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 really 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!
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.