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• Mar 25, 2008 10:40 pm US/Central
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  Unwanted Bedmates: Your Pillow Could Make You Sick

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Unwanted Bedmates: Your Pillow Could Make You Sick

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Spring is in the air, but so are allergens. Some may even be lurking around your bed as you read this.

As CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports, sure they're soft and fluffy, and most of us have one or two we love, but your pillow could be making you sick. Pillows are the perfect place for dust mites and fungi to grow and multiply.

"These things live off the scales of our skin," said Dr. Robert Naclerio of the University of Chicago Medical Center.

The idea of all the unwelcome bedmates was disturbing to many folks looking forward to a good night's rest.

"Fourteen years I've had it -- I can't give it up right now," said Imad Elkhativ of his pillow.

But Lisa Drucker felt differently.

"I have horrible allergies, and I will not be sleeping on those pillows tomorrow night," she said.

"Tonight when I get home, I'm going to take my pillows off the bed and fold a couple of sheets and use that instead," Danny Johnson said.

But if you, like Elkhativ, just can't bear to part with your favorite pillow there are things you can do. One option is to stick it in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer to kill the mites and other germs."

Doc sot about how cold kills the germs...

But some folks say the freezer just isn't an option.

"I have pretty big down pillows you know, and I'm not quite sure if my pillow would fit in the freezer at this point," said Harriet Blattner-Hoyle.

If you're in that same boat, don't worry. Doctors say you can also wash your pillows in very hot water to kill the germs and mites or buy special impermeable pillow cases to keep them out.

But some folks say they're not taking any chances.

"I'm going shopping tomorrow to buy new pillows," Drucker said.

And here's a little more bad news for you pillow lovers: pillows aren't good forever.

One Web site says the average pillow is only good for 18 months. It says if you fold it and it doesn't bounce back, it's time to buy a new one.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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