By Brian Acton
Spring cleaning is an annual tradition to open your windows, clear out the clutter, and make your home sparkle with a deep clean. But don’t overlook your bed; even if it appears fine to the naked eye, it could be in desperate need of attention. That’s because, over time, beds collect dead skin cells, sweat, pet dander, and dust mites that feed on skin.
If that grosses you out, here are six spring cleaning tips to keep your bed fresh and clean.
- Vacuum Your Mattress
A good vacuuming session will help clear your mattress of all the detritus that has been collecting for months. You should use the upholstery attachment or hose on your vacuum cleaner to clean up your mattress, even if you don’t see anything. Pay special attention to seams and pockets where dirt, dust, and dead skin can collect.
- Flip Your Mattress
Periodically flipping your mattress serves one very important purpose: it keeps your mattress from wearing out and sagging prematurely on one side. But it also helps keep your mattress clean by switching up the sides that you sleep on. At minimum, you should flip your mattress every six months. It will help you keep your mattress clean and extend its lifetime!
- Clean Your Bedding
You should regularly launder all your bedding, including sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and anything else you sleep with. Bedding collects the same materials as your mattress and is prone to stains. Strip your mattress and wash your bedding at least a few times a month.
- Clean Your Pillow
Pillows should be regularly washed, as your head and face come into direct contact with them for hours at a time. They build up the same materials as your mattress and sheets, and you probably want to minimize the amount of dust mites that live where you lay your head. You’ll want to wash your pillows regularly, fluff them daily, and replace them when they’re old and worn out. For more tips on keeping your pillows clean, check out our
blog on that very subject.
- Get a Mattress Topper
Mattress toppers are cushions that sit between your sheets and mattress, offering you additional support or comfort. But they also act as a protective layer for your mattress, guarding it from spills, stains, and common materials like dead skin cells. They’re usually easy to clean - many types of mattress toppers can be thrown in the wash with your other bedding. Just remember, a mattress topper doesn’t eliminate the need to periodically clean and flip your mattress.
- Set Yourself a Reminder
Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to clean your bed, but you should be doing this more than once a year. Some activities, like washing your sheets, should be performed several times a month. If you have trouble adhering to that schedule, set calendar reminders to keep you honest.
