So you thought you were the only one making the most of your luxurious mattress; the only one
that rolled on top of the soft and cozy surface, and the only one that ruled the mattress kingdom
during the night? Well, you might be in for a surprise. Although not easily visible, but there might
be other creatures lurking on your mattress and making it their home right under your nose. Bed
bugs are not the only pests that make their way on and inside your bed; there are a number of
others which can be just as detrimental for your health. The Sleep Doctor at Nest Bedding discusses
some of the most common pests and organisms that can make their way on to your mattress are as follows:
Pathogenic Organisms
Pathogen organisms are usually invisible to the naked eye but can be detected easily under a
microscope. These organisms can cause many diseases. Pathogen organisms most commonly
found on or inside a mattress include staphylococcus, micrococcus, pseudomonads and bacillus.
These organisms are usually considered harmless, but those suffering from certain conditions or
problems can undergo health problems due to them. For instance people with depressed
immune systems might have severe effects if micrococcus are present, or those with respiratory
illnesses or skin infections can get systematic infections and boils from staphylococcus. People
with specific allergies too might experience a reaction due to certain pathogenic organisms.
These organisms are particularly dangerous for newborns because the underdeveloped immune
system of babies is not strong enough to battle with bacteria.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are not only limited to mattresses but can also make their way in and on pillows, linen
and stuffed toys. Dust mites usually feed themselves on fallen hair and dead skin cells. You can
keep dust mites away by using a mattress cover and by regularly cleaning the area and changing
sheets every few days. Dust mites can cause lung problems among kids and the elderly and
exacerbate allergies.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are the most common and easily the most dangerous of creatures that reside on
mattresses. These creatures feed on blood and can make a home inside a mattress as well as
other small, dark spaces like cervices and cracks. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and can easily
be transported from one place to the other. So an unsuspecting traveler can easily bring these
creatures back home from a hotel or even a short visit to someone’s house. Bed bug bites
become apparent after a couple of hours or even days after the incident. These bites become
itchy and can even cause reactions like anaphylaxis among people with allergies. Bed bugs are a
serious problem, especially in homes with small kids. You might need to get your house
fumigated to get rid of the problem.
Ants
Wait, what? Yes, that is right. I have had customers with ant problems in their mattress! Ants can also creep into your bed and even make a home there. Although most ant species don’t bite, some mattresses can become infested with stinging ants. Bites of stinging ants, like the red fire ants, can be very itchy and painful. The best way to keep ants out of your bed is to avoid eating on your mattress and to keep the area clean at all times.
Keeping a removable, waterproof, breathable mattress protector on your mattress at all times can prevent these critters from joining you in bed. Remove and wash your protector as often as you wash your sheets. This will help you keep your mattress fresh and clean for a long time.