It’s easy to forget about bedroom hygiene, by the time you’ve finished work or had a long day you just want to slip into bed and fall asleep. Which is why it’s so important to make sure that your bedroom, mattress and bedding is as clean as possible to help you rest soundly.

One of the most overlooked parts of home cleaning is bedsheets and washing them correctly. We’re going to give some top tips to ensure your bedroom is a haven for health and relaxation.

• What temperature should I wash my bedding on?
• Mattress protectors to keep your bed clean
• How often should I wash my bedding?
• Duvet cleaning tips
• How can I keep my bedroom healthy to avoid illness?

What temperature should I wash my bedsheets?

Whilst there’s been a big drive to reduce washing temperatures for clothes down to 30 degrees bedsheets are in a different category. Take for example the fact you’re spending 7-9 hours each night in bed. Over a week that’s between 49-63 hours where you’re in direct contact with duvets, bedding and linen. Whilst a 30-degree machine wash may keep a t-shirt clean that you’ve worn for a day or two it won’t cut it for your bedding. You probably wouldn’t wear the same top or pants for that amount of time, so a 30-degree wash simply isn’t intensive or hot enough to kill bacteria.

When washing bedding you want to wash at 60 degrees on a long wash ie 2 hours plus to make sure that any sweat, dander, dust or other nasties are killed and then removed.

Using a mattress protector to keep your bedroom clean

Another top tip is to make sure you’re using a mattress protector on your mattress. We can’t stress this enough. Given everyone sweats and perspires during the night this is the only sensible way to avoid sweat and fluids soaking into the mattress. Thus breeding bacteria and other potential allergens that could end up disturbing your sleep or worst case making you ill. You can’t put your mattress into the washing machine so the next sensible step is to use a removable mattress protector which can then be washed, at 60-degrees, acting as a barrier between any fluids and you’re lovely mattress. This not only keeps your bedroom cleaner and therefore you in a healthier sleep regime but also prevents sweat from corroding your mattress spring unit or damaging your upholstery fibres.

Mattress protectors are relatively cheap and should be washed weekly along with your bedding. You can then replace these every year, recycling the old one which will help keep your mattress looking as good as new.

How often should I wash my bedding?

The first thing to say is it depends on how often you sleep in your bed. With different lifestyles and work regimes, some people may only spend part of their week at home. As a rule of thumb, your bedding should be washed every 7 nights sleep.

Remember the 49-63 hours of contact in 7 nights sleep? So every 7th night you should be washing our bedding. If you’re stuck for time or in a rush then the priority should be the bed sheet you lie on directly over the duvet. However, to ensure that all bacteria is killed and your bedroom is clean washing all sheets and airing your duvet is essential.

Airing your duvet

If you use a duvet in a cover on your bed then a weekly airing is also advisable. This helps remove any dampness that may have built up in a warm bedroom and let any dust fall away from the duvet which can then be vacuumed up with your bedroom cleaning regime. You can either hang it over a bannister or simply give it a shake with a window open and then leave hanging over a chair for an hour or so. The easiest way to do this is when you’re washing your bedding. A clothes horse can be useful also to help air your duvet. By ventilating your bedroom with an open window you’re helping to keep the duvet dry and free from bacteria that love damp warm conditions.

How can I keep my bedroom clean to avoid illness?

We get asked often whether someone’s bedroom could be making them ill, mainly due to allergies or respiratory problems during the night. Waking up wheezing, coughing or generally disturbed sleep could be down to your mattresses cleanliness. It’s fair to say that a lax cleaning regime in the bedroom can lead to an increase in dust, bacteria, dampness and other unwanted conditions. All of which are not ideal for sleep or well being. We have written a detailed article here on how to keep your bedroom clean in 4 easy steps. To summarise keeping your bedroom healthy can be achieved relatively easily by the following:

1. Vacuum your mattress monthly both sides with a small vacuum attachment – This removes dust and dead skin
2. Use a mattress protector – which can be washed at 60 degrees to kill bedroom bacteria
3. Turn & Rotate your mattress monthly – which will ensure you’re keeping it well aired and also help extend the life of your mattress
4. Clean under your bed frame or divan – the step which most people forget (have a look under your bed now, you may be shocked!)