With increased time indoors, many people are finding it necessary to freshen up and disinfect their living spaces in order to maintain a clean and healthy environment. The bedroom should be a top priority for this cleaning spree since we all spend most of our hours in this room sleeping and relaxing. Experts at mattress stores in San Diego suggest dedicating a little more time and energy to tidying up our bedrooms not only to improve overall health but also to improve our mood.
Think about it: when was the last time you cleaned your mattress? Spending some extra time on a bedroom cleaning routine will transform your space into a safe haven of comfort and cleanliness. Once you have tackled this area of your home, you will feel even more empowered to clean the rest of your living space.
What should I clean in my bedroom?
Experts at the San Diego mattress stores often tell customers to think beyond the basic bedroom cleaning habits. Yes, we should all wash our blankets and comforters on a consistent basis. However, there are so many other areas of the bedroom that are neglected on a weekly or even monthly basis.
Start at the bottom. On average, carpet is known to collect about 200,000 bacteria per square inch, which is more than anyone can say for a toilet seat. Dust, dirt, and hairs can clog up the carpet fibers, which is why it is important to vacuum every week. For people with allergies, this cleaning routine becomes necessary. For other kinds of bedroom flooring like hardwood, you still want to practice weekly sweeping and mopping in order to avoid germ buildup.
Once you have finished with the floors, move on to curtains, lamps, and other similar stationary items that have the potential to collect dust. Most curtain fabrics are fine in the washer; although, they can be hung to dry. Lint rollers are a great tool for cloth lampshades, cushions, and throw pillows. You can also wipe down harder surfaces with a damp washcloth to pick up dust and dirt.
Other places that may require some attention are doorknobs and light switches. These are the areas that are most frequently touched. According to the CDC, about 80% of germs are spread from person to person by not properly washing hands. So, you may consider disinfecting areas of your bedroom and home that have consistent human contact. You can utilize anti-bacterial wipes or create your own solution with bleach and water. For every cup of bleach, you should mix in five gallons of water. If you are mixing your own disinfectant solution, be sure to cover your exposed skin and wear gloves.
Finally, you will want to move on to the biggest and most important item in your bedroom: your bed. Your mattress, pillows, and sheets deserve particular care when you are cleaning your bedroom. Here, we will discuss the most successful cleaning methods for each component of your bed.
Mattress Cleaning
Many people don’t remember the last time they cleaned their mattress. In fact, many people don’t even remember the last time they bought a mattress. If you have been holding on to the same mattress for 7 or 8 years, it may be time to look for a new one at the mattress stores in San Diego. Old mattresses, even if well maintained, cannot provide the optimal level of rest you deserve.
Once you have a quality, updated mattress to sleep on, you will want to maintain it by purchasing a mattress protector. With a high-quality mattress cover, you won’t have to worry about yellowing stains from accidental spills or dust buildup. Mattress covers allow your mattress to retain its freshness and durability so that you can keep your mattress for as long as its lifespan allows. There are different mattress protectors on the market with slight variations in thickness and design. Some will provide extra cushion and others are designed to go unnoticed, even when you toss and turn. Follow the care instructions for your mattress protector on the label. Most covers can be thrown in the wash with sheets and other bedding.
If a mattress protector isn’t for you or if you just want to keep your mattress extra clean, you can always use a special vacuum attachment to clean the surface of your mattress. This will help eliminate any dust, dirt, and hairs that have accumulated over time.
Pillow Cleaning
Now, we move on to pillows. Like mattress covers, pillow covers are essential to avoiding dust and germ accumulation on pillows and they are easier to wash than the pillow itself. However, in order to take advantage of this convenience, you need to wash your pillow covers and pillowcases on a consistent basis. Business Insider revealed that pillows can collect as many as 16 kinds of fungus and fungus spores, bacteria, oil, and sweat during our sleep cycles. This is why it is so important to have a cleaning routine. For pillows that are washable, hot water is the best solution. Other pillows can be thrown in the dryer on high heat to kill some germs.
Bedsheet Cleaning
Clean sheets are a wonderful thing if only to feel that washed fabric, soft and warm from the dryer. However, there are other, health-related reasons to wash your bedsheets every week. People can shed up to 15 million skin cells per night, which means that you are constantly accumulating dust on your sheets. For people with allergies, this is a particular problem. In addition to dust, your natural sweat can cause bacteria to form. During the summer, when you are prone to more sweating, you should pay particular attention to cleaning your sheets.
According to a study done on 1,000 people in the United States, most people change their sheets every 24 days. Single people tend to fall closer to 37 days while married couples are more likely to change sheets every 20 days. The moral of the story? People don’t wash their sheets as often as they should!
Now that you have some tips for keeping your bedroom clean, you can spend a little more time sprucing up your space. Cleaning has both physical and mental benefits. Not only can you optimize your room to be a healthy, germ-free environment, but you can also revitalize your mood and lower your stress levels. A bedroom that looks, smells, and feels clean is a bedroom that you will be happier to live in.