When you crawl into bed at the end of the day, do you know what you’re getting yourself into? If you don’t know how to clean your mattress properly, you might find a bunch of stuff. real Not wanting to hide under the sheets when you sleep – i.e. tiny poop.
“Dust mites burrow into your mattress and poop in it, so over time your mattress becomes filled with feces,” says Payel Gupta, MD, an allergist in New York City. (And, she adds, those of us with dust allergies are actually allergic to poop.) Before you rush off to order yourself a new mattress on Amazon, it’s worth taking a moment to learn how to clean it. It’s true that you can’t just toss your mattress in the washing machine, but trust us: it’s actually not that complicated.
Why do you need to clean your mattress?
A dirty mattress isn’t just disgusting to the people you sleep with. It can backfire on your sleep and health.
Inhaling dust mite feces can trigger allergies.
Throughout the day, dust can accumulate around our heads and hair, says Rechelle Balanzat, founder of Juliet Cleaners in New York City. So when we lie down, we provide a feast for dust mites. If you don’t clean your mattress regularly, dust mite feces can build up over time and be released while you sleep, says Dr. Katie McCullar, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. come out. She added: “This can trigger allergies or worsen respiratory problems, leading to sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and other symptoms that can disrupt sleep.”
Dr. Gupta specifically notes that you may experience allergic asthma (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness), allergic rhinitis (runny nose, nasal congestion and mouth breathing, postnasal drip), allergic conjunctivitis (itchy eyes, watery eyes), or atopic eczema (dry, flaky, itchy skin). Any of these symptoms can make it harder to get eight hours of sleep each night.
Bread crumbs attract small animals.
Breakfast in bed may be a luxurious way to start the weekend, but it’s also the most common cause of mattress stains, says Baranzate. Dropped leftovers can also attract unwelcome bugs, she added. In particular, cockroaches and ants like to have a snack on your bed at night. Additionally, these creatures are attracted to smells, and nothing is more attractive to them than the smell of a dirty mattress.
Bodily fluids may wear down your mattress faster.
Both side sleepers and stomach sleepers leave something behind when they wake up in the morning. Night sweats, accidental bedwetting, drooling, and, ahem, extracurricular activities (especially those involving oils or lotions) can eventually soak your mattress and cause “mattress wear,” says Dr. McCuller. even if you don’t think If you soil your bed, “oils and bacteria from your skin and hair will remain every time you sleep, which can also cause your mattress to become dirty,” she adds—especially if you sleep naturally words. Another reason why experts recommend replacing your mattress every eight to ten years.
Holding a puppy comes at a price.
Allowing your pet to be your little spoon every night can also introduce pet dander and fur into your bed—not to mention the potential for unfortunate accidents. “There are a lot of people who know they are actually allergic to their dog or cat, but they just don’t want to face it,” Dr. Gupta said. “But the bedroom you sleep in does need to be a haven from allergens.” (Yes, this is still the case even if you have a “hypoallergenic” Doodle, as you can still get symptoms from these pets, adds Dr. Gupta road.)
Here’s what you need to clean your mattress
It should be obvious that a mattress is not something that can be thrown into the washer and dryer. So, how do you clean your mattress without investing in high-tech equipment? Luckily, all the supplies you need to clean your mattress are probably already hidden in your closet. Here are the essentials for cleaning your mattress, says Balanzat:
- dishwashing detergent
- baking soda
- white vinegar
- vacuum
- a clean cloth
- hydrogen peroxide
