We've long held the belief that everyone should make their bed every day (it literally helps you start your day off on the right foot — research has proven it). But a certain group of scientists disagree with us for one very dirty reason: dust mites. These critters are too small to see with the naked eye, but they're everywhere — and approximately 1.5 million are in your bed every night when you sleep (eek!).
What can you do? We thought our bed buddies were inevitable, but it has come to our attention (thanks to a segment on the Today show) that Dr. Stephen Pretlove of Kingston University told BBC News years ago that not making your bed in the morning might help. You see, dust mites thrive in a warm, moist environment. So Pretlove claims that getting rid of 'em is as simple as taking that away: "Leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die."
Frankly, that sounds a bit too good to be true (and we're not ready to part with our tidy beds!). So we asked our expert Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, for her opinion. Since dust mites are literally everywhere, she doesn't think this unmade bed strategy will make a huge difference in your home. However, Forte does recommend throwing back your bedding when you get up in the morning so some moisture might evaporate and everything can air out. Just wait to make your bed until after you've eaten your Cheerios.
And especially if you're an allergy sufferer, don't forget to wash your sheets at least every other week, replace your pillows every two years (and wash 'em occasionally, too), and take the opportunity to vacuum your mattress when you swap out your sheets.
[via TODAY
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
