficult for dust mites to thrive. The dust mites cannot get deep inside memory foam as easily as they usually do with the fluffier types of mattresses.

Therefore, memory foam mattresses are often advertised as dust-mite resistant, which is actually true. There aren’t enough openings between the polymer polyurethane for the mites to squeeze through.

A single mite measures around 0.3 mm (0.01″), which is way larger than the dense material that is used in producing memory foam mattress.

Dust Mites May Still Linger On The Surface

Despite being mite-resistant, nothing stops the tiny pests from gathering on the top of the mattress. This means you’ll still need to maintain a regular cleaning routine for the mattress and use a hypoallergenic mattress cover.

The covers make it difficult for the dust mites to penetrate because they are made from a tightly woven fabric. These covers are also machine-washable.

Washing your bedding thoroughly every week will also help kill the dust mites. Using hot water is best for eliminating them since they are quite resilient. Remember that dust mites may linger on the surface of the mattress or cover.

To keep dust mites at bay, it is recommended that you vacuum your memory foam mattress using a vacuum cleaner. Instead of regular vacuums, use UV vacuum cleaners that are specifically designed for mattresses.

You should also ensure the room is generally dust-free and have an ideal humidity of around 50%. Remember, dust mites thrive in an environment where the humidity is high (70%-90%). A dehumidifier comes in handy but you can also use an air conditioner for this.

You can go further and steam clean the carpets regularly because they are also a great breeding ground for dust mites.

Bottom Line

If you’re sneezing or coughing non-stop due to dust mites, sleeping on a memory foam mattress may reduce your symptoms. I’ve made it a priority to replace all spring and regular foam mattresses in my home with memory foam ones when my son was suffering from dust mites allergies.

Combined with other dust mites prevention methods, the symptoms eventually reduced.