Dust mites are nasty.
Microscopic in size and in their millions, dust mites live in our homes and especially our bedding, eating organic detritus such as flakes of shed human skin.
They are the cause and aggravation of many allergies and breathing difficulties including asthma. Unfortunately, they can survive in all climates but thrive especially in warm moist environments. Common symptoms of dust mite allergies might include itchiness, watery and red eyes, sneezing – especially early in the morning, a runny or blocked nose and difficulty breathing.
In some people, especially children, these allergies can be severe and debilitating. Wool duvets and pillows cannot solve eradicate dust mites but they can help reduce their presence. There are two ways this can happen.
Firstly, the wool itself in a duvet or pillow is of little interest to a dust mite and so your Southdown bedding will help reduce (but obviously not eradicate) the presence of the little beasts.
In the second instance, because of the way wool breathes, the wool in the duvet or pillow stays drier than other fillings. The lower the humidity and therefore the less comfortable for dust mites, the less the chance of mildew and mould building up which deprives the dust mites of a potentially tasty meal.
Bear in mind, dust mites love the protein dust they find in feather and down duvets and pillows. While a down/feather duvet is lovely when new, they do not last and after a matter of a few years, the feathers and down deteriorate into this dust which dust mites find very attractive.
