From the time we’re young children, it’s engrained into us that we should be making our beds each and every morning. After all, the sight of an unmade, messy bed doesn’t look too great. However, a study performed by Kingston University reveals that making your bed in the morning traps in dust mites that have made their way into your bed overnight, increasing the likelihood of indoor allergens.
What Are Dust Mites?
Dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed on the skin humans shed. They also thrive in moist, warm environments — like our beds. In the morning, our beds are still warm and slightly damp from us sleeping in them all night. So when you make your bed during this time, it traps the moisture and heat in the bed. This makes your bed a perfect breeding ground for dust mites, which defecate and cause asthma-like symptoms in some allergy-prone people. Should you make your bed given this context?
How Leaving Your Bed Unmade Helps
So how does not making your bed combat this? Well, when you leave the covers and sheets askew and open, it gives the bed a chance to air out. This, in combination with natural sunlight, dehydrates the dust mites and they’ll quickly die out. If you’re a neat freak and can’t deal with the sight of an unmade bed, even leaving your bed messy for a few hours in the morning will help to keep dust mite populations down.
Other Ways to Reduce Dust Mites in Your Home
There are also a few other steps you can take to eliminate mites throughout your home. When it comes to your bedding, ensure you are washing it regularly on the hot water cycle. Should you make your bed before doing this, be sure the sheets and covers are entirely dry before they are put away. You can also buy protective mattress covers that are designed to keep mite populations away from your bed. Don’t forget to wash your mattress cover regularly to keep it clean and mite-free.
Mites also thrive in carpeting and upholstered furniture. If you can do without carpeting, great. If you can’t, ensure you are vacuuming your carpets and upholstered furniture regularly, including under the furniture and under the seat cushions.
Another simple but often overlooked tip? Consider why you shouldn’t sit on your bed with outside clothes — it’s one more way to keep your sleep space as clean and allergen-free as possible.
The Role of Humidity in Dust Mite Growth
It’s also not a bad idea to install a dehumidifier in your house. You can get one that attaches to your central furnace system, although these can be a little pricey. There are also plug-in dehumidifiers that are much more affordable. Keeping the humidity out of your home is a simple way to deter mite populations from thriving.
If you’re all freaked out that your bed or home is crawling with mites, don’t worry. Dust mites are found in essentially every home, and it’s totally normal. But following these simple tips will help to keep them away, and to keep you and your family from experiencing the symptoms of indoor allergens.
