Allergy Bedding Comparison and Review
- Vinyl - line of vinyl box spring encasings
- Laminate - line of Economy Lite encasings
- Microfiber - line of Pristine Basic and Pristine Complete mattress covers
- Non-woven
Vinyl encasings
These are the oldest type, the easiest to understand, and are probably the first thing that come to mind when most people think of an encasing. They are inexpensive, and effective, yet uncomfortable - stiff, noisy and sweaty. As a result, many individuals remove them after a day or two. They are suitable, however, as an economical cover for a box spring. On a box spring one is not sleeping on the plastic directly, so comfort is not an issue. It is for this purpose that we offer the line of Vinyl boxspring encasings.
The first problem with laminates is that, although less rigid than vinyl, they do have some stiffness to them. This is especially noticeable on the pillow. Second, they are not only allergen-proof - they are airtight. Although some laminates have been advertised as being "breathable", this refers only to the fact that in some of the better quality laminates a minute amount of water vapor can pass through the membrane. Although this represents an advance over vinyl, the fact is that no laminate is truly breathable; that is, none of them allow the passage of air. Once an encasing of this type is zipped closed around a pillow, the pillow becomes like a balloon, with air trapped in the encasing. And if you force the air out by pressing on the pillow, the air - and probably dust along with it - escapes through the zipper.
The third and perhaps biggest problem with laminate encasings is that they often de-laminate, that is, with repeated washing and drying the urethane membrane separates from the fabric onto which it had been coated, making the encasing unusable.
However, being that these encasings are priced for budget minded consumers, we carry the Economy Lite laminate encasing line.
The problem is that not all microfibers are created equal. In fact, most of the so-called microfiber encasings on the market are not true microfibers at all, according to textile industry standards. Microscope photos taken at 40 power magnification reveal that many of the competitive products are much less tightly woven than ours. The areas of light coming through the fabric indicate pores. In many cases these pores are more than large enough to allow the passage of allergens. (Note: An interesting way of demonstrating the extraordinary tightness of our products is to simply put a few drops of water on it and see what happens.)
Studies done at the Asthma & Allergic Diseases Center in Charlottesville, Virginia have shown that a microfiber fabric must have a pore size of between 2 to 6 microns to block all allergen. Our Pristine Basic barrier fabric has an average pore size of 6 microns. Many encasings on the market have pore sizes of 10 microns or more. Unlike many competitive encasings, ACB barrier fabric blocks all allergens, not only mite allergens but also the smaller animal dander allergens. This is important when a patient removes a pet from the bedroom, and the encasing must prevent the escape of previously accumulated allergen from the mattress. Yet this super tight fabric is the most comfortable on the market, literally as soft as silk.
We offer two lines of microfiber encasings:
Not all encasings are equal! It is, of course, up to the individual to decide what they want to buy and what you are willing to spend. But if the above differences are understood, one will be in a position to make an informed decision.
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Laminate encasings
Laminates were the next generation of encasings. These are still widely used, and are the type generally available at places like Bed, Bath and Beyond or Wal-Mart's, as well as from many allergy supply companies. When these were first developed, they represented a great advance over vinyl. They are made by laminating (fusing) a plastic-type membrane, now usually a polyurethane, to a fabric. The membrane side is against the pillow or mattress, and the fabric side is exposed, beneath the bed linens. The person is therefore not sleeping on the plastic directly, and these are therefore more comfortable than vinyl. Laminates have several problems, however, that have made them somewhat out of date. Microfiber encasings
Microfiber wovens are the newest type of allergen-barrier encasing. They are constructed from microfiber fabrics: new high-tech fabrics made of fibers so thin and yarns so tightly woven that there is no space between the weave of the yarns large enough to allow the passage of allergen molecules. Since the microfiber fabric is itself acting as a filter that prevents allergen escape, 
encasings made from a true microfiber do not need the urethane membrane. Without the membrane they are truly breathable, that is, both air and water vapor can pass freely through the fabric, even though allergen cannot. They are therefore extremely comfortable, actually imperceptible in use. This is the state-of-the-art in allergen-proof encasings.Our Pristine® Basic line offers an economical way to provide microfiber-grade protection together with a comfortable environment.
Our Pristine® Complete line is made of the highest standard woven microfiber. It has a smoother texture and a smaller pore size than Pristine® Basic, offers the best possible protection and the ultimate in comfort.
And it costs not much more than laminate encasings! Prices for our encasings:
Our encasings are the most effective, the most comfortable, and the most fairly priced.
Non-woven encasings
One last type of encasing fabric, the "non-woven", must be mentioned to make the story complete. An older example of a non-woven fabric is felt. This is made by gluing short pieces of yarn to each other to form a mass. This is in contrast to a woven fabric where the long warp and weft yarns are alternately woven above and below each other on a loom. Newer non-woven microfiber fabrics are effective and inexpensive allergen barriers, but they are not made to withstand machine washing, and they do not have the strength or durability of woven microfiber encasings.
