Upholstered headboard = dust = allergies?

9 years ago

I'm seeing a tremendous number of beds with upholstered headboards in furniture and home décor stores now. I love the look, but can't imagine how this would work with dust-related allergies. If you have an upholstered headboard, do you deal with this by vacuuming it weekly or ......?

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jlc712

9 years ago

I have really, really bad allergies, so this may sound extreme. I take allergy meds year round, and at the recommendation of my doctor, I bought special covers called encasings for my box spring, mattress, and pillows. They prevent dust, dust mites, and other allergens. I do wash my bedding often, dust/vacuum often, and have a HEPA air purifier in my bedroom, and a HEPA filter for my furnace, to reduce allergens from the air.

You spend many hours in your bed, far more than on any other furniture, and you are lying down with your face very close to your bedding (and headboard). I wouldn't get an upholstered headboard, unless it had a removable, washable slipcover, and you were willing to vacuum it often; or, a leather one would work.

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Comments (12)

bpath
9 years ago
Don't you just vacuum it as often as you dust the solid headboard and nightstand and pile of books, or vacuum the lampshades, or run the pillow shams and comforter through the dryer?
roarah
9 years ago
Mine I vacuum regularly like I do my upholstered sofas. If your allergies are ok while sitting on upholstered furniture I think you will be ok with a headboard too.
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jewelisfabulous
Original Author
9 years ago
Well.....when I dust wood items, the dust is all gone, but when I vacuum my couch(for example), I can still punch a cushion and some dust poofs out that was down deeper in the padding. Since I can't run an upholstered headboard through the dryer, I just don't know that I'll be able to satisfactorily get enough dust out of it to feel comfortable that it'll be right next to my head every night. I guess I was hoping there'd be some kind of spray to "seal" the upholstery so dust doesn't get in...
roarah
9 years ago
Gee I have horrible allegies and they have not gotten worse since I purchased the bed. You do know there is always dust in the air, that is how it gets onto our furniture.
dedtired
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hmm, I notice that mine catches dust on the back of the headboard next to the wall, which is covered with cloth. It is very heavy, so I don't vacuum it very often. Dust really can collect there. I don't notice much dust on the front upholstery.

Editing to add that I do not have allergies.
Nothing Left to Say
9 years ago
Ditto jlc712. All of it, except I don't currently have a purifier in my room. When my allergist did my scratch tests, I reacted so strongly that his first words to me on seeing my arm were, "can you breathe?" I wouldn't even consider an upholstered headboard unless I could figure out how to deal with the dust issue. Latex filling? Latex is supposed to not harbor dust mites. Leather maybe? Honestly I would just skip it.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
No way could I have an upholstered headboard. I have severe allergies also. My bedroom is the most important area to keep as dust free as possible. My cleaning lady has to wet wipe absolutely everything in there and no sprays can be used. My headboard is wood and metal, very easy to wet wipe. I also use the special covers for pillows and bedding etc. No drapes just wide wooden blinds that are cleaned regularly.

Thinking about an upholstered headboard makes me feel like a sneeze is coming.
tracie_erin
9 years ago
You could get it upholstered in leather instead of fabric.
daisychain01
9 years ago
I would guess it depends on how extreme your allergies are. I have minor dust related allergies (I have to toss clothes I haven't worn for a season in the dryer or bang them outside. Same with blankets - so I only use duvets - or I am sneezing like crazy and get watery, itchy eyes). I switched to an upholstered headboard and it doesn't bother me at all. I vacuum it monthly.
westsider40
9 years ago
There are so many options for a headboard that wont make you sick, why are you even thinking about this? Why bother going to the doctor, if you wont follow her advice? Why spend lots of time with a vacuum when you can wipe swish?
Jodi Racicot
5 years ago
ugh! yes, my upholst headboard gets so dusty. looking at other headboards, now.

Upholstered headboard = dust = allergies?

jlc712

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Upholstered headboard = dust = allergies?

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