making your bed in summer is bad for your health

On any given day we barely spend 45 minutes organizing and maintaining our homes, according to a study in which the Autonomous University of Barcelona. And of them, we only need seven to make the perfect bed, the one that tucks us into a luxury hotel and has little to do with stretching the sheets every morning, the habit that seems essential to guarantee a good rest. It is? For a good part of the population, those who refuse to make the bed when they get up, no; no problem sleeping soundly among a mess of tangled sheets.

It is the option of many adolescents, who stoically endure the reproaches of those who live under the same roof, clinging to a single argument in their defense: why make an effort if the undo in just a few hours? Well, the reproaches are over; There is an argument in favor of lazy and ‘deniers’ of a well-made bed. Even though despite what is ordered, it turns out that doing it as soon as you get up is a very unclean habit, according to a study by the Kingston University. “The bed can harbor an average of 1.5 million house dust mites, smaller than a millimeter and which cannot be seen with the naked eye,” says the British doctor. Stephen Pretiove, who advises not making the bed precisely as a method of getting rid of them. “The Mites of dust they feed on human skin scales. The allergens they produce are easily inhaled during sleep and are an important cause of diseases such as asthma,” says the expert.

The scientists Kingston also found the solution to the problem, according to computer models. “We know that mites can only survive by ingesting water from the atmosphere using small glands on the outside of its body. Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the bed sheets and the mattress, so the mites become dehydrated and possibly die,” Pretlove said.

On the other hand, those who make the bed as soon as they get up enclose this invisible army between the sheets that, once we get into it, can cause various allergies, if there is already a genetic predisposition. “Contact with the allergen present in dust mites can trigger rhinitis, an asthma attack, conjunctivitis or even atopic eczema,” warns the doctor Catherine Quéquet, expert in Immunology and Allergy and author of the book ‘Les nouvelles allergies’ (The new allergies, editions du Rocher).

Actually, what can promote the growth of mites “is not the fact of making the bed or not when we wake up, what matters is the conditions of that bed during the night,” he corrects. Tamara Kueder Pajares, expert in psoriasis, trichology and dermocosmetics and dermatologist at AIP Clinic, the first digital hospital coordinated by Artificial Intelligence where patients can do everything telematically. “We emit body heat and humidity due to the perspiration, factors that favor the proliferation of mites at all stages of their life, from the egg to the adult. In addition, we shed small scales of skin that serve as food for mites.”

What can these invisible enemies do to us? In addition to the problems described above, “contact with them, and especially with their feces, can generate atopic dermatitis“answers Kueder. And although it affects both adults and children, it is them, and allergic people, who must take special care.

question of emotions

Beyond allergies and annoying mites, making the bed “helps us regulate ourselves emotionally,” says the psychologist Maria Gonzalez trauma and EMDR specialist at the Centta Institute. Having it done is important “because of the psychological sensation of security and well-being that it generates in us when we return home, tired or sometimes stressed, and we visualize a friendly and pleasant place to rest. The day may have been hard, but entering our room and seeing the bed well gives us a feeling of stability and wellness. Hence, many hotels put emphasis on taking care of this aspect while we enjoy our vacation,” says the expert.

“Making the bed is a gesture of assessment and self care with ourselves, it means honoring that space where our brain recharges to allow us to enjoy and live our day. At the same time, it is a space where we we heal when we are sick, resting, and also where to share privacy with another person. The bed is witness and a fundamental part of very necessary moments for our development as individuals,” says González.

So, mites provided, is it good or not to leave the bed made a mess? “Doing it offers a feeling of well-being and Peace of mind“, he assures Lara Ortega psychologist from Consulta Despertares. “We are not aware of the importance that many of the daily tasks that we perform automatically have for our well-being, and one of them is this. It is a simple action, but it can be more beneficial than it seems at first glance. The Routines help us create structure and a certain order in our daily lives. Furthermore, when we finish a task, no matter how small it may be, a feeling of psychological well-being appears. satisfaction and achievement,” he adds.

On the other hand, “therapeutically it has been proven that carrying out activities related to the maintenance of hygiene daily has a direct impact on the improvement of mood“says the expert.

To make the bed or not?

Get rid of the Mites and taking care of our mental health at the same time requires a change in habits: you can make your bed and live as cleanly as possible, it all depends on how long we let the rooms air out. bed sheets. A minimum of 20 minutes is essential, although “it will depend on the temperature and humidity,” says the doctor. Kueder. “To speed up the process, we can open the window and take the opportunity to do all the morning tasks before leaving the house. Only then, start making the bed.” It is important, above all, in summer, since body sweat creates the perfect scenario for “a greater proliferation of mites,” she emphasizes.

In addition to ventilating, how often should we wash the sheets to keep them free of mites? “If we sweat little, we ventilate well and only one person sleeps in that bed, it will be enough to wash them once a week. If two sleep, it is better to also wash them twice a week,” answers Kueder. As for the quilts Nordics, they should be washed at least twice a year. “Let’s remember that mites feed on the skin that comes off naturally and one of the places where they accumulate the most is in bedding,” says the doctor.

Even more demanding when it comes to cleaning are the professionals at Emma The Sleep Company. “Duvet duvets should be washed once a month to prevent the buildup of mites and other allergens, and complete pillows once every three to six months, or more if they become dirty for any reason,” he says. Emma Merritt, Senior Sleep Science Manager and one of the experts on the company’s Sleep team. Among her recommendations, she aims to use “a protective waterproof and quality to prevent mites from entering the mattress, avoid feather pillowswhich are also associated with a greater frequency of nighttime awakenings, and using natural materials and breathable, such as cotton or linen, good options when it comes to temperature. And, above all, wait until the clothes are completely dry before making the bed again.”

A spotless mattress

That beds are a ‘welcoming’ place for mites is a fact that is supported by figures: mattresses They are the great forgotten ones of domestic administration. In fact, one in four Spaniards, 24%, has never cleaned it, according to the results of the study ‘Habits, Attitudes and Beliefs around cleaning and welfare in Spanish homes’ – carried out by the company Kobold in collaboration with the school specialized in organization and well-being at home The Home Academy – and only a poor 44% do it very occasionally. However, “we must clean them periodically, at least four times a year, to prevent them from accumulating dirt, mites and other allergens,” he warns. Rita Cifuentes, home economist and director of The Home Academy.

To do it right, “we’ll first remove the mattress topper and wash it in the washing machine at the right temperature. Meanwhile, we will aspire and we will clean the mattress on both sides. Once clean, we will turn it over and put the part that has been attached to the headboard at the feet, this way it will last longer,” explains Cifuentes.

In any case, Emma’s experts advise using “high quality” mattresses. foam with gel memory, great for fighting dust mites, foam polyurethane high density, which usually prevents sneezing, or latexespecially breathable that helps people sensitive to not experience discomfort while sleeping.

The step before going to sleep

Before we go to bed, Kueder recommends “removing any traces of makeup, which could trap dirt and mites. Afterwards, wash your face to remove impurities, including sweat and grease. It is also beneficial to exfoliation gentle once or twice a week, to remove excess dead cellsand moisturize the skin frequently to reinforce the skin barrier and help prevent problems caused by mites.” Finally, dermatologist recommends “the night shower to eliminate possible traces of dust, mites and dirt that we have accumulated during the day on our skin and hair, and to wear clean pajamas every night.