Although your furry friends may or may not sleep in the bed with you, pet dander and hair always seem to creep into our living spaces. Bedding is no different! I have two dogs and I have dog hair in my brand-new car that they have never been in. How does that even happen? Below I have compiled a list of fantastic bedding products that I use to help to combat my pet dander sneezes and to repel allergies in general. This is a complete must-haves list of bedding for every pet owner.
Mattress Protection
Keeping your mattress protected and covered is one of the best ways to fight off pet dander and dust mites. I personally love the covers that zip up around your mattress as it ensures that you are protecting the mattress 100%. The SureGuard Mattress Encasement is a great option as it is also 100% waterproof for those nights you may have a glass of wine in bed. It is also bedbug proof and hypoallergenic. They have multiple options for various mattress depths, so you can make sure you get the right fit for you. The top of the cover is made from 100% cotton terry which is nice as they are not as loud and crunchy as other full microfiber alternatives. The rest is polyester, which is okay because you are going to cover it with your sheets.
SureGuard Mattress Encasement
$49.97 • SIZE: QUEEN • AMAZON
Pillowcases
The same company that made the mattress protector also makes great matching pillow protectors. A lot of people don’t think about it, but where you lay your head down should be protected just as much (if not more) than anything else on the bed. What I love about these covers is they are 100% slobber-proof… I meant waterproof. They are bed bug proof (because ew) and hypoallergenic. They are also cotton, so you don’t have the loud noise and crunchiness you find with microfiber/polyester alternatives. You will be covering this case up with your nice pillowcases as well so although it is not the softest thing you will ever touch, you don’t have to worry because your pillowcase is. These pillow protectors, just like the mattress protectors, zip 100% up, so the pillow is fully protected.
Set of 2 SureGuard Pillow Protectors
$27.97 • SIZE: STANDARD • AMAZON
Comforter / Duvet Insert
My favorite duvet insert of all time has been the Claritin Ultimate Allergen Comforter. Although I bought hoping it would help protect me against late night sneeze fests, I actually was pleasantly surprised with the quality and the weight of this comforter. Claritin does offer an alternative that is white goose down which many in the textile world would claim is superior. However, I have been pricked with one too many dang goose feathers to be a fan. I am perfectly happy with down alternative, especially in this duvet insert. I will warn you, in the winter this comforter is a godsend, in the summer…. you will want to burn it. It is sooo heavy and hot. I typically transition to just a duvet with no insert in the summer or a nice coverlet or blanket. But you are not here to listen to all of that, let’s talk about how this thing repels pet dander like a beast. This product has a hypo-allergenic fill that allows for air to pass through while repelling the stuff you do not want in your comforters, such as pet dander and dust mites.
Claritin Ultimate Allergen Embossed Stripe Comforter
$179.99 (ON SALE!) • SIZE: FULL / QUEEN • BED BATH & BEYOND
Pillows
If you are not one to want to cover your pillow with the pillow protector, you can just get a hypoallergenic pillow. The Claritin line of products also offers a matching Ultimate Allergen Barrier Pillow that has the same level of protection as the comforter listed above. They have various options that have different levels of fill based on how you sleep. There is an option for side sleepers and back/stomach sleepers. As mentioned above, they also have a white goose down alternative.
Claritin Ultimate Allergen Down Alternative Pillow for Side Sleepers
$49.99 • SIZE: STANDARD / QUEEN • BED BATH & BEYOND
Claritin Ultimate Allergen Down ALT. Pillow for Back/Stomach Sleepers
$39.99 • SIZE: STANDARD / QUEEN • BED BATH & BEYOND
Allergen Remover
Now I know this is not a bedding item, but it is too important to not list. I have a couple of these throughout my house and they are a lifesaver when it comes to all of the pet dander and hair. This device has four cleaning levels depending on what you are needing: Germ, General Clean, Allergen, and Turbo. I personally always leave mine on allergen because I sneeze like a crazy person otherwise. The machine filters and circulates the room’s air five times an hour which I find magical. It does have a bit of a noise to it, it is not 100% silent but once you leave it on for a bit you forget its even there. It’s like having a fan running. If the noise bothers you, a great tip is to have it run a couple of hours before you are going to bed to clear up the room before you are ready to lay down. The filter in this device continuously captures 99.97% of particles that pass through it when it is running leaving your house allergy free. The model listed below is ideal for medium sized rooms around 150 square feet, which is perfect for most bedrooms. For larger rooms, Honeywell does offer a larger model like this one.
Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover
$117.99 • SIZE: 155 SQ. FEET • AMAZON
Summary
Although we love our pets, we really do not love the pet dander that comes with them. If you use the products mentioned here you will help your nose be much happier while you also combat a lot of allergies that come along with all the other types of dander, in addition to pet dander, that occur in the home.
I love my dog as much as I love you
But you may fade, my dog will always come through.
