Dust Mites, the Trouble-Maker Sleeping Beside You
What the dust mite really is, why its droppings are the number-one allergy trigger, and how to clear them out of your bed for good.
Read more →Does Anti-Dust-Mite Fabric Really Work? The Research
A study tested 53 anti-dust-mite bedding covers from around the world. Here's which fabrics actually block dust mites — and what makes a good anti-mite fabric.
“Does anti-dust-mite fabric really block mites, or is it just marketing?” It’s the most common question we hear. This article sums up the answer from research that tested it systematically.
What the study tested
The research gathered 53 brands of bedding covers claiming to be mite-proof, from several countries, and tested their performance against four key criteria:
- Ability to block mites and allergens
- Air permeability
- Dust prevention
- Thread count per square inch
The results
- Plastic and tightly-woven fabrics blocked more than 99% of dust mites.
- Film-coated, mixed-type, and acaricidal-coated non-woven fabrics blocked allergens, but mites could still partly pass through.
- Ordinary cotton bed sheets could not block mites or allergens at all.
Not every fabric works. The key lies in a weave tight enough to block both the mites and their droppings.
What makes a good anti-dust-mite fabric
From the results, an effective bedding cover should meet the following standard:
| Criterion | Standard |
|---|---|
| Blocking dust-mite allergens | more than 99% |
| Dust prevention | less than 4% |
| Air permeability | 2–6 cm³/sec/cm² |
| Thread count per square inch | 246 or more |
| Fabric pore size | 2–10 micrometres |
These standards confirm that good anti-dust-mite fabric is woven tightly from fine threads, with pores small enough to block mite droppings while still letting air through — not just any material treated with a chemical coating.
Source: Mahakittikun, V., Boitano, J.J., Komoltri, C., Ninsanit, P. and Wangapai, T., 2009. Anti-mite covers: Potential criteria for materials used against dust mites. Textile Research Journal, 79(5), pp.436–443.