9 Tips to Keep Your Mattress & Bedroom Clean
We all clean our sheets regularly, but when was the last time you considered cleaning your mattress? Once you uncover the shocking facts behind what lies beneath your sheets, you’ll likely be considering the cleanliness of your mattress much more often.
According to researchers at Ohio State University, a used mattress can contain roughly 100,000 to 10 million dust mites that feed on dead skin cells. These uninvited guests can often cause allergic reactions, and they’re not alone. Incidents of bedbug infestations have increased by around 80 percent in the past decade, leaving red itchy bites and allergic reactions in their wake.
So, now that you’re thoroughly grossed out, let’s talk about what can be done to keep your mattress clean. Having a clean mattress and bedding can not only reduce the chances of bedbug and mite infestations, but can also lead to a much better night’s sleep.
Tips for Cleaning Your Mattress (And Keeping it Clean)
Ready to roll up your sleeves and clean that mattress? Here’s a few tips we highly recommend for a more hygienic and comfy sleeping experience.
1. Clean your sheets in the hottest water possible
This will help kill any mites living on your sheets. Change your sheets once a week if possible, and every other week at the very least.
2. Baking soda is your friend
Sprinkle baking soda over your mattress while the sheets are in the wash. You can add a few drops of lavender oil or other essential oils for a bit of refreshing and relaxing aromatherapy. Allow the baking soda to sit. If you can leave it for a few hours—all the better— but let it sit for at least one hour. After that, vacuum up the baking soda. Take your time and slowly vacuum the powder to remove as many lingering dust mites as possible.
3. Steam clean for an even deeper clean
If you want an even deeper clean, you can try steam cleaning as well. Just wait until the mattress is completely dry.
4. Don’t forget to wash the pillows
Washing your pillows regularly and using pillow covers can also help cut down on pests.
Now that you’ve got a nice, clean bed, there are a few things you can do to make sure your mattress stays clean. You should still clean your bedding regularly, but these tips will help make sure your mattress stays protected and healthy.
5. Protect your mattress
One of the easiest ways to keep your mattress clean is with a mattress protector. A mattress protector is completely washable and helps provide a physical barrier that resists moisture, allergens, dust mites, mold, and mildew. Plus, you won’t even notice it’s there.
6. Quality bedding makes a differenceAntimicrobial sheets provide relief for allergy sufferers but also do wonders for any sleeper trying to keep their mattress clean. They are treated with an antimicrobial silver product protection to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew.
7. Make your bed
One survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation actually revealed that making your bed in the morning increases your chances of getting a good night’s sleep by almost 20 percent! So, leave that snooze button alone, hop out of bed, tidy those sheets, and start your day off right. Okay, this won’t technically keep your mattress clean, but trust us, it will feel good.
8. No outside clothes on your bed
It’s a good idea to make sure you never sit on your bed or mattress with your outside clothes. No disrespect to your wardrobe (we’re sure it looks amazing on you) but your clothes can carry germs, bacteria, and viruses; all things you don’t want to contaminate your pillow, comforter, sheets, or mattress. What a great excuse to get in your PJs as soon as you get home!
9. Check for signs your mattress needs to be cleaned or replaced
If you suffer from rashes, asthma, or start to feel tightening in your chest when you lie down, you might be allergic to dust mites in your mattress. If you’re waking up every morning with lower back pain, stiffness, or sore muscles or joints, an old sagging mattress could be the cause. And, of course, if you’re just not getting a good night’s rest, your mattress might be on its way out. All these signs could mean your mattress and bedding need to be cleaned or replaced.
Even if you do everything listed above, you shouldn’t keep your mattress forever. You should replace it every eight years. After that much time, your old mattress practically doubles in weight with sweat, dead skin, and millions of dust mites that can make you sick. Check your mattress tag and if it’s over eight years old, it’s time to replace. Check out Sit ‘n Sleep’s wide selection of mattresses when you’re ready for a new one.
Bonus Tips for the Rest of Your Bedroom
Your bed is part of a home ecosystem, so keeping your bedroom clean is vital to making sure your bed and mattress stays clean as well. Don’t forget these tips!
Bonus Tip #1. Nightly clean up
Night caps are cool but waking up to a clean house is even cooler! Set aside 15 to 20 minutes every night to take care of some of your top cleaning priorities in your bedroom. Set a timer and focus on the bigger messes in your room that pile up and create clutter. When you’re done, you’ll feel accomplished, relaxed, and ready for some well-deserved sleep.
Bonus Tip #2. Dust it off
Here’s a fun fact: in just a single gram of dust (about the weight of a paperclip), there could be hundreds of dust mites. Yikes. Too much dust can become an incredibly uncomfortable nuisance for those with allergies or asthma. And if dust gets into your HVAC system (which it’s likely to do!) it will circulate through your entire house. So, grab a microfiber duster or cloth and start dusting your bookshelves, nightstands, dressers, and ceiling fans.
Start Cleaning Today
So, yes, your mattress can make you sick, over time becoming contaminated with dust mites, germs, and bacteria. Following these tips will help you keep your mattress and bedroom in tip-top shape. We spend about a third of our life sleeping in our bed, so it’s important to make sure your mattress is protected, your sheets are clean, and your room is tidy!
