Struggling to get *** good night’s sleep, it might not actually be you, it could be your bed. Your sleep gear doesn’t last forever, but it’s not like everything has an expiration date stamped on it. So, how long is your mattress and your pillows supposed to last? And why does that matter? Here’s what the experts had to say. People used to say, you know, every 10 or 12 years, you’re supposed to replace your bed. Then somebody came around and said it should be every 6 or 7 years. This has more to do with marketing, I think, than it does to do with real science. Instead of circling *** date on the calendar, listen to your body. If you wake up after having had, let’s say 6.5 to 7 hours of sleep, and you’re stiff or sore or you feel any pain, and this happens to you 3 times in *** given week, your body is trying to tell you it’s time for *** new sleep surface. What about your pillows? The ones that are the big block of foam have *** tendency to last significantly longer, like about 3 years or so, but when you’ve got something that’s not *** foam-based pillow, believe it or not, about 18 months, generally *** head weighs about 8 pounds, and so the structural integrity of these squishy pillows has *** tendency over time to kind of reduce. Here’s an easy way you can test your pillows at home. Fold them over and hold them in place for *** little while. When you release them, if they snap back, that means they’re still holding on to that structure. But if they stay folded over, that means that structure is gone and it’s probably time to get rid of them. So I’m gonna hold mine down. I’m gonna let this go. OK, so my pillows are still good. I don’t need to replace this one yet. What about your sheets? Those don’t exactly have *** shelf life beyond wear and tear, but the material matters. Sheets turn out to be *** pretty big deal because they can trap heat underneath those covers, natural fibers and 300 to 400 threads. Red count seems to be what works well. If you’re not ready to replace anything just yet, even something as simple as adjusting your temperature can help improve your sleep quality. What I tell people all the time is cooler is better. I would say somewhere between 65 and 72 degrees. Finally, and I’m admittedly terrible at this one. Get off your phone. Scrolling in bed trains your brain to associate the space with being awake and not winding down. Reporting in New York, I’m Ali Jasinski.
The surprising reason you shouldn’t make your bed first thing
“You want to give it a chance to dry out and cool off before making the bed,” explains Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab.
If you make your bed as soon as you get up, you’re far from alone. Many of us have heard that it’s something we should be doing to get the day started, but surprisingly, cleaning pros now say you shouldn’t make the bed immediately.So if you’re a procrastinator by nature, consider this your permission to put off this task until you’ve had your coffee! Many people regularly open windows to make their home feel fresh. You might notice that when you don’t air out your house, it smells a bit stale or feels damp.According to Carolyn Forté, executive director of the GH Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, your bed isn’t so different. It needs to air out for a little while before you go ahead and make it look smooth and tidy. If you’re worried you’ll forget to come back and make it after it’s aired out, you can always set a timer or reminder. If you’re still skeptical about giving up your A.M. bed-making routine, experts note that slightly delaying it can actually help your bed stay cleaner and more comfortable in the long run. Keep reading for all the details on this surprising recommendation from cleaning experts, plus tips on how to keep your mattress clean. Why you should wait to make your bedIt’s normal to sweat throughout the night, which leads to moisture buildup on your sheets and pillows. When you make your bed right away, you’re not giving your bedding any time to air out. “If you sweat at night, there’s dampness there, and the bedding is warmed from your body heat, so you want to give it a chance to dry out and cool off before making the bed. Allergens, like dust mites, and germs, like bacteria, thrive in warm, moist conditions,” Forté said.How long is long enough? If you make your bed right away (like me), the good news is you don’t have to change your morning routine too much. By the time you’re done with your morning cup of joe, it should be okay to resume your bed-making habits.”Pull down the covers a bit and remove and fluff the pillows. Then in about 30-60 minutes, it should be good to make. You can always give the sheets a feel to make sure they’re dry,” Forté said. “Making the bed every day is an important step to keeping your home organized and tidy, and a good habit to get into.”How to keep your mattress cleanWhile airing out your bedding every morning will help you avoid excess moisture buildup, there are a few other tactics you can try as well. “To keep the mattress and pillows clean and dampness-free, I recommend using pillow liners and mattress pads for extra protection,” Forté said. “Some are even moisture-resistant.”Regardless of how you make your bed or the type of bedding you use, you should still clean your mattress regularly. That means using the upholstery tool on your vacuum cleaner to remove any dust, steaming it with a garment steamer to kill dust mites, and spot-cleaning stains throughout.
If you make your bed as soon as you get up, you’re far from alone. Many of us have heard that it’s something we should be doing to get the day started, but surprisingly, cleaning pros now say you shouldn’t make the bed immediately.
So if you’re a procrastinator by nature, consider this your permission to put off this task until you’ve had your coffee!
Many people regularly open windows to make their home feel fresh. You might notice that when you don’t air out your house, it smells a bit stale or feels damp.
According to Carolyn Forté, executive director of the GH Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, your bed isn’t so different. It needs to air out for a little while before you go ahead and make it look smooth and tidy. If you’re worried you’ll forget to come back and make it after it’s aired out, you can always set a timer or reminder.
If you’re still skeptical about giving up your A.M. bed-making routine, experts note that slightly delaying it can actually help your bed stay cleaner and more comfortable in the long run. Keep reading for all the details on this surprising recommendation from cleaning experts, plus tips on how to keep your mattress clean.
Why you should wait to make your bed
It’s normal to sweat throughout the night, which leads to moisture buildup on your sheets and pillows. When you make your bed right away, you’re not giving your bedding any time to air out.
“If you sweat at night, there’s dampness there, and the bedding is warmed from your body heat, so you want to give it a chance to dry out and cool off before making the bed. Allergens, like dust mites, and germs, like bacteria, thrive in warm, moist conditions,” Forté said.
How long is long enough?
If you make your bed right away (like me), the good news is you don’t have to change your morning routine too much. By the time you’re done with your morning cup of joe, it should be okay to resume your bed-making habits.
“Pull down the covers a bit and remove and fluff the pillows. Then in about 30-60 minutes, it should be good to make. You can always give the sheets a feel to make sure they’re dry,” Forté said. “Making the bed every day is an important step to keeping your home organized and tidy, and a good habit to get into.”
How to keep your mattress clean
While airing out your bedding every morning will help you avoid excess moisture buildup, there are a few other tactics you can try as well. “To keep the mattress and pillows clean and dampness-free, I recommend using pillow liners and mattress pads for extra protection,” Forté said. “Some are even moisture-resistant.”
Regardless of how you make your bed or the type of bedding you use, you should still clean your mattress regularly. That means using the upholstery tool on your vacuum cleaner to remove any dust, steaming it with a garment steamer to kill dust mites, and spot-cleaning stains throughout.
