[Consumerwide_HueSoung, Jun Reporter / Yohan, Bok Reporter] The Ikea memory foam pillow, less than one year since purchase, grew mold. Mold has been found in two products of Ikea, especially one full of mold on the surface. That was rather strange for him because he seldom used the pillow. His other pillow, which he has used for over 10 years ( a product of another company) is still in good condition.

After speaking to a Ikea related person, he got to know that Pillow products in Ikea basically have no antibiotic treatment. For this reason, if anyone is using Ikea pillows, they have to check out mold all the time. This was my case.

The reporter bought a pillow along with a pillow cover during Ikea's Biggest Sale Days. After purchasing them, he used them with another pillow at home in rotation.

Recently, when he was changing the pillow cover, he discovered that a memory foam pillow had grown mold, that was spotted all over the pillow.

This memory foam pillow is made up of a pillow and a translucent pillowcase protector. Pillowcase protector isn't changeable. And, it was uneasy to notice clearly condition of the pillow. So he tore the pillowcase protector and saw with his own eyes bluish dots being spread. It was suspected to be mold. He checked another Ikea pillow he bought times ago, and discovered too mold-looking dots, though wasn't as much as the other.

Realizing he'd been breathing in mold during the night hours, he was busy checking out all his pillows at home (not at Ikea). His other pillow, which he had bought 10 years ago, was still in good condition. He also checked his mattress, and it was fine. It was only a Ikea pillow that grew mold.

After the incident, Ikea refunded the problem pillow. The bigger issue is, this happening won't end here. Mold can grow depending on the user's environment, as Ikea claims. But, the pillow and mattress of another company that he has used more often didn't have any mold, whereas both Ikea's products had mold. This left him a clear message: there is a problem with Ikea's product.

Pillowcase-protector not being able to change could matter as well. He used to wash the pillow cover once a week, not the pillowcase protector. Translucent color made the situation worse, because it wasn't easy to notice the condition of the memory foam.

If that is the case, what happens if you sleep on a moldy pillow? Lately, Sealy Korea and Sonoseason have been selling memory foam pillows. They cited that the main bed and pillow inhibit germs such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus causes skin infections, food poisoning, pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia. Escherichia coli causes fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, hemorrhagic enteritis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes skin lesions, endocarditis, pneumonia, meningitis.

They say it is possible to grow mold and bacteria at any time in a humid condition. Hence, it is inevitable to use antibacterial products. A family medicine expert said to us, "It can matter if one is using a moldy pillow because mold can be infected. Especially, if your immune system has weakened, you may have allergic symptoms."

Currently, memory foam pillows are being sold in Ikea Korea. The problem lies in there is no antibacterial process on Ikea pillows and pillow covers. During this humid summer, I urge you to check your pillows more frequently, if you already bought one.