Think you and your partner are the only two snuggling up to each other at night in your lovely bed? Think again.
You might have plenty more bed buddies in the sack with you at night, and not the handsome, made-of-dreams kind…
Before you go to bed, think back to the last time you washed your pillow properly. Research shows that a whopping 33 per cent of it could be made up of bugs, germs and dead skin.
Here are some reasons to get a different kind of busy between the sheets before you hit the sack tonight…
We had some serious heebie-jeebies writing this!
Open Your Windows
Dust mites, moths, bacteria and mould thrive in still, warm conditions, so get fresh air circulating around your room by opening windows and other airways. Ten minutes everyday is all you need.
Check Your Pillows
Hair, moisturiser, sweat…we don’t have the heart to share what else is in your pillow! Check how clean your pillow is by laying it over your arm. If it lies straight and crisp, it’s clean. If it dips, it’s dirty. And that’s a tip from the ultimate cleaner, How Clean Is Your House?’s Aggie MacKenzie. You can pop most pillows in your machine, just check the label first.
Keep Your Sheets Clean
One in six of us waits a month or more to wash our sheets. Do it every fortnight, every week if you’re a couple. Wash at 60°C to kill more bacteria and dust mites. Wash your duvets and pillows once a year.
Hoover Up Your Mattress
This is a breeding ground for dust mites, which can trigger asthma and allergies. Vacuum it twice a year (with the furry hoover attachment) or get a washable mattress protector instead.
Don’t Forget Your Floor
We don’t know what you do on your floor, but one thing’s for sure, you need to keep it clean. Vacuum it once a week, reaching into corners and under the bed, where moths lay eggs. Go over wooden floors with a barely damp mop. Make sure you get all the small corners.
…And The Dirtiest Of Them All!
Your bedside table. We’re not joking. People eat in bed and put toast straight down on the surface assuming it’s clean, but it’s not. Disinfect yours at least weekly…
