We spend a third of our lives in bed and not just sleeping — apparently, we’re shedding and sweating, too. Seven Sharp reporter Mary-Jane Aggett investigates.
Science educator Dr Michelle Dickinson, also known as Nanogirl, says we sweat 100 litres into the mattress we sleep on.
“There are probably five things living in there right now,” she said as I squirmed while perched on the edge of her bed for an interview about mattress hygiene.
“We’ll start with the ones that aren’t so gross — dust mites.
“These are little mites that like to eat your skin dander — dead skin cells — and you’re providing a buffet for these dust mites every single day.”
Dickinson said dust mites were only a real problem if you have eczema or allergies, but she soon went down another rabbit hole.
“Number two, bedbugs. You probably know if you have bedbugs because they’ll bite, and you’ll be scratching. Bedbugs are hitchhikers, and they come from other places.”
The way to stop bedbug infestation is to not put things on your bed, such as shoes or suitcases.
“Most likely, if you put your suitcase on a bed in a hotel, they’ll jump in and come home with you,” she said. Dickinson’s advice: “Use those stands in a hotel — don’t put your suitcase on the bed.”
And while it might seem like a fun idea to jump on the bed, don’t. We sweat 100 litres into our mattress, remember, and that dampness can create mould and fungus.
“Don’t jump on the bed because what you’re doing is jumping out all those mould and fungus spores and bringing them out into your bedroom.”
And, just when you thought it was safe, Dickinson mentioned the “b” word — bacteria.
“You’re greasy, you’re oily, you can be dirty. You might not have washed your hands before you go to bed.
“Bacteria can live in your bed. This is usually only a problem if you have open sores, open wounds.”
No furry friends
Fifty percent of pet owners let their furry friends sleep on the bed while bringing their germs with them, too.
A big “no-no”, according to Dickinson.
Don’t even get her started on eating in bed.
“I wouldn’t recommend eating in the bed — unless you want to share it with bacteria and fungus, too.”
So, how can you keep your slumber kit clean, and how often should you do it?
Rachael Quin, also known as The Housekeeper, said it’s not just the mattress — all the bedding needs to be clean to have good bedroom hygiene.
She recommends stripping the bed and vacuuming the mattress once a week — or more frequently if you have allergies. Leave the bed in direct sunlight or a well-ventilated room for a couple of hours. And don’t forget to vacuum the headboard and any other surface in the room.
Next, give your mattress a spritz with an upholstery spray.
“You can use one designed for pets — it will have a fragrance in it — and it should have an antibacterial agent in it,” she said.
“You’re just going to mist it, then let it dry out completely.”
Wash your sheets weekly, and put your pillows and duvets in the sun for a freshen-up.
And a sneaky tip to stop fighting with the duvet cover: use a sheet.
“Do what the hotels do,” she said, whipping out a crisp white sheet.
“Use a sheet — a flat sheet for your duvet cover. I just put it on the top of the duvet inner and then tuck it under.
“It just gives a better finish and is much easier to wash every week.”