How to Care For Your New Dust Mite Covers

We often hear from customers who need a refresher on washing their dust mite covers. Because the covers don't need frequent washing, it's easy to forget what to do between washes. The good news: they're very easy to care for.

The First Wash — Do You Even Need One?

A common question we get is: "Do I need to wash the cover before I put it on the bed?"

The answer is no — it is not necessary. There are no dust mites in your new cover. We do not treat any of our fabrics with chemicals or antimicrobial coatings, so there is nothing to wash out before use.

Important: If you do decide to wash before use, make sure you have ordered the correct size first. We cannot accept an exchange or return of an item that has been washed — even if it has never been slept on. A washed cover is considered used.

If you do wash before first use, follow these steps:

Top-Loading Machine

1. Open the lid and start filling with water
2. Wash in warm or cold water
3. When the water is half full, add your detergent
4. When the detergent is dissolved, add your zippered cover with the zipper open
5. Do not overcrowd the machine

Front-Loading Machine

1. Make sure the zipper is open before placing in the machine
2. Do not overcrowd the machine
3. Wash in warm or cold water
4. Follow your manufacturer's instructions for load size

Once washed, move to the dryer and tumble dry on low or medium. We do not recommend line-drying zippered mattress covers.

Subsequent Washings

After the first wash, the goal changes slightly — you want to clean the fabric and remove any allergens that have accumulated on the surface of the cover.

Before washing:

• Remove the cover from the mattress, pillow, or duvet
• Open the zipper fully
• If the cover is a microweave fabric (AllergyCare™ Cotton or Organic Cotton) — turn the cover inside out before washing
• If the cover is an AllergyCare™ Stretch Knit membrane cover — do not turn inside out, but keep the zipper fully open
• Do not use chlorine bleach

We recommend adding a laundry additive to your regular detergent. This lets you wash in cold or warm water and still remove dust mites and their allergens — no hot water needed. Washing in cooler water also significantly prolongs the life of your cover.

You may have heard that bedding has to be washed in very hot water to kill dust mites. It doesn't. The allergy practice parameter from the AAAAI and ACAAI notes that high temperature isn't necessary, since most mites die by drowning in the wash, and it recommends keeping home hot water no hotter than 120°F to avoid scalding. A good laundry additive removes the allergen at cold or warm temperatures, without the extra wear on your cover.

Shop all allergy laundry products →

After washing, tumble dry on low or medium. Do not put the cover back on the bed until it is completely dry — trapped moisture creates exactly the warm, humid conditions dust mites need to thrive.

How Often Should You Wash Your Covers?

The simple answer: wash them when they get dirty — which is less often than you might think.

If you are washing your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets every 7 days (which you should be, in warm water no hotter than 120°F with De-Mite or Allergen Wash), your dust mite covers will only need washing a few times a year. Here is the schedule we recommend:

• Mattress and featherbed covers — wash when you rotate or deep clean the mattress, typically twice a year
• Duvet covers — wash with the change of seasons, approximately four times a year
• Pillow covers — wash every 4 to 6 weeks

With proper care, your dust mite covers will give you years of protection.

Need Covers for the Rest of the Bed?

If you are washing your mattress cover for the first time, it is a good time to consider full protection. A mattress cover alone leaves your pillows and box spring exposed — and an uncovered pillow is an allergen source inches from your face all night.

If you have more questions, don't hesitate to give us a call at (800) 771-2246.

Wishing you the best of health,
Cheryl

Want the complete picture? Everything on this page is part of our free Practical Guide to Allergy-Free Living, built on allergy expertise we've been sharing since 1989 and covering dust mites, pet dander, air quality, laundry, and more. Start at the beginning or jump to the section that matters most to you.

Sources
AAAAI and ACAAI — Environmental Assessment and Exposure Control of Dust Mites: A Practice Parameter: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5156485/

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider — such as an allergist or your primary care physician — before making changes to your allergy management plan, starting new treatments, or if you have questions about a medical condition. In the event of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately and use an epinephrine auto-injector if one has been prescribed.