On average, we spend a third of our life in bed and sweat around half a pint of perspiration every night! But how often do you wash your bedding and how old’s your duvet? When was the last time you bought new pillows and changed the mattress?

Bed hygiene’s something we should probably all pay a little bit more attention to, because who wants to share their bed with pesky dust mites and scary bacteria? Here’s our top tips on how to keep your bed ultra-fresh and get a good night’s sleep safe in the knowledge there’s no nasties lurking in duvet!

Wash your bedding regularly

How regularly you wash your bed linen is a personal preference, but try to do it at least every two weeks to keep your sleeping environment hygienic.

Sheets and duvets should be washed in warm water – 40-60 degrees is perfect, as if it’s too hot it could destroy fibres and dull patterns. If you notice any stains on your bedding, try an oxygenated bleach product to remove them, instead of traditional bleach which is harsh and can damage fabrics. Either spot treat the stain, or put a scoop of oxy powder in the machine alongside your usual laundry detergent.

Once it’s clean, dry your bedding and then give it an iron. Not only does the heat from the iron kill off any remaining bacteria, but it really does help your bedding to feel like new.

Mattress care

To keep your mattress in tip-top condition, use a washable mattress cover, which will help to protect it from stains and perspiration, and wash it fortnightly with your bedding.

You should also vacuum your mattress and bed base every month or so to remove fluff and dust, but be gentle to ensure you don’t dislodge any fillings or damage tufts.

Finally, try turning your mattress over from side and side and end to end every few months to keep it as fresh as possible.

Pillows and duvets

Pillows are a haven for critters, due to a build-up of dead skin cells, dirt, oil, sweat and saliva. Lovely! To provide a barrier between you and your pillow, use protective covers and wash them regularly. Try to change your pillows annually too.

Duvets can also harbour all sorts of nasties you probably don’t want to share your bed with, so keep yours squeaky clean by laundering it at least once a year.

Day-to-day care

To keep your bed really fresh, throw back your bed covers for 20 minutes each morning to let your bed air and allow body moisture to evaporate.

Make sure you dust and hoover around your bed regularly too, and open windows as much as possible to let stuffy air out and fresh air in.

Bon sleep!