Mattress FAQ

Q. How often should a mattress be cleaned? 
A. Dust mites thrive on the skin flakes we shed every night. The recommended service interval is once every year unless you suffer from severe allergies, then more often.

Q. Why can't I just vacuum my own mattress?  
A. Traditional household vacuums do not have the power to remove the highly resilient dust mites and other harmful debris that are deeply embedded in the mattress. And, they do not utilize the all important sanitizing properties of Microban®, the key to effective sanitizing.

Q. How long does the cleaning process take?   
A. It depends on the size of mattress, but between 15-20 minutes for a single mattress and about 30 minutes for a double mattress. Queen and King Mattresses can take up to an hour. If the mattress has experienced urine damage, it will probably need to be removed and treated at the facility. Such urine damage restoration can take a few days to complete. 

Q. How long after you've finished do we have to wait before we can make the bed and go to sleep?  
A. You only need to wait for the Microban® we mist the bed and the cleaning solutions we use to evaporate off. So about 1-2 hours. You can then make the bed and go straight to sleep. You don't even need to air the room unless you want to.

Q. Is there any mess after you finish?  
A. No. We make no mess and leave the room exactly how we found it. All you will have to do is to make the bed when we leave.

Q. Can mattress cleaning cure my allergy?  
A. No, it doesn't offer any cure, but it will help to reduce the severity and frequency of allergies. Many of our customers have found that their particular allergy disappears altogether and in the case of asthmatics, about 85% of sufferers are allergic to House Dust Mite droppings, so the chances of us helping an asthma sufferer is very high.

Q. Can an old mattress be cleaned effectively? 
A. Yes, most definitely. Mattresses that are old will have much higher levels of dust mites and droppings, dead skin, fungal spores, bacteria and germs. This will also apply to hand-me-down ones as well. Our process is extremely effective and will make them clean and fresh again.

Q. Do protective mattress covers work?  
A. There has been studies that show them not to work effectively. Also, from our experience, whenever we have cleaned a mattress with a protective cover, the mattress has always tested positive for contamination. However, if you have got them already or you are intending to buy some, then only use them on a brand new mattress or one that has just been cleaned and sanitized by us. If you don't, all you are doing is incubating the mold, bacteria and fungus that is already present.

Q. Is there a dust mite season, as with pollen or molds?  Are the summer months tougher on people with dust mite allergies because of the higher humidity?
A. The dust mite season is actually quite erratic. It may be higher in the summer in many climates because of the warmth and higher humidity. But people who are sensitive to dust mites often will have symptoms all year-round. And in the winter time, when people spend more time indoors and keep windows and doors closed, dust mite particles are often still in the house, and they still can be a problem.

Q. Can exposure to dust mites actually cause the sensitivity, or are you just born allergic to dust mites?  
A. The main area of concern is in very young children growing up in environments where there's high dust mite exposure - or other types of allergen exposure. There is some evidence that if an infant or a young child grows up where there's a high exposure to sensitizing substances, he or she will be more likely to develop allergy problems, asthma or both.

Trust Ecosteam to rid your home of this unseen enemy...the dust mite...our experienced team gets the job done right the first time!

Related Articles

• The New England Journal of Medicine
   Results of a Home-Based Environmental Intervention among Urban Children with Asthma
• Evaluation of Impermeable Covers for Bedding in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
  First National Survey Shows Americans' Bedding Can Make Them Sick; Allergens the Culprit
• National Survey Examines Factors Related to High Levels of Dust Mite and Cockroach Allergen in Beds

Useful Web Products and Information Links

• Environmental Protection Agency
• National Asthma Education Program
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Office of Communications
• Food and Drug Administration
• MEDLINEplus
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• ABC News Health Living Section
• CNN News Health Section
• American Lung Association American Thoracic Society
• Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America
• Mayo Clinic Allergy and Asthma Center
• MSNBC News Health Section
• CBS News Health Watch

You can see after reviewing this material, doing your own research and reading some of the answers to some of the most asked questions, concerning the proper mattress sanitizing.

Let ECOSTEAM help you with your mattress care.

Call 1-800-771-1183.