Your bedroom could cause you serious health issues

The bedroom is one of the important spaces in the home, with Brits spending 27 years on average in bed during their lifetime. It’s therefore imperative to make it a clean and safe place as your bedroom could cause you serious health issues unless addressed. For that you need to know where the dirtiest place in your bedroom is?

Given how much time we spend in them, it’s no surprise that our bedrooms can become a breeding ground for bacteria, particularly in certain areas that you might not expect. With this in mind, Martin Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, has revealed the dirtiest places in our bedrooms and how to clean them.

1. The mattress in your bedroom could cause you serious health issues

Anything else that you used every single day, like a bath tray or kitchen utensil, would typically be cleaned regularly without question. And yet, despite sleeping on them every night, many people neglect their mattresses; rarely cleaning or replacing them as often as they should.

“Recent studies have shown that the average mattress contains up to 10,000 dust mites.²  Practically invisible to the naked eye, dust mites feast on the dead skin we shed and flourish in warm, moist conditions. It probably won’t shock you then to learn that your mattress is one of the main places that dust mites like to live. It’s warm, cosy, and constantly fed with the fluid and dead skin that we lose at night. 

These dust mites can then produce more than 2 million droppings, which are known to aggravate allergies. In many cases, it’s the enzymes released in dust mite droppings that cause or inflame certain allergic reactions – particularly asthma or other associated breathing problems.” — Martin Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay

Most manufacturers recommend that you give your mattress a once-over at least twice a year, though there’s no harm in doing it more frequently. We recommend giving yours a seasonal clean roughly once every three months, as this tends to be when you’ll need to flip or rotate your mattress too.

2. Tips for cleaning your mattress at home

“Airing your mattress regularly is a great way to eliminate dust mites and odour. Every morning, turn back your covers rather than making the bed to let your sheets breathe, and when you change the bed, leave the mattress to air for at least 30 minutes before putting on new sheets.

A vinegar spray is another way to repel dust mites, bed bugs and other allergens. The acidity in vinegar acts as a deterrent, and mixing some with water and a few drops of essential oil of your choice will leave your bed smelling fresh. We recommend lavender for a sleep-enhancing scent, or tea tree oil, which bed bugs hate. Distilled white vinegar is best, and the solution should be sprayed, rather than poured, over the mattress.”

3. Light switches, lamps and fan controls

Light switches are what are known as ‘high touch surfaces’, which means they are frequently touched multiple times a day. Despite light switches being one of the most frequently touched items in our homes, a recent survey found that one-fifth of Brits confess to cleaning them only once a year or even less.

“Light switches are one of the first things we touch in the morning and one of the last things we touch before we go to sleep. Despite light switches being a key part of our bedroom routines, they’re often not cleaned regularly – if at all, meaning they can harbour skin bacteria like Staphylococcus and Streptococcus and even E. coli if hand hygiene is neglected.

Bedside lamp touchpoints can be even more overlooked than wall light switches, particularly if the switch is hidden on a long lead or tucked under the rim of the lampshade. And for those who like to fall asleep with a cool breeze, this goes for fan controls too. Regularly wiping down wall switches, lamp and fan controls with a mild disinfectant spray can help reduce the build-up of germs and keep the bedroom a clean, warm and inviting space for rest.”

4. Headboards

Headboards are one of the closest surfaces to where we rest at night, yet 1 in 3 admit that they’ve never cleaned theirs.³ Fabric headboards in particular can be the worst offenders for harbouring bacteria, often trapping dust, skin flakes, and oils from our hair and skin and can even become a breeding ground for mould.

“Many of us are guilty of sitting in bed with wet hair wrapped in a towel after a shower, but what you might not realise is that this can encourage mould growth over time, particularly on fabric, upholstered or wooden headboards. These mould spores can then worsen allergies and breathing difficulties, making it harder to get a good night’s sleep.

Not only this, but headboards are a common hiding spot for bed bugs, which typically lurk in warm, soft spaces like upholstered or fabric headboards. Wiping down solid headboards with a mild disinfectant and hoovering fabric ones can help reduce bacteria, dust, and mould, and even discourage pests like bed bugs, keeping the bed a cleaner, healthier place for rest.

5. Blankets and throws

As autumn approaches, the Met Office continue to issue several rain and thunderstorm warnings across the UK, which means many of us will be reaching for extra layers overnight. And while most people tend to stay on top of their duvet hygiene, blankets and throws can often be neglected. Shockingly, 36% of Brits confess to washing their blankets just once a year.⁵

“Just like duvets, sheets and pillowcases, blankets and throws absorb our sweat, dead skin cells and body oils throughout the night, making them the ideal habitat for bacteria and dust mites to build up. As it gets colder, many of us will be wrapped up tightly overnight and may even sleep with the heating on. This can lead to increased sweat production, worsening the bacteria count.

Because blankets and throws are often kept close to our faces during sleep, they can trigger allergies and breathing issues if they aren’t washed regularly, leaving you tossing and turning through the night instead of getting proper rest. We recommend washing your blankets and throws once a week with the rest of your bedding to keep your sleep environment clean, comfortable and restorative.

6. Hot water bottle covers

Some of us may opt for hot water bottles instead, which can be an economic option for those not yet ready to switch the heating on. Hot water bottles often have soft, fabric covers, sometimes even fur, which can absorb the sweat and oils from our skin, as well as any small water leaks. This dampness creates the ideal environment for bacteria and mould to thrive.

“As the evenings get colder, hot water bottles will be making a welcome return to our bedtime routines across the nation. And while they’re refilled regularly, the fabric covers and the bacteria they can harbour are rarely given a second thought. In fact, most of us have probably never washed our hot water bottle cover.

The good news is that most hot water bottle covers are easily removable for cleaning. It’s best to check the specific instructions of your water bottle’s care label, but most can be washed alongside other items like your pillowcases or sheets on a gentle cycle. For fur, fleece or knitted covers, a mild detergent at 30°C is usually safe.”

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