Sleep soundly on summer nights – free from dust mites!

Whether you already live with a house dust mite allergy or simply want to reduce the risk of allergies developing in the youngest members of your family, fibre duvets and pillows are the best choice. Without animal‑based materials, Nordic Sleep pillows and duvets are especially easy to keep clean and dry – an environment that dust mites strongly dislike. And during the warm summer months, it’s particularly important to keep an eye on the indoor climate of your bedroom.

Contrary to what many of us believe, summer is actually the peak season for house dust mites. These tiny creatures thrive in warm, humid conditions – exactly the climate many bedrooms have in summer. That’s why it’s especially important during the warmer months to pay attention to the environment in your bedroom and bed if you want to avoid sharing your duvet with dust mites that can trigger lifelong allergies.

It’s a common misconception that dust is the main issue. In reality, humidity is the key factor when it comes to controlling house dust mites.

At Nordic Sleep, we’re experts in keeping dust mites at bay – which is one of the reasons we love working with fibre fillings in our duvets and pillows. Fibre doesn’t just ensure excellent airflow while you sleep; it also naturally creates conditions that make it difficult for dust mites to survive.

Below, we share our very best advice on keeping your bedroom and bed free from these unwanted guests.

Control the indoor climate

Indoor humidity levels play a decisive role in how quickly house dust mites multiply. If you want to reduce their numbers, managing the indoor climate is essential.
Dust mites thrive at room temperatures between 17–32°C and a relative humidity of 55–75%. They absorb moisture through their skin, so when humidity levels drop, they dry out and die. In other words, the worst environment for dust mites is a warm but dry room.
If you can keep relative humidity below 45%, you’ll significantly reduce the number of dust mites – and help prevent allergy symptoms. In Denmark and much of Northern Europe, this is relatively easy in winter, as airing out the room and heating it afterwards is usually sufficient. In summer, however, it’s more challenging, as outdoor humidity levels often sit between 60–80%.

Reduce indoor humidity by:

• drying laundry outdoors or using a tumble dryer
• keeping lids on pots while cooking
• using an cooker hood and opening windows when cooking or cleaning
  

• keeping the bathroom door closed while showering, and ventilating thoroughly afterwards

Keep your bed clean and dry

If talk of humidity levels and percentages is taking the joy out of summer, there’s good news: there’s a much simpler way to combat dust mites – washing and drying.
Dust mites cannot survive temperatures above 55°C, which is why duvets, pillows and bed linen should be washable at 60°C and dried completely. Even a small amount of residual moisture creates ideal conditions for mites.
This is where fibre duvets and pillows truly stand out. Down products often require hours of tumble drying, which is both energy‑intensive and makes it difficult to know whether all moisture has been removed. Nordic Sleep duvets and pillows are filled with fibres that feel like down, can be easily fluffed back into shape, and – crucially – can be washed at home and air‑dried or tumble dried with ease.
Simply use a gentle drying programme. There’s no need for dryer balls or repeated shaking during the process.

5 simple tips to reduce dust mites

1. Wait before making the bed so moisture from the night can evaporate – and remember to open the window.

2. Choose a mattress on legs or a slatted base, allowing air to circulate and moisture to escape.

3. Furnish bedrooms with easy‑to‑clean surfaces: hard floors, space between furniture, and storage in wardrobes, drawers or boxes with lids.

4. If you want rugs on the floor, choose versions that can be washed at 60°C.

5. Do your children love soft toys? Only choose toys that can be washed at 60°C, and wash them regularly.

Explore our full range of allergy‑friendly duvets here