This post is a part of the complete polyester pillow buyers guide
A good pillow is essential for good sleep hygiene, but for many of us, it can take years of searching before we find the perfect pillow for our needs.
It’s difficult to know where to begin when there are so many different types of pillows available. Bamboo pillows, a relatively new addition to the pillow community, are becoming increasingly popular due to the softness, eco-friendliness, and moldability of the material when compared to other traditional pillow materials.
Unlike traditional foam pillows, bamboo pillows have an outer cover made of bamboo, rather than cotton. The inside pillow filling can be made from any type of bedding material that you prefer.
Given that bamboo is considered a sustainable material, you’ll often find bamboo pillows that are filled with materials that are both environmentally friendly and comfortable to sleep on.
Many people, however, are concerned about whether bamboo pillows will attract bugs and dust mites, which is a legitimate concern.
Let’s find out the answers to these questions in the body of this article.
Do Bamboo Pillows Attract Bugs?
While most pillows are not entirely resistant to bugs and are likely to attract them over time, bamboo pillows are better in some regard. Bugs are known to have a parasitic relationship with humans and are mostly found in chairs, beddings, and pillows.
Hence, everyone is looking to reduce the chances of getting the best available pillow and bedding possible. Well, the bamboo pillow might just be a great choice if you’re concerned about attracting bugs.
Bamboo is unique in that it contains a substance known as bamboo-kun, which is not found in any other plant. With the help of this antimicrobial agent, bamboo develops a natural resistance to insect and fungus infestation. Hence, over time bamboo pillows have been described as having hypoallergenic properties.
In addition to having anti-insect and hypoallergenic properties, bamboo has a pleasant fragrance and can be used to repel bed bugs and insects.
For this reason, bamboo bedding is an excellent choice of bedding for babies, infants, children, and the elderly because it is extremely comfortable to sleep on.
The longevity of bamboo bedding and the ease with which it can be maintained are two of its greatest advantages.
Do Bamboo Pillows Attract Dust Mites?
Dust mites are the two most common allergen carriers found in residential areas. They are microscopic creatures, measuring approximately 0.3mm in length when fully grown.
Because bamboo is more resistant to microorganisms compared to many other fabrics, it is expected that dust mites will be unable to establish a home on a bamboo pillow.
They are not completely impervious to them, on the other hand. Dust mites are more attracted to your pillow if the room you sleep in is dusty – and some very closed-off rooms attract more dust even when they are cleaned regularly – and you may need to be a little more proactive to keep them at bay.
Instances Where Your Bamboo Pillow May Attract Bugs and Mites
As we have discussed already, bamboo pillows do not attract bugs and mites nearly as much as other materials. However, we cannot entirely displace the possibility of dust mites or bugs getting into bamboo pillows.
The situations where this can happen are rare and I believe discussing them would keep you on your toes to prevent them.
Well, let’s find out what these particular situations are below:
Poor Pillow Filling
While most bamboo pillow users think it is made of purely bamboo, this is not the case. In most cases, only the pillow cover which is processed with Rayon is made with bamboo. Bamboo pillows are usually filled with memory foam which is one of the most comfortable filling materials for pillows.
The majority of bamboo pillows are filled with solid or shredded memory foam, and only a few are filled with bamboo fibers or other natural materials.
Bamboo fibers provide the greatest amount of breathability and moldability, though shredded memory foam is also breathable and adaptable in its way. Solid memory foam provides firmness and support, but it is less moldable than liquid memory foam.
Any Bamboo pillow without quality shredded memory foam filling or bamboo fiber will most likely become a haven for bugs and dust mites.
Bad Management and Care for Your Bamboo Pillow
The importance of good management and care for your pillow cannot be overemphasized. Asides from keeping you safe from disease-causing germs, a well-maintained pillow also repels pests like bugs and mites that can make you uncomfortable.
Even if the bamboo pillow has so many qualities that make it less likely to attract dust mites and bugs, bad care and management can make your pillow defenseless to these pests.
