100% Cotton Dust Mite Pillow Protector & Encasement — Standard/Queen

A 100% cotton dust mite pillow protector for standard and queen pillows — tightly-woven cotton with an independently-tested pore size of 2.8 microns. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, full-length zipper closure. Standard/Queen size: 50 × 75cm.

At a glance

• Fabric: 100% cotton, tightly woven upland cotton
• Pore size: 2.8 microns at maximum distribution — independently tested by capillary flow porometry (Galwick fluid).
• Closure: Full-length zipper along one short end of the encasement
• Coverage: Encloses the pillow on all sides
• Certification: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (tested for over 100 substances of concern)
• Size: Standard/Queen — 50 × 75cm
• Care: Machine washable, tumble-dry on medium heat
• Quality: Manufacturer-backed against defects

What this product is

A full encasement that seals your pillow inside a tightly-woven cotton barrier — can be used in households where dust mite allergens are a concern.

• Why this matters for dust mite allergens. Dust mite allergens are carried by fecal pellets and body fragments that typically measure 10 to 40 microns. Pillows are one of the most concentrated dust mite allergen reservoirs in a bed because of the daily skin-cell shedding they collect. This encasement's 2.8-micron weave traps these allergen-carrying particles inside the pillow.
• Use alongside mattress and quilt encasements. A pillow encasement covers one allergen reservoir of three. Many households fit all three together as part of a broader dust mite allergen reduction approach.
• How it fits. Slide your existing pillow inside, close the zipper, then your normal pillowcase goes over the top. Use one encasement per pillow.

Who this is for

This encasement is commonly chosen by:

• Households setting up dust mite barrier bedding across the main bed layers (mattress, pillow, quilt)
• People setting up an allergen-aware bedroom alongside mattress and quilt encasements
• People who prefer 100% cotton bedding without polyurethane laminates or synthetic fibres
• People who want one encasement per pillow on the bed (so two for a queen or king bed)

It's probably not the right fit if:

• Your pillow is a different shape or size — see our King, Euro, Body, or V-Shape pillow encasements instead
• You need waterproof protection — see our waterproof pillow encasement instead

What the fabric does

Dust mite allergens are carried by fecal pellets and body fragments that typically measure 10 to 40 microns. This fabric tests at 2.8 microns at maximum distribution, well below that.

• Tightly-woven cotton barrier. Particles inside your pillow stay inside, rather than passing through the fabric.
• Enclosed binding seams. Fabric edges are sealed within a binding strip so the barrier extends from corner to corner without a gap.
• Full-length zipper. A zipper running along one short end seals the pillow inside.
• Breathable. Woven cotton, not laminated plastic — no heat trap, no "crinkle" feel. Washes and dries like normal bedding.

Test method: capillary flow porometry using Galwick fluid, conducted by an independent third-party lab.

Sizing

Standard/Queen: 50 × 75cm — fits the most common Australian pillow sizes. The encasement is sized slightly larger to accommodate normal pillow loft and natural cotton wash shrinkage. If your pillow is between sizes, choose the larger size for comfort.

Care

• Wash: Machine wash in warm or hot water. 60°C is the temperature most commonly cited for dust mite reduction in bedding, where the care label allows.
• Dry: Tumble dry on medium heat or air dry. Avoid high heat — repeated hot drying can shrink cotton.
• Frequency: Every 3–6 months is generally sufficient when a pillowcase sits over the top to absorb daily wear. The pillowcase gets washed weekly with your bed linen; the encasement underneath stays cleaner for longer.
• Avoid: Bleach, fabric softeners, dry cleaning, and ironing.

Pairs well with

For a complete bedding setup, customers commonly pair this with:

• Dust mite mattress encasements — covers the mattress itself
• Cotton dust mite quilt encasement — covers the doona

A complete allergen-aware bedroom uses all three barrier layers — mattress, pillow, and quilt. Many customers buy one encasement per pillow on the bed (so two for a queen or king bed). For more on setting this up, see our guide to dust mite barrier bedding.

Frequently asked questions

Will it fit my pillow?

Standard and queen pillows in Australia are typically 48 × 73cm or similar. This encasement is 50 × 75cm — sized slightly larger to accommodate normal pillow loft and natural cotton wash shrinkage. If your pillow is firmer or thicker than usual, choose the larger size for comfort.

Will it shrink if washed?

If washed at very high temperatures or hot-dried, some shrinkage may occur. Encasements are sized larger to allow for reasonable shrinkage, but for best longevity we recommend warm wash and line dry, or tumble dry on medium heat.

Is this hypoallergenic?

The word "hypoallergenic" doesn't have a defined Australian standard, so we're cautious about applying it as a product claim. What we can tell you is what the fabric measurably does: it's tightly-woven 100% cotton with a pore size of 2.8 microns, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, with a full-length zipper closure.

Do I really need a pillow encasement if I already have a mattress encasement?

Pillows accumulate skin cells (the food source for dust mites) faster than mattresses do, which makes them a concentrated dust mite allergen reservoir. A mattress encasement covers one allergen reservoir of three; treating the pillow as well covers the second. Many households fit all three (mattress, pillow, quilt) as part of broader dust mite allergen reduction.

How is this different from a regular pillow protector?

Most regular pillow protectors are loosely-woven polyester or microfibre with a basic zipper. They protect against general wear but don't form a barrier fine enough to stop dust mite allergen particles. This is a tightly-woven cotton encasement with a 2.8-micron weave, functioning as a dust mite allergen barrier.

Will it make my pillow feel different?

The fabric is soft tightly-woven cotton, similar in feel to a high-thread-count pillowcase. There's no plastic or membrane layer, so it doesn't crinkle or trap heat. Most customers don't notice it once a pillowcase is on top.

How often should I wash it?

Every 3–6 months is generally sufficient when a pillowcase sits over the top to absorb daily wear.

What is OEKO-TEX Standard 100?

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a global independent certification that tests every component of a textile product (fabric, thread, zipper, prints) for over 100 substances of concern.