mattress protector Archives - Sealy

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What alcohol REALLY does to your sleep

Posted on by lionel

We’re heading into braai season and party time, which usually includes a few alcoholic beverages. One or two drinks with friends might help take the edge off, but did you know it also messes with your sleep? In this blog post we explore the relationship between sleep and alcohol.

Sleep and alcohol: You fall asleep faster

Because alcohol is a depressant, it makes you fall asleep faster. It encourages the production of a brain chemical called adenosine, which helps you fall asleep quicker, however your sleep is interrupted as those chemicals wear off.

Sleep and alcohol: You never quite get into REM sleep

For the first half of the night, you might experience deep sleep. But this means you skip that lighter REM stage of sleep, which helps process emotion and memory. As the alcohol starts to wear off, your sleep becomes much lighter and less restful. Finnish researchers found in a 2018 study that moderate alcohol intake (two drinks per day for men and one for women) reduced sleep quality by a whopping 24%. Heavy alcohol intake reduced sleep quality by nearly 40%.

Sleep and alcohol: Your body becomes dehydrated

Alcohol is a diuretic, acting on the kidneys to make you urinate more fluid than you take in – which could lead to a restless night. Going to bed even slightly dehydrated can also lead to disruptive snoring due to a drier mouth. Alternating alcoholic drinks with water can help to balance out these effects and help limit the number of units you consume, meaning you will have a much more restful night’s sleep.

Sleep and alcohol: You might get night sweats

Night sweats are common when people drink alcohol in the evening. Alcohol affects the nervous system and how the body regulates and senses body temperature. People might sweat more after drinking if they have alcohol intolerance and especially if they’re experiencing alcohol withdrawal.

Protect your Sealy mattress from damage caused by night sweats and other bodily fluids with a Sealy mattress protector. We have three fully-elasticised mattress protectors to choose from. Click here to find out more.

Sleep and alcohol: Protect your sleep when you drink

If you plan to drink on your next night out, take these steps to protect your sleep:

  • Stop drinking at least three hours before you plan to sleep
  • Drink a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage and a few glasses of water before going to bed
  • Don’t drink alcohol if you are also taking sleeping pills

Should you let your pet sleep in your bed?

Posted on by lionel

For animal-lovers, where your pet sleeps is often a topic of debate. Should you let your pet sleep in your bed? Is it a healthy option not only for the pet, but also for the pet owner? We explore this topic in our blog post.

For many years, people were told not to let their pets sleep on the bed because of the risk of spreading disease. It was also believed that it could create behavioural problems in dogs especially. However, most of this is considered ‘old-school’ advice and many experts say it’s perfectly ok let your pet sleep on the bed.

Why it’s MOSTLY ok to let your pet sleep in your bed

If your pet is in good health, it’s unlikely they will pass on any diseases to you. Good health means no ticks and fleas, and all vaccinations are up to date.

Theories that letting animals, especially dogs, sleep on the bed causes behavioural problems were debunked a long time ago. If your dog is already showing signs of aggression, this is a behavioural problem that is not caused by being allowed on a bed or other furniture. Co-sleeping might not be a good option for aggressive dogs. It would be better to give these animals their own sleeping space.

For most people, co-sleeping with dogs and cats eases anxiety and insomnia, keeps loneliness at bay (for the animal and the human!) and helps warm up the bed. In fact, recent research published by Mayo Clinic Proceedings showed that sharing your bedroom with your canine companion might actually improve your sleep. The study didn’t include cats but given that cats are usually nocturnal with shorter sleep cycles, we’re assuming cats might actually disturb your sleep if you’re a light sleeper.

Sleeping with you might be a dream come true for your pet. Dogs and cats are drawn to the scent of their human parents and they like sleeping on elevated spaces. So, from your pet’s point of view, sleeping on your bed is a puuurrrfect solution.

However, if you suffer from pet allergies or asthma, sleeping with your pet, or even allowing them into your bedroom, could aggravate symptoms. Pet hairs, and dust and pollen carried in by your pet might trigger allergies.

Protect your Sealy mattress

If you wake up feeling well rested, then your pet is most likely a good sleeping buddy – you probably also have an excellent Sealy mattress! Be sure to protect your mattress by using a mattress protector.

If you let your pet sleep in your bed, keep your mattress clean and looking new with the help of a Sealy mattress protector. A mattress protector is like a waterproof fitted sheet and it protects against bed bugs, dirt and allergens. Browse our website to find out more about Sealy mattress protectors.

Give your pet a comfortable Sealy dog bed of their own

If co-sleeping with your pet is not a good solution for you, invest in a Sealy dog bed for your pet. Sealy Dog Beds available at selected pet outlets. Please contact Pack Leader Products to locate your closest retailer. Put an old t-shirt or other item of clothing in the bed, so your scent can help our pet calm down and settle in for the night.

Lungi’s bedtime routine and a chance to win!

Posted on by lionel

If you’re like a lot of people, you know the importance of sleep and how it affects your well-being. Sealy South Africa recently collaborated with beauty blogger, Lungi, who tells us all about her bedtime routine in her latest blog post. Click here to read Lungi’s blog post, and for the chance to win a Sealy mattress protector and two Sealy pillow protectors.

Your bedtime routine and your skin

Did you know that sticking to a good beauty bedtime routine is vital to maximising your skincare efforts? Our skin is hard at work regenerating cells at night when we sleep. You could take advantage of that fact by practising the right beauty bedtime routine so you’ll wake up to healthier and beautiful skin.

