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Incontinence

Adult Incontinence

If you or a loved one is experiencing nocturnal incontinence, it can be extremely embarrassing and difficult to deal with. While some people use protective undergarments, others choose not to wear such garments. Regardless, if you or someone you know is experiencing incontinence, it is important that your mattress is protected.

To protect your mattress, shop for a full mattress protector, such as a cover, mattress pad, or encasement. When selecting a product, keep in mind:

• Easy of Cleaning – Vinyl covers are wiped clean with soap and water, urethane covers and mattress pads are machine washed and dried. Most mattress pads take several cycles to dry thoroughly.
• Frequency of Changing – Fitted covers are put on the mattress like a fitted sheet while encasements zip around the entire mattress and may require assistance to get in place.
• Comfort – Urethane covers are breathable, and thus the most comfortable. Vinyl is more economical, but it does not breathe and retains heat.

For frequent incontinence, you may want to invest in some mattress overlay pads (underpads). These small pads lie on top of the sheets and are easy to clean and replace. They protect not only the bed but the bottom sheet.

For more information on adult incontinence, visit National Incontinence.

Childhood Bedwetting

An estimated 5 to 7 million children over five (school-age) suffer from enuresis or bedwetting. While the exact cause of bedwetting is unknown, there are treatments and solutions to help your child deal with this embarrassing and unpleasant issue. Some treatment options include bedwetting alarms or medication. While these treatments can be effective, some parents or children are apprehensive to begin treatment, yet still need solutions to deal with problems as they occur. We offer many bedwetting solutions for you and your child.

A common temporary method for dealing with bedwetting is using disposable pants such as pull-ups or diapers. Because they are disposable, the amount of laundry is decreased and the child, sheets, and clothes are kept dry. Absorbency can be a problem for older kids. The cost of more than $400 per year can be a burden for many families.

Another common solution is vinyl waterproof covers. These economical covers protect the mattress with a layer of vinyl that prevents urine absorption. These vinyl covers protect the mattress and are easy to clean.

Another solution is a waterproof mattress pad. It fits over the mattress like a traditional mattress pad, but a layer of vinyl is sandwiched between layers of absorbent material. This solution helps prevent mattress penetration and urine overflow. Because of the absorbent material, it requires longer drying time.

Small mattress overlay pads are often the best solution for cutting down on laundry while still absorbing urine and protecting the mattress and bed linens. Mattress overlay pads or underlay pads (I know, it’s confusing!) are great for frequent accidents because they go over the fitted sheet and are intended to absorb urine before it can go anywhere else. They are easy to change and they often wash and dry in one cycle with other laundry. We also offer disposable overlay pads, which can get pricey when used for a long period.

While overlays are the ideal solution for dealing with enuresis, be sure you have some kind of full mattress protection as well – such as a vinyl protector or waterproof mattress pad. Some kids move so much in their sleep they can end up off the pad or the accident is so large that it goes outside the scope of the pad. Pillow covers are also recommended for children who fully empty their bladder in bed.

For more information on bedwetting, visit the Bedwetting Store.

Protecting the Mattress

There are a lot of products on the market to protect your mattress. Here is a brief overview of the most popular types:

• Vinyl Fitted Covers – Fit over the mattress like a sheet and provide a barrier between the mattress and moisture. They are the most economical solution and can be wiped clean with a mild soap or disinfectant.
• Waterproof Mattress Pad - Look and feel like a mattress pad, but provide a waterproof barrier between the sheets and the mattress. Mattress pads come in different thicknesses and with different waterproof barriers. Our best waterproof mattress pad has 4 thick layers and a urethane waterproof layer, making it the most comfortable. These pads are machine washable and dryable on low.
• Premium covers – Offered in both fitted and zippered, these covers are comfortable, easy to launder, and long lasting. For frequent changing, choose a fitted cover. The zippered covers provide protection from bedbugs and dust mites as well as moisture. Our premium covers can be machine washed and typically dry in one cycle.
• Zippered Vinyl Encasements – These encasements are a great way to protect your bed from mold, mildew, dust mites, bedbugs, and moisture. They do not need to be removed to clean and are intended to be left on for an extended time.

Depending on your situation, different solutions may work better. It is important to protect the mattress whenever wetting occurs because other methods (diapers, pull-ups, overlays) can fail.

How do I decrease my laundry load?

Laundry is always a concern for families with bedwetting. From sheets to blankets to sleeping bags, laundry is often a daily activity. The easiest way to decrease the laundry load is by using overlay pads. They go over the fitted sheet and absorb moisture before it has a chance to get to the sheets. We offer disposable or reusable pads to fit your needs. The disposable pads are removed and thrown away while the reusable pads can be thrown in with other laundry and do not require their own cycle. If your child is using a sleeping bag, we also offer sleeping bag liners which can fit in standard washing machines. Don’t forget these easy solutions to decrease your laundry load!

Help! I already have stains!

