How old is your pillow? The one you’re laying your head down on every night as you drift off to sleep?
I’m asking because I’ve been listening to the Bill Bryson book At Home: A Short History of Private Life and came across something I think you should know.
Actually, the whole book is full of fascinating tidbits.
I’m learning so much about everyday common things in our home {how they got their name, how they were invented etc.} that I am literally having to hit the pause button so I can tell the HH something like every 3 minutes.
It’s crazy!!!
Anyway, back to the pillow. How old is your pillow? Do you remember when you bought it?
Well let’s just say, it might be time for a new one. Read this:
“Your pillow alone may be home to 40 million bed mites. (To them your head is just one large oily bon-bon).
And don’t think a clean pillow-case will make a difference… Indeed, if your pillow is six years old–which is apparently about the average age for a pillow–it has been estimated that one-tenth of its weight will be made up of sloughed skin, living mites, dead mites and mite dung.”
Imagine that!
10% of your pillow’s weight is bonafide COOTIES!!!! OH MY WORD!
Maybe it’s time for a new pillow? Ya. I think it might be. 🙂
That’s it. That’s all I’ve got for today.
Carry on.
~Mavis
P.S. We buy new pillows about every 18 months {sooner, if one of us has been sick}. I’ve always thought it was a little wasteful, but after reading about the cooties, I don’t feel so bad anymore. How about YOU? How old are the pillows you’re sleeping on?
Jess says
I believe this 1000%! Makes me want to replace every single one in the house.. again!
Brianna says
I replace all of the pillows about once a year. I take a sharpie and write the date I buy them on the tag so I know. It is not a cheap endeavor with 3 kids, but we are an allergy family and it is important. I probably spend $400 each time for about 12 pillows, 2 per person and a few others. If we have houseguests, I always buy pillows before they show and throw them after they leave. If we travel and take a pillow, it gets tossed when we get home.
Dawn says
Dating them is a great idea. Thanks!
Lana says
Get dust mite encasements to protect you! We write the date on the tag when we get new ones so we know exactly how old they are and replace them every year.
Jen F. says
I’m curious if the dust mites et al are able to be successfully removed by washing? I bought My Pillows after sleeping on them at an airbnb. They are easily washed, one of the things I love about them. I have never had a pillow before that I could successfully wash and use again. Will be looking into finding this book, Mavis. Thanks for the recommendation.
eliz says
The internet says dust mites need 50% humidity to survive.
Guess we’re okay here in sw MT then.
Dawn says
Hmmm, mine are just about 18 months old. I do wash them once a month and use a dust mite proof cover. I also sleep in a hair bonnet so I wonder if that helps. Of course, it won’t do much about the skin cells that come off my face. I am so picky about my pillows that when I finally find one I love I have a hard time letting it go but now I’m feeling a bit ick about them.
Peg says
This grosses me out! What pillows does everyone buy and where? No Costco here so that’s not an option.