The cleanliness of the bed is something many people take for granted when cleaning the rest of their home; however, recent studies have shown that your bedding is probably not as clean as you think. The average person sweats up to a whole pint of sweat each night and loses around a million dead skin cells each night. This is likely to be heightened in the summer due to the heat and humidity. As each person is expected to spend at least one third of their lives in bed, it is important to make sure that yours is as clean and hygienic as possible. It has recently been discovered that many people don’t change their bedding as often as they should and one tenth of them don’t even change their bedding more than once a month. So here are a few tips, tricks and pieces of advice to ensure that your bed is as clean as possible.
Change bedding
You should change your bedding every week, although it’s been stated that one tenth of people don’t change their bed more than once a month. It’s a simple task and will help keep your bedding as clean as possible.
Sets of bedding
In addition, each person should have at least 3 different sets of bedding which allows all items enough time in between uses. Similarly, when it isn’t being used the bedding should be stored in a dry cool place out of direct sunlight to stop bacteria and germs from growing or breeding before the sheets have even been put on your bed.
Making your bed
Many people make their beds as soon as they get up. However, this results in keeping the space warm, encouraging germs to grow and breed. Instead, you should throw back the sheets and open some windows to allow the bed to air out properly, killing the germs before making the bed.
Air out Blankets
Similarly, every two to three weeks you should strip off any blankets that are used to sleep with or simply sit on the bed and air them out, to get rid of anything that has gathered in the material over time.
Cushions and Teddies
In addition to airing out and cleaning any blankets on the bed, it is important to wash any cushions and teddies that lay on the bed as they will also gather bacteria and germs.
Wash Pillows and Duvets
You should wash your pillows and duvets at least once or twice a year. Double duvets will have to be taken to a launderette although other items such as pillows and single duvets should fit into your washing machine at home. That being said, it is important not to overcrowd your washing machine with everything at once, as it won’t wash things as well as it should, unless there is still a little space left. A trick for how to judge if your washing machine is too full is to try and fit your arm in, if there is enough space left to fit your arm there is enough space for the machine to work properly.
Change your pillows
A trick to know when you need to change your pillow is to balance it across your arm – it should balance well. If not and it leans to one side it’s most likely because of the build up of sweat and other nastiness in the pillow causing the one side to become slightly heavier. If this happens it’s best to just buy a fresh pillow.