Healthy Bedroom Means Regular Mattress Cleaning
It is not uncommon for people to take their mattresses for granted, as long as there is nothing visibly wrong with it (i.e. No loose springs or stains) and they can get a good night’s sleep. While our mattresses can look very snug and comfortable, with a set of clean bed sheets which are changed regularly, this is definitely not sufficient in terms of mattress cleaning.
Why You Should Clean Your Mattress
On average, you spend around one third of your life in bed. This means that over time nasty things like body oils, sweat, dead skin flakes, dried fluid residue from pets, children, other animal or human contact, not to mention millions of dust mites, which feast on the aforementioned organisms, as well as other micro organisms can develop and thrive well within the mattress. According to Ohio State University experts., it has been estimated that on the typically-used mattress there are around 10 million dust mites living deep within the mattress.
And since the dust mites are living organisms, they also have to poo. That’s right, if your mattress is well-used then it’s probably full of living waste! Pretty disgusting right?! Dust mites and their excrement are particularly bad for those suffering from skin allergies and asthma, which can be exacerbated by dust mites. Then, you could be at risk for difficulty breathing, chest tightness, or even trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath. The fabric used on mattresses is not always designed to be stain proof, as a mattress is always covered. At a push, it may be stain resistant but that does not mean it is stain-proof.
Any stains on a mattress may be difficult to remove, but the main reasons for cleaning a mattress are to extract soil and disinfect the material. If the mattress has a warranty, the warranty company may require professional mattress cleaning.
Benefits of Mattress Cleaning
Keeping Good Air Quality
Whenever we turn in bed, fine dust particles get blown in to the surrounding environment. This then gets breathed in whilst we sleep or rest.
Bad air quality has been attributed to many conditions such as asthma, irritation of the eyes, ears and throat, potentially serious respiratory conditions which cause symptons like: sneezing, wheeziness, watery eyes, upper respiratory congestion and fatigue.
Not only does the presence of dust mites affect the respiratory functions, but they can also cause skin allergies, eczema, rhinitis, etc…
Recommended Allergic-Reaction-Prevention Practice
To reduce the chances of having a bad allergic reaction, it is important to ensure regular dust and dust mites are removed thoroughly from the mattress, to keep their presence at the lowest. Doctors strongly recommend allergy patients to clean their mattress regularly as it is common for allergy patients to have their worse attacks at night when sleeping. This is because their bodies are reacting and thus protecting the body from the dust mites in the mattress. So, by minimizing contact to these allergens, one will have less allergy triggers that may cause serious health conditions.
Peace of Mind
Having a clean and hygienic mattress to sleep on will help you to sleep properly. Simply the knowledge that there aren’t millions of dust mites loitering and excreting in your bed is surely a welcome relief. A decent night’s sleep is fundamental to good overall physical and mental well-being. Whilst you are sleeping, your body is working hard to support brain function and maintain your physical health. This means that having a dust-free and clean mattress provides better sleep which, in turn, makes for better quality of life.
Other Steps to Take for a Cleaner Mattress
Even a mattress which is a few months old can carry dust mites. Therefore, in an ideal world, we would be buying new mattresses every year but obviously the convenience and cost implications of this stop us from actually doing it. Instead there are a number of other steps which could be taken to clean your mattress.
- Use allergen-proof bed covers – The fabric is more tightly woven than regular covers, which can keep dust mites from escaping your mattress.
- Wash bedding regularly and thoroughly. Once a week in very hot water is the recommended practice.
- If you are pushed for time in the week, remove the bed sheet and place a dust-absorbant sheet over the top of the mattress. These can be purchased from a local supermarket very cheaply.