Your bed is your happy place where you go to relax and rejuvenate every night. Getting the proper hours of sleep can have a positive effect on your physical and mental health. And your bedding play a significant role in how well you sleep.
Dirty bedding is the perfect breeding ground for dust mites, bacteria, dirt, and germs. So, keeping your modern duvet cover and other bedding clean can improve the quality of your sleep significantly.
To ensure you don’t spend your time in bed tossing and turning, here’s how to take good care of your bedding.
1. Bedsheets
When you sleep, your body temperature drops, causing heat to move out of your body. This also causes overheating, which often leads to a lot of sweating when you sleep. This sweat will invite allergens and dirt in your sheets, which is why you should always keep them clean.
When shopping for sheets, buy ones made of a breathable material such as cotton, linen, bamboo, or linen-cotton blend. Such sheets will not only keep you cool at night, but they are also durable.
How often you wash your bedsheets can be a matter of preference. However, experts recommend that sheets should be washed once per week.
Before washing your sheets, look at the care tag and follow the provided instructions when cleaning them. Once your sheets are clean, hang them in the sun to dry. The sunshine helps kill germs and allergens.
You can place your sheets in the dryer during cold weather and use the tumble dry on medium heat setting to dry them. If you’re sensitive to allergens, ironing your sheets will eliminate any remaining dust mites and other allergens. Besides, ironing gives your bedsheets a smooth and crisp finish.
Once done, store your sheets in a clean, dry place until you need them.
2. Pillows
To protect your pillows, encase them in pillows cases. Pillow covers are easily washable, plus they will keep your pillows clean. Pillow covers should be washed once every week, just like your sheets.
When buying your pillows, choose the soft ones if you’re a stomach sleeper. However, if you’re a back or side sleeper, go for a firm pillow that will provide you with ample support.
Pillows should be washed at least once every three months. Again, follow the care instructions when cleaning them. Some pillows, such as down feather pillows, may require you to dry-clean them, while others, such as the memory foam pillows, need to be washed by hand. Fortunately, most pillows are machine washable, but you’ll still need to check the label for cleaning instructions.
Rinse your pillows at least twice to get rid of any soapy residue. Once clean, put your pillows in the dryer on a low-heat cycle. Constantly fluff the pillows when drying with the help of dryer balls. Leave the pillows in the sun or in a well-ventilated room to dry them completely.
Pillows should be replaced at least once every 1 or 2 years, depending on the material.
3. Duvets and Comforters
If you want to keep your duvet clean, use a duvet cover. A cover will also prolong the life of your duvet or comforter by protecting it from frequent wear and tear.
Wash your duvet cover as often as you wash your sheets.
The duvet should be washed at least once every three months. Read the label instructions before washing your duvet or comforter. If your duvet is too large to fit in your washing machine, you can always contact a Laundromat for a professional clean.
4. Mattress
Using a mattress cover is the best way to keep your mattress clean. The mattress cover should be washed as frequently as you wash your sheets.
Flip your mattress once every month to prevent sagging and ensure your weight is well distributed in your bed.
Mattresses also accumulate dirt and germs, so you can opt to place yours in the sun to kill bacteria and other allergens. Also, vacuum your mattress regularly and spot clean it using a paste made of white vinegar and baking soda to remove stains.
A high-quality mattress can last up to 50 years. However, if you notice that your mattress is giving you a stiff back, maybe it’s time to replace it, as this means it has lost its cushioning.
Other tips that can help take care of your bedding include:
· Keep pets away from your bedding as they can cause accumulation of pet dander and dirt on your bedding
· Make your bed daily to keep your bedding clean and your bed neat
· Don’t drink or eat in your bed as this can cause a buildup of dirt, stains, crumbs, and spills
· Open your bedroom windows frequently to let in the fresh air in your bedroom
In closing, we’ve given you advice on how to protect and keep your bedding clean. Hopefully, you’ll follow our tips, so you can enjoy sinking into a clean bed every night after a long day.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
