Why Use a Pillow Protector?

Chances are, you wash pillow cases and sheets every week. The fresh smell of clean linens fosters a feeling of confidence. Unless pillow protectors are being used, however, pillows are potentially host to pet dander, dust mites, bed bugs, saliva, oil and perspiration.

The benefits of using a pillow protector are many, and in many cases include keeping these unsavory substances out of pillows. Pillow protectors are an easy way to keep pillows cleaner. Although the effectiveness of pillow protectors varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, many of them do not allow dust mites, pet dander and other allergens to pass through to the pillow.

Using a pillow protector on the bed pillows at all times is an especially good idea if users suffer from asthma or allergies. Many pillow protectors help alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms by preventing triggers from infesting bed pillows, allowing users to sleep better and breathe easier at night. While it is believed that bed bugs are attracted to human warmth rather than dust or dander, bed bugs tend to infest beds and pillows to gain easy access to humans each night.

Because pillows are thick and fluffy and in a convenient location, they make excellent hosts for a bed bug infestation. Using special bed bug-proof pillow covers prevents the bugs from gaining access to pillows. While pillow protectors are keeping pillows cleaner and helping users breathe easier, they are also prolonging the life of the pillow.

A pillow that is full of allergens, pet dander and dust mites needs to be thrown out, but a pillow that stays clean is able to be used for a longer period of time. Some smart travelers bring pillow protectors along when traveling, placing the protectors on hotel pillows for peace of mind. While a hotel's pillows and pillow cases are sometimes not perfectly clean, travelers who bring pillow protectors are certain that at least the pillow protector is clean and freshly laundered.