This is where you get down and dirty.
The bedroom may be a haven from the outside world, but it's also a haven for germs — even if it's been thoroughly cleaned.
Professional cleaners are now claiming that a person's mattress is the dirtiest item they own.
“Most people don't think about this, but the dirtiest spot in the bedroom is often the mattress,” said Kathy Turley from the cleaning service Home Clean Heroes told Lifestyle blog Apartment Therapy. “It's a breeding ground for dust mites, bacteria, and dead skin cells. Over time, these can cause allergies, asthma, and other health problems.”
Turley was one of three professionals interviewed by Apartment Therapy who deemed the mattress a veritable bacterial bouillabaisse.
In fact, this has come to light in a recent study. Ohio State University It was found that around one million dust mites, known to cause annoying respiratory problems and ugly skin issues, could be roaming around the mattress at any given time.
Although regularly washing sheets and pillowcases can help people feel like their sleeping space is clean, it isn't completely safe.
Luckily, Turley has simple ways to maintain your mattress so it doesn't become a magnet for germs.
According to the mopping expert, the first step is to remove all sheets, skirts, and mattress protectors, and then lift it off the wall for a thorough cleaning. This will give the homeowner “full access to not just the areas around the bed” but “the part of the mattress that's closest to the wall,” he explained
After taking the preparatory steps, the homeowner can clean the mattress – even if there are no visible stains on it
“You can sprinkle baking soda on your mattress and let it sit for 30 minutes to absorb odors and moisture, then vacuum it up,” he said.
But if your mattress has some unsightly stains, some heavier chemicals might be needed.
Taylor Riley, Co-Founder impact cleaning professionalBissell recommends using tools like the Little Green ProHeat to remove any tough stains.
Of course, prevention is the best defense, according to Riley, who recommends using a mattress protector and replacing your mattress every three to six months to “help maintain even wear and reduce dirt accumulation in specific areas.”
In general, experts recommend: Your mattress should be cleaned at least once a month.
Cleaning other parts of the bedroom also helps in cleaning the bed.
Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of AspenClean, claims one of the reasons behind mattress dirt buildup is the often-overlooked baseboard.
“Cleaning your baseboards regularly, ideally on a weekly basis, is important to keeping your bedding clean,” he said. “To improve your baseboard cleaning, you can use an all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloth. For hard-to-reach areas, you can first use a stiff-bristled dry brush to remove dust before wiping it down.”
In the meantime, Turley recommends washing the bed with hot water, dusting nightstands, and sweeping and mopping beneath the bed to reduce dust settling on the mattress.