Most people consider waterproof bedding after an incident has already occurred. From pets to kids to visitors, you never know when an accident may occur. If you are now considering waterproof bedding because an accident already occurred, you may want to get a stain remover to help remove the stain. We offer two different urine removers. While both products are intended to remove urine, they work in different ways and are good for different situations.

If you have set in stains on a mattress, Urine-Erase is the best product. It is a two step product which uses an enzyme process to effectively eliminate even 30 year old stains! It works best on mattresses and floors because it penetrates deep into the product to remove the entire stain. In the first step, the enzyme packet, gets mixed with water and is poured over the stain. The second step uses the enclosed solution to remove the stain. The process usually takes 8 hours. Using a fan can help a mattress to dry more quickly.

If you are looking for a laundry additive or simpler product, we also offer the one step, OdorZyme spray bottle. This is best for quick and incidental clean-up. Best for small, fresh stains, vinyl covers, and bathroom clean-up, this product is not intended for large mattress or carpet stains which require more product.

Keeping a container of each stain remover on hand is a good way to protect your bed, furniture, and floors from becoming ruined by human or animal urine. The faster you treat the stain, the better and quicker your results.

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Allergies

Some Allergy Statistics:

• "Mite population and allergen levels decreased by 90% or more within a month of using mattress and pillow covers and treating bedding," says a study performed by Johns Hopkins University.
• Over 40 million people in the United States are allergic to dust mites. If you suffer from allergies, you have an 80% chance of being allergic to dust mites.
• Dust mites have negative effects on 60-80% of asthmatics.
• Pet allergens affect over 10% of the US population and over 70% of all households contain a pet. Protect your bed from pet dander!

How do I stop dust mites?

Dust mites are a common allergy and asthma trigger for many people. You spend so much of your life in your bed, it is important to make it a safe and comfortable place to rest. First, encase all bedding (mattress, box spring, pillows, comforter) you can’t easily wash in a cover. All allergy relief covers must have a zipper and fully encase your bedding to be effective.

Wash all other bedding at least twice a month in HOT water (over 130 degrees) to kill dust mites. In your room, if possible, remove carpet and drapes which can harbor dust mites. If not possible, be sure to vacuum all carpet and drapes to remove as many dust mites and allergens as possible.

By following these few easy steps you can dramatically decrease the dust mites in your bedroom.

What do I need to protect myself?

You need a variety of products to protect yourself from harmful dust mites and allergens. First, you must cover your mattress. We offer 3 different types of encasements (for pillows, mattress encasements, and comforters) for you to choose from for your mattress.

• Allersoft: Consists of a tightly woven poly-cotton blend which allows air but no allergens to pass through. It looks and feels like fine cotton sheets. These covers do not protect against bedbugs or moisture.
• Premium Encasements: Similar to Allersoft, the premium covers have a terry-loop cloth top, but they provide waterproof protection on the top with a urethane membrane barrier and provide bedbug protection. The premium encasements are also breathable which makes them very comfortable. They are machine washable and dryable.
• Vinyl Encasements: Our most economical solution, this product comes only in mattress and pillow covers. For people with extreme allergies, the vinyl products do produce some odor in the beginning so be aware of that. They do not breathe but they offer dust mite, bedbug, and moisture protection. While vinyl encasements are not our most comfortable solution, they are great for covering box springs.

What is the difference between membrane and non-membrane covers?

Allergy relief covers, they are often classified into two categories – membrane and non-membrane. Membrane covers have a non-fabric barrier to protect against allergens. These type of covers are often waterproof and protect against bedbugs (all our membrane covers protect against both). They can sometimes be noisier and less comfortable than non-membrane covers. Our membrane covers with urethane barriers are quiet, comfortable, and offer the most protection.

Non-membrane covers consist of tightly woven fabric to protect against dust mites and allergens alone. They are considered the most comfortable due to their high breathability and light weight. Non-membrane covers do not protect against bedbugs or moisture.

Will a mattress pad help?

While a fitted mattress cover may offer some protection, it is not recommended for allergy relief because dust mites and allergies can still escape from under the edge of the cover. It can be good to put a mattress pad over your encasement and wash the pad more frequently, but a mattress pad will not provide you the same protection and benefits as an encasement.

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Bedbugs

I thought bedbugs were a problem of the past

You may have heard recent stories about bedbugs coming back in epidemic levels. Through increased travel and the decreased use of pesticides, bedbugs are on the rise again. Today, as many as 90% of pest controllers report receiving calls about bedbugs. Unfortunately, many hotels are becoming infested, putting customers at risk of being bitten or worse, bringing bedbugs home. Fear not, however, as there are ways to protect yourself and your bedding.

What can I do to keep from getting bedbugs?

Prevention:

• Cover all mattresses, box springs, and pillows before an infestation occurs. This prevents the bedbugs from hiding out in your bed.
• Keep in mind that bedbugs can spread through common air ducts or spaces, so apartments, condos, and townhomes are more susceptible to infestations.

