May is Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
Every May the asthma‑and‑allergy community rallies for Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month—a reminder that environmental control isn’t a luxury; it’s a frontline health defense. Spring pollen counts are soaring, indoor humidity is creeping up, and emergency‑room visits for nocturnal asthma spikes are at their yearly high.
Because 90 % of an average night is spent in the bedroom, that space becomes either a recovery zone or a trigger trap. Below you’ll find a five‑part, research‑backed plan that turns your room into the sanctuary your lungs crave—using real CLEAN DESIGN HOME® products and Robin’s Rule of 3s for Pillows:
Change your pillowcase every 3 days, wash your pillow every 3 months, replace your pillow every 3 years.
1 · Seal the Bed — The Invisible Battlefield
Microscopic dust‑mite waste is the single most common nocturnal trigger for asthma flares and allergy congestion. Mattresses and pillows host millions of mites because warmth + humidity + shed skin create perfect breeding grounds.
Before you Encase the Bed, try this. Vacuum the mattress seams with a HEPA vacuum, zip the encasement closed, make the bed, and sleep in a zone essentially quarantined from mite debris.
CLEAN DESIGN HOME®is the Fix. Slip your mattress, foundation, and pillows into our allergen‑barrier protectors. They’re tightly woven to create a micro‑barrier that blocks allergens larger than 5 microns, yet they breathe like high‑thread‑count luxury cotton. A hidden Z‑bond flap snaps shut over the zipper track—no escape routes for particles.
2. Curate Fabrics Like You Curate Skincare
Bedding lives against four million skin pores for eight hours straight; the weave you choose becomes its micro‑climate.
- Patented tightly woven CLEAN DESIGN HOME® sheets – Breathable, tolerates 130 °F washes, blocks particles > 5 µm; STANDARD 100 by OEKO‑TEX® certified.
- Tencel™ / Lyocell – Wicks moisture 70 % faster than cotton, starving mites of humidity.
- Cotton Percale CLEAN DESIGN HOME® sheets – Cool touch, perfect for eczema‑prone sleepers.
- Silk pillowcases – Naturally dust‑mite‑resistant; gentle on skin and hair.
- High‑density polyfill in CLEAN DESIGN HOME® down‑alt comforter – Hypoallergenic loft, OEKO‑TEX® Standard 100 certified, feather‑free.
Tonight’s Move If you make one change this month, start with new pillowcases—closest to your airway and easiest to launder hot.
3 · Wash & Repeat — Heat Is Mite Kryptonite
Laboratory studies confirm that mites and most microbes die at ≥130 °F (54 °C). Fragrances and enzymes in mainstream detergents can undo that victory by irritating sensitive lungs and skin.
- Sheets & cases — every week in hot water, high‑heat dry.
- Blankets — hot wash monthly or swap seasonally.
- Pillows — every three months (or follow care tag) to align with the Rule of 3s.
- Detergent tip — pick unscented, enzyme‑free formulas; echo the plant‑based, low‑aroma ethos of CDH’s all‑purpose cleaner.
Set a Sunday‑morning phone alert labelled “Wash Away the Week.” Automation is your accountability partner.
Not-So Fun Fact
A used pillow can gain 10 % of its weight in dust‑mite debris within two years—that’s roughly a shot glass of allergen resting under your cheek. (Still feeling brave about skipping laundry day?)
4 · Detox Floors, Windows & Decor
Every surface you can wipe is a surface dust can’t own.
- Flooring – Replace wall‑to‑wall carpet with hardwood, tile, or luxury vinyl. Add a low‑pile washable rug for warmth; wash it monthly.
- Window Treatments – Roller shades or washable cotton curtains beat heavy drapes that trap pollen and pet dander.
- Furniture – Wood, metal, or faux‑leather cleans fast; upholstered headboards collect allergens.
- Declutter – Limit nightstand décor to a lamp and closed‑lid carafe. Store plush toys or extra throw pillows in breathable bins.
Evening Sweep (five minutes)
- Damp microfiber cloth across phone, nightstand, lampshade
- Quick cordless‑vac pass around bed
- Close hamper lid to trap lint
Habits like this turn Asthma Awareness Month into Asthma Awareness Forever.
5 · Breathe the Good Air
Humidity Is Destiny
Dust‑mite colonies collapse when relative humidity (RH) stays below 50 %. A digital hygrometer costs less than a café lunch and tells you when to power a dehumidifier or run springtime AC.
HEPA Filtration Is Insurance
Look for a CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly room purifier that recirculates your bedroom air 4–5 times per hour, trapping particles down to 0.3 µm. Park it within three feet of the bed; let the low setting run all night.
Scent Strategy
Skip paraffin candles and plug‑ins—VOCs are the enemy of inflamed airways. If you crave aroma, add a drop of therapeutic‑grade lavender oil to a tissue tucked in the pillowcase.
Real‑Life Relief
“Seven nights. That’s all it took: encasements on, humidity at forty‑seven percent, purifier humming. No wheeze, no 2 a.m. panic.” — Jill G., Dallas (April 2024)
Before Bedtime Quick Clean!
- Turn Air Purifier on turbo for ten minutes, then low for rest of night
- Wipe down high‑touch surfaces
- Quick sweep for dust bunnies
- Confirm relative humidity is less than 50 % with a dehumidifier
Tape this list inside your closet door as practice becomes a regular cleaning ritual in two weeks.
Celebrate Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month with a Healthier Bed
May is the perfect moment to elevate pillow care to a ritual and invest in true allergen‑barrier bedding. Start with the CLEAN DESIGN HOME® Mattress & Pillow Protector Set, layer on OEKO‑TEX® Standard 100 cotton sheets, and top it with our down‑alternative comforter. Then breathe—it’s not just spring air; it’s relief.
Sleep tight. Breathe easy. Welcome home.
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