Allerbed vs iDustMite: Which One Actually Stops the Night-Time Itch?

An honest side-by-side before you spend your money.

In short

  • Allerbed is a plug-in that sends ultrasound into the air of one room.
  • Dust mites live inside your mattress, pillows and duvet, and soft fabric absorbs ultrasound.
  • iDustMite seals the bed itself in a barrier dust mites can't get through, the approach backed by a UK clinical trial.

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Common themes in Allerbed's reviews: orders arriving with units missing, unexpected customs charges on delivery, and emails going unanswered. Read them in full and judge for yourself.

Seal the whole bed: Protector Set

Side by side

Allerbed plug-in iDustMite
How it works Sends ultrasound into the air of one room Seals your mattress, pillows and duvet in a 5 micron barrier
Reaches mites inside the bed No. Soft materials like mattresses and duvets absorb ultrasound3 Yes. The barrier sits between the mites and you
Independent evidence No published study on Allerbed that we could find. Independent tests of ultrasonic mite devices found no drop in mites1 UK randomised trial: children with sealed bedding were 45% less likely to need hospital for an asthma attack5
Humidity control None Dehumidifier keeps the bedroom under 50%7
Delivery Reviewers report customs charges on delivery Free next-day UK delivery, no customs
Support Email UK phone line 0330 122 1646, plus email and chat

Why a plug-in can't reach dust mites

Dust mites don't float around your room. They live inside your mattress, pillows and duvet, right underneath you. The ones that are feeding gather as close to your body as they can get. The ones that aren't hide deeper inside the filling.2

Soft fabric soaks up ultrasound. Even the makers of ultrasonic pest repellers say in their own instructions that the sound can't pass through furniture and is absorbed by soft surfaces.3 A plug-in on the wall is aiming at the outside of your bed while the mites sit inside it.

Real-world tests found no effect. Independent researchers placed ultrasonic mite devices one metre from carpet full of live dust mites for three weeks. Mite numbers didn't change.1 We couldn't find a single published study showing Allerbed reduces dust mites in a real bed.

iDustMite mattress encasement sealing all six sides of the mattress with a full zip

The mattress encasement zips shut on all six sides. Mites inside stay inside. New ones can't get in.

What the research backs instead

1. Seal the bed

45%

lower risk of hospital visits for an asthma attack in children whose mattress, duvet and pillows were sealed in mite-proof covers, in a year-long University of Manchester trial of 284 children.5

That is exactly what our Protector Set covers: mattress, duvet and pillows. In another clinical study, mattress encasings cut dust mite allergen on the mattress by a median of 99%.6

2. Dry the air

<50%

humidity and dust mites can't breed, even if it spikes for a few hours when you shower or cook.7

Real homes kept below 50% humidity for 18 months had significantly fewer mites and less allergen.8

iDustMite Protector Set: mattress encasement, pillow encasements and duvet encasement

Start here

The Protector Set

Full-zip covers for your mattress, pillows and duvet. They go underneath your normal sheets, so your bed feels the same. Put them on once and leave them.

  • Mattress encasement, all six sides
  • Pillow and duvet encasements, full zip
  • 5 micron barrier, blocks 100% of dust mites
  • Soft eucalyptus silk, no crinkle
Shop the Protector Set

Add on

The dehumidifier

Takes the bedroom below 50% humidity, the level where dust mites can't breed. Use it alongside the Protector Set for the bed and the rest of the room.

Shop the dehumidifier

What our customers say

"For the first time in a few years, Joe has slept right through the night!"

Barry S., bought for his son

"My sons allergies have already lessened within a few nights."

Sharon B.

"Within a few days of putting the iDustmite mattress encasement on, my skin had calmed right down."

Ben S.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Allerbed and iDustMite together?

You can, but the plug-in won't reach the mites inside your bed. If you only do one thing, seal the mattress, pillows and duvet. That's where the allergen you breathe in at night comes from.

Is there any evidence ultrasonic dust mite devices work?

One small study reported symptom changes in children using an ultrasonic device, but its authors did not measure dust mites or allergen, so they could not say the device was the reason.4 When dust mite numbers were actually counted in an independent test, ultrasonic devices made no difference.1

Do mite-proof covers work for adults too?

Covers stop dust mite allergen reaching you, which is what triggers itching, sneezing and blocked noses. For the best result we recommend covers plus keeping the bedroom under 50% humidity, rather than covers alone.

Is it noisy or plasticky?

No. It's eucalyptus silk: soft, breathable and quiet. No crinkle, no crunch.

What sizes do you do?

Cot, single, double, king and super king, plus deep mattress versions up to 45cm.

Seal the bed tonight

Free next-day UK delivery when you order before 3pm. 1 year warranty. Free UK returns on unused items. Not sure what you need? Call us on 0330 122 1646 and we'll talk you through it.

Full Protector Set Mattress encasement only

Sources

  1. Ultrasonic "Mite Killers" Fail to Decrease Mites in Carpeting. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (abstract). Tested two commercial ultrasonic mite devices, not Allerbed.
  2. Vackova et al. (2021) Sharing a bed with mites. Experimental and Applied Acarology.
  3. Victor PestChaser ultrasonic repeller FAQ.
  4. Clinical efficacy of a device of ultrasonic revulsion in children with persistent asthma due to dust mite allergy.
  5. Murray et al. (2017) Preventing Severe Asthma Exacerbations in Children: A Randomized Trial of Mite-Impermeable Bedcovers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med.
  6. Encasings and immunotherapy in mite-allergic children. European Journal of Pediatrics.
  7. Arlian et al. (1999) Reducing relative humidity to control the house dust mite. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
  8. Arlian et al. (2001) Reducing relative humidity is a practical way to control dust mites and their allergens in homes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 107(1):99-104 (Wright State summary).