Poor Room Hygiene
While you might think this is vague, your surrounding environment matters too. Bugs and Dust mites do not teleport or suddenly appear in your pillow. In most cases, they need an unclean environment to thrive and reproduce.
Hence, one of the ways you can make bamboo pillows attract dust mites or bugs is by keeping your room and surroundings unclean.
Important Steps to Keep Bugs and Dust Mites Out of Your Bamboo Pillow
Since it has already been stated that bamboo pillows are not completely impervious to bugs and dust mites, we should look into ways to prevent such an infestation.
If you want to ensure that your bamboo pillow is as bug, insect, and dust mite-free as possible, the following suggestions can help.
Always Buy Quality Bamboo Pillows
Generally speaking, if you discover bugs in your bamboo pillow, this indicates that you purchased a low-quality pillow made from improperly produced shredded memory foam or bamboo fiber.
Check to see that the bamboo pillows you’re considering are of high quality and come from a reputable retailer before you make a purchase, regardless of whether you shop online or in person. Avoid selecting the cheapest option solely for the sake of saving money; instead, select the best option available for your well-being.
Make sure the store you’re thinking about purchasing from has a good reputation by reading customer reviews and testimonials before you make a purchase.
You should also look into the materials that were used to create the buckwheat pillows that were sold at the store. Extremely high-quality Fillings such as shredded memory foam or bamboo fiber are essential in this situation!
Observe Proper Hygiene
Washing and drying pillows in temperatures above 130°F (54.4°C) for 15 minutes is the best way to get rid of dust mites. To clean your bamboo pillow, here are the steps:
- Add some lukewarm or warm water (90-110 degrees F) and about 3 tablespoons of your mildest, most gentle detergent to a closed sink or basket and mix thoroughly.
- After that, add the pillows and begin squeezing the water and detergent into them. For a few minutes, keep doing this until the entire pillow has been submerged in water and detergent.
- Rinse the pillow after it has had time to soak up the detergent. Use only fresh, warm water for this step. Disinfect the pillow by rinsing it thoroughly until no more detergent is visible. The memory foam filling could be damaged if you don’t thoroughly rinse the pillow.
- After that, you can either use hangers or a rack to dry the bamboo pillow. The memory foam filling in the pillow can be damaged if it is left out in the sun for too long.
Control Humidity
Dust mites have a limited lifespan. They thrive in warm, humid environments. They die if the temperature drops below 30°F. The effect is the same at 130°F (54.4°C). They’re frozen or fried.
Water scarcity also reduces their population. Dust mites are more likely to infest Florida homes than Arizona homes. If your home’s humidity level is too high, consider a dehumidifier. Someone says static electricity means your home is mite-free.
Buy Adjustable Bamboo Pillows
Getting an adjustable bamboo pillow aids maintenance greatly. You get to change the shredded memory foam or bamboo fiber filling before they get pest infested. Moreover, you can easily wash and sundry when necessary.
Conclusion
We’ve learned a lot about whether bamboo pillows attract bugs and mites. The key takeaway is that bamboo pillow qualities reduce the chances.
However, there are lots of maintenance and preventive measures that help reduce the likelihood of bugs and dust mites. Hence, bamboo pillows are not 100% immune to bugs and dust mites but can be maintained effectively to prevent bugs and dust mites.
Bamboo Pillows: A Complete Buyers Guide – Parts:
1. Why Use a Bamboo Pillow? The Benefits & Drawbacks
2. How Long Do Bamboo Pillows Last? (How to Make Them Last Longer)
3. How to Sleep on a Bamboo Pillow: Guide and Tips
4. Why do Bamboo Pillows Smell? And How to Get Rid of it
5. How to Clean and Dry a Bamboo Pillow: Step by Step Guide
6. Do Bamboo Pillows Attract Bugs And Dust Mites?
7. Will a Bamboo Pillow Make You Sleep Hot or Cool?
8. Are Bamboo Pillows Good For Skin and Hair?
