For months I had been struggling with sniffles and sneezes around bedtime, utterly clueless as to the reason why. I couldn’t remember dealing with allergies at any previous point in my life. In fact, when many of my friends were coping with ragweed and pet dander allergies growing up, I was always immune. As it turned out, my immunity did not extend to dust mites.

The tiny critters often make their home in soft bedding materials, dining on the tiny bits of organic matter that humans naturally shed. While imminently comfortable, a down pillow can be a breeding ground for microscopic mites in some cases. I went online and purchased a down alternative pillow. The difference was drastic and immediately noticeable. My sniffling and sneezing are now a thing of the past.