Politics
You’ve been cleaning your bed wrong – why you must wash your duvet every 3 months & mattress weekly to avoid dust mites
THERE’S no better feeling than sinking into a perfectly made bed at the end of the day with the feeling of freshly washed bed sheets on your skin.
But it’s not just your bed sheets you need to keep clean but your pillows, duvet and mattress too – despite many people avoiding this step.
Many of us are cleaning our bed all wrong as experts reveal what we should really be doing[/caption]
What’s more, online bedding retailer Bed SOS, revealed we should be washing our sheets at least once a week, despite a huge six in ten (67%) Brits letting weeks go by without stripping the bed.
Even with clean bed sheets, though, where you snooze can attract pesky dust mites so there are some extra steps you need to take – including vacuuming your mattress
Cleaning expert and Love2Laundry owner, Nadeem Abbas, says, “Dust mite waste is a highly common allergy in the UK and causes similar symptoms to hayfever all year round. Dust mites can also cause additional breathing problems for those with asthma.”
Here, Nadeem’s reveals what we SHOULD be doing to our bed to keep it clean.
We should be washing our sheets at least once a week, but six in ten admit to letting weeks go by before washing[/caption]
1. Make sure bedding is washed once a week
Nadeem said bed sheets should be washed at 60 degrees which is the only way to kill off bacteria and dust mites.
To make the bed feel like hotel quality linen, she suggests adding rice-water starch into the fabric conditioner part of the machine – and yes, she means the remaining water from cooking rice.
She also suggests using white vinegar instead of fabric softener for a cleaner and crisper wash – and you’ll be sleeping like a baby in super soft sheets.
2. Vacuum your mattress (every time you change your sheets )
We might be doing it occasionally, or not at all, but Nadeem says we should be vacuuming our mattress every time we change our sheets – and that’s every week.
This is to stop excess buildup of dead skin, dust and mites and also remember to flip the mattress too and vacuum both sides.
Nadeem says it’s not just dust mites that are lurking in your mattress, but dead skin cells, types of fungi, bacteria and gallons of sweat all lay beneath the sheets too.
She suggests sprinkling bicarbonate of soda over the area and leave it for an hour before sucking it up with the hoover.
We should be vacuuming our mattress every time we change the sheets, that’s every week[/caption]
3. Don’t forget your pillows
You probably chuck your pillow cases in the wash with your bed sheets, but you should be washing your pillows every four months, too.
Up to a third of a pillow’s weight can be made up of dead skin cells and invisible mould, so these need to be washed every few months.
Be sure it’s on a low spin cycle as not to ruin them, or simply hand wash them with warm water and shampoo before hanging them on a drying rack or washing line.
Mrs Hinch uses lavender essential oils on her pillows before putting the cases back on them to give a lovely fresh scent, which is perfect to help you drift off to sleep.
4. Was your duvet every three months
Even if you’re washing the cover frequently, your duvet can store a heap of bacteria, and it the perfect spot for dust mites.
If fact, a duvet that hasn’t been washed for one year can contain more than 20,000 dust mites, according to the brand, which can cause breathing problems, sneezing, coughing and asthma attacks, as well as skin and eye irritation
It’s important to wash it on a gentle spin cycle every three months using non-bio detergent – but check the care labels first.
Once it’s washed the duvet must be completely aired and dried out befor popping it on the bed, so be sure to choose a nice sunny day to allow it to dry.
Pillows and duvets should be washed every few months also, to avoid dust mites and bacteria[/caption]
5. Remember other soft furnishings
It’s easy to forget but decorative cushions, throws and fabric headboards have to been cleaned regularly too – even if you’re not sleeping IN them.
Nadeem says you can do this with some antibacterial fabric spray, which will get rid of odours and bacteria as well as dust.
Danny Richmond, Managing Director of bed and mattress retailer, Bed SOS, said: “It is horrifying to know what can be lurking in the bed with you, and dust mites can be a serious problem, especially for those who aren’t washing their bedding, let alone their duvet and pillows.
“Mattresses are an investment and can last a lifetime with proper care, cleaning and maintenance, so not only is taking care of our beds, mattresses and bedding good for our health, but it can also save us money in the long run.”
Sunbeams – Britain’s biggest baby competition is back, with £1000 up for grabs!
BRITAIN’S biggest baby competition is back and we are looking for the King or Queen of the crèche.
The Sun is hunting for Britain’s bonniest baby.
Not only could your child be crowned the cutest baby, there’s also an £1,000 prize up for grabs.
Think your baby has a winning smile? Well, entering couldn’t be easier.
Simply upload a pic – and give us a little info – on our entry form.
Note: you must be a parent or legal guardian of the baby to enter.
We can only accept a photo if you’ve taken it yourself, or have permission to upload it and enter from the person who did.
And the photo must not have been edited or altered with a filter.
Finally, your baby must be aged two or under on 12 April, 2021 – the last day for submissions – and a UK resident.
Our panel of judges will choose 48 finalists from all the entries.
Parents/guardians of the babies selected will be notified by email before 18 April, when the public vote begins, right here on The Sun.
All good? Best of luck
Most read in Fabulous
Meanwhile, this Doctor reveals gross dust mite warning and says you must bin your pillow every two years.
And a cleaning fanatic reveals how to refresh your pillow WITHOUT having to wash it & fans are rushing to try it.
Plus this mum says you’ve been washing your bedsheets all wrong – and buttoning them up is a must.