Traveling:

• NEVER place luggage on the carpet or bed. ALWAYS use the luggage rack – it is there for a reason!
• Be sure to check for signs of bugs – lift up the corner of the sheet and look on the edge of the bed near the seam for any dropping or exoskeletons (they shed!)
• Wash all items in hot water when you return to kill any bedbugs that may have come home with you.
• If it is winter and below freezing, consider leaving your bag outside to freeze any remaining bugs.

Treating:

• If you do get bedbugs, don’t think that tossing the old mattress will get rid of all bugs. An female adult bedbug can lay up to 200 eggs in her lifetime.
• Vacuum thoroughly and promptly dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed bag outdoors.
• Cover your new mattress because often, bedbugs come back.
• Make sure your exterminator uses an old-fashioned bug spray, not bait, as bedbugs are blood feeders and do not take bait.

The best treatment is prevention, so it is best to cover your bedding and take precautions when traveling.

I had the exterminator come but bedbugs keep coming back…what else can I do?

If you have already had an exterminator come, but the bugs are not gone, it is probably because you have eggs remaining in your home. Sprays kill living bugs, but bedbugs lay hundreds of eggs, making them particularly difficult to get rid of.

If you have bedbugs, be sure to cover all mattresses, box springs, pillows, and non-washable comforters to encase the bugs. This will prevent new bugs from getting in and old bugs from getting out. Covers should be used for at least 1 year after getting bed bugs.

Any bedding you do not encase (sheets, mattress pads, blankets, washable comforters) should be washed in HOT water to kill any bugs and destroy the eggs. This should continue to be done every 2 weeks until you no longer see bugs and then periodically.

Finally, vacuum your entire house thoroughly, including carpets, draperies, wall hangings, couches, and any other fabric items to sweep up any bugs or eggs. Then, promptly remove the bag and place it in a sealable bag, dispose of it in an outdoor trashcan.

If you follow these few easy steps in conjunction with an exterminator’s treatment, you should be able to get rid of bedbugs.

Is the only solution to bedbugs to get rid of the mattress?

In short, no. In fact, just tossing the mattress may not rid you of the bedbug problem. Instead of getting rid of the mattress, you can encase it in a bedbug proof cover to trap bugs already there and keep new ones from settling in.

Be sure to cover all mattresses in the entire residence as well as box springs, pillows, and comforters to be sure you have removed any habitats. If you do choose to throw away your old mattress, you should cover your new mattress to ensure any residual bugs don’t get in and wreck your new investment.

How do you get bedbugs?

You can pick up bedbugs from just about anywhere. There are reports of infestations in malls, schools, subways, and hotels. By bringing home a single female bedbug, you can get as many as 200 new bedbugs in one generation. Bedbugs are also know for traveling through central air systems so multi-family residences like apartments are especially susceptible. Typically, if one room in a hotel or apartment gets bedbugs, the entire building will eventually acquire the bugs. The best way to protect yourself is to encase all bedding that cannot be washed and vacuum and wash the other items frequently.

What do bedbugs look like?

Bedbugs are about 1/5 of an inch long and oval shaped. They are brown unless they have recently fed, in which case they may appear dark red. They resemble an apple seed. Bedbugs molt about 5 times in their life, so you are more likely to see their leftover shell than the actual bug. Their eggs are almost impossible to see with the naked eye and appear like a speck of dust on a dark surface. Bed bug bites often appear as other bug bites. The best ways to differentiate between a bedbug bite and a mosquito bite are:

• Are the bites in a line?
• Are the bites on your torso?
• Are your bites in the winter?
• Do they appear in the morning?

If you have answered “yes” to any of those questions, your bites may be from bed bugs. Check your sheets for reddish brown marks which are tell-tale signs of squished bedbugs. Also, check the seam of your bed for any molted shells or dark droppings. You could have bed bugs.

How do bedbug covers work?

Bedbug covers work by trapping bedbugs you already have and preventing new ones from getting in. This keeps the bugs from nesting in your bed and keeps you bite free. Bedbug covers MUST have a zipper to be effective.

What kind of cover should I get?

We offer two kinds of bedbug covers. The least expensive bedbug covers are plain vinyl encasements. We recommend heavy duty vinyl for bedbugs as you must have your mattress encased for at least 1 year to prevent a relapse. The 6 gauge covers are more durable than the thinner 3 gauge covers and hold up better. While vinyl is economical, it is not as comfortable to sleep on because it does not breathe and can be loud. Vinyl is best for the box springs which are not slept directly on, although many people use vinyl covers for their top mattress as well. If you choose a vinyl encasement, you may want to get a plush mattress pad to provide some ventilation between you and the vinyl.

A more preferred option for mattresses is to use a premium encasement. Premium encasements are a urethane cover with a terry-loop top which provide breathable and comfortable mattress protection. These are the best bedbug covers because they provide reliable coverage, comfortable breathability, and last a very long time. Our premium covers carry a 10 year warranty. We also carry premium pillow and duvet covers to protect your entire bed.

How long do I have to leave a cover on?

You must leave your encasement on for at least 1 year to ensure all bugs AND EGGS have died before removing your encasement. This is another reason you may want to invest a little more in a premium cover. You will be sleeping on it for a long time.

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