We’re all familiar with the story of Sleeping Beauty. The fact that sleep and beauty are intertwined is not just a fantasy. Studies show that sleep benefits our appearance in more ways than one. When we sleep, our body focuses on repairing and renewing our skin, thus providing that nourishment it needs that we can’t get during the daytime.

Below are two key beauty benefits of a good night’s sleep:

  • Reduce wrinkles

Collagen prevents sagging and keeping your skin beautiful and smooth. Your night’s rest is essential because that’s when your skin produces more of this all-important protein.

  • Look and feel fresh

Proper sleep doesn’t just make you feel fresh and ready to take on the world the next morning, it will make you look better, too! No more puffy eyes from your lack of zzz’s and your skin will take on a noticeable, healthy glow as well. You’ll be ready to take on the world while looking good doing it.

How to get into a proper bedtime beauty routine

  • Make sure your sleeping arrangement are comfortable

There’s nothing like curling up in a nice warm bed after a long day. Therefore, it’s important to choose the right mattress that’s suitable for your comfort and personal preferences. A good mattress will offer all the support your body needs. It keeps your spine in the right alignment regardless of how you sleep.

Don’t forget a quality bed linen as well. You don’t want to toss and turn all night because your bed linen is causing you allergy issues and discomfort. Choosing the right fabric is also important to stay cool or warm so you can sleep soundly throughout the night. Sealy’s range of sheeting is made from 100% cotton percale, with a minimum 200 thread count.

Protect your mattress and pillow with a Sealy mattress protector and a Sealy pillow protector. Our mattress protectors and pillow protectors are fully elasticized and easy to fit – making this a convenient and inexpensive way to protect and prolong the life of your Sealy mattress and Sealy pillow.

  • Go to sleep at the same time every night

As with everything in life, you have a better chance of doing something if you stick to a routine. Keeping the same bed time every night helps you to doze off more quickly.

  • Apply your skin products before you go to bed

When we go to sleep, your skin tends to absorb the products you apply more smoothly. That’s why beauty products are more effective when used before going to bed, and you can see the results more clearly.

Use a product that is rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants to lock moisture in your skin and prevent wrinkles and fine lines. This will help improve skin elasticity and protect it from damaging skin conditions. 

Sleeping adequately and getting seven to nine hours of sleep every day will have a noticeable difference in the way you look. People will start to see that you look better and more vibrant in as little as two weeks. Make sure you keep that bedtime beauty routine, your body will thank you for it!

You won’t believe what bicarbonate of soda can do to your mattress

Posted on by lionel

You sleep on your mattress for about 7 hours every night – do you ever clean it? You would be surprised to know how bicarbonate of soda can help!

Step 1: Wash
Remove all bedding and mattress protectors and give them a good wash. Do not wash or wipe your mattress with a damp cloth. A soggy mattress is not a happy mattress. Mattresses are not meant to get wet and this act will void your Sealy Warranty.

Step 2: Sprinkle
Using a sieve or colander, sprinkle the mattress with a little bicarbonate of soda. Let them sit on top of the mattress for a few hours. The bicarbonate of soda should absorb any moisture as well as any offensive odours from sweat, urine, coffee or wine. Check your mattress warranty before using this method.

Step 3: Vacuum
Vacuum your mattress gently to remove any dirt, pet hair, dust, dust mites as well as all the bicarbonate granules. Use only the round mouth of the vacuum pipe to suck up the granules. Beware of excessive vacuuming which will damage your mattress fibres.

Step 4: Air
Nothing kills bacteria faster than fresh air and sunshine. Open the windows and curtains and let in as much fresh air and sunlight as you can. Even better, take your mattress outside if you have a suitably dry, clean and sunny area.

Don’t forget to put your mattress protector back on!

Protect your now beautifully clean mattress with a mattress protector – it can give your mattress an extra five years of life! Sealy mattress protectors repel allergens as they are made from bamboo fabric known for their non-allergenic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-dustmite properties.

Like these Sealy Top of Bed products? Visit www.sealy.co.za to find a stockist near you.

Written by Roxanne Atkinson

Beat the dust – how to rid your bedroom of dust and dust mites

Posted on by lionel

Unfortunately, most of the dust that is found in your bedroom comes from yourself (and your pets) rather than from the outside world. As dead skin and hair cells break off they form dust -the perfect environment for dust mites to live and breed.

Dust and dust mites can interfere with your sleep: Many adults and children are allergic to dust and can suffer from symptoms such as congestion, sneezing and even snoring. A dust mite infestation will present with itchy bites and cause great disruptions to your sleep.

To get your best night’s sleep you need to beat the dust and dust mites.
Here’s your hit list, from least to most effort.

• Delay making your bed by one hour to allow the mattress and linen to air out. Dust mites love damp, dark places.

• Buy a high-quality mattress protector to trap the dust mites inside your mattress and prevent liquids from moving into your mattress.

• Use a wet cloth to dust all hard surfaces in your bedroom. Vacuum all soft furnishings and hard to reach cornices.

• Get your mattress professionally cleaned, alternately leave your mattress in the sun and fresh air once a week.

• Launder all duvet inners, mattress covers, pillows and pillowcases. The method will vary depending on the material you have chosen ie. polyester versus goose down. Ensure everything is ell dried before you make your bed again.

• Replace curtains with blinds and wipe these regularly. Alternately, remember to dust curtain rails and wash your curtains monthly.

• Ensure all clothing items are well-organised in spacious closets where air can circulate- dust mites hate fresh air and sunlight.

• Get rid of bedroom carpets altogether so that dust cannot accumulate in the fibres. Replace with loose carpets or mats that can be regularly shaken and washed.

Read more:

Bed bugs – the most common sleep critter

Bed bug solutions

 

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