For years, experts have preached the benefits of making the bed in the morning: Better sleep, higher productivity, reduced anxiety, and even improved relationships. But the conclusions of a new study tell a completely different story.
When we make the bed immediately after getting up, the moisture and heat we created during sleep through sweating and breathing remain trapped under the blanket. The result? A perfect microclimate in which dust mites thrive and multiply at an alarming rate.
What is the connection between a made bed and health problems?
Dust mites are among the most common allergens in the world. These microscopic organisms thrive in warm and humid environments – exactly like our bed after a full night’s sleep. They live in bedding, mattresses, carpets, and upholstered furniture, and are especially fond of the Israeli winter.
Why winter specifically? Because during this season ventilation is limited, we turn on heating and keep the home warm and insulated – exactly the conditions dust mites dream of.
The data is alarming: Up to a million mites can be moving around in your mattress at any given moment. 10% of the population and 80% of allergy sufferers are sensitive to mite waste and their decomposing bodies.
What happens when you don’t make the bed?
A study conducted at Kingston University in London discovered something surprising: Waiting before making the bed significantly reduces the number of mites in the bedding.
When the bed is left unmade and spread out, the trapped moisture from sleep evaporates, creating dry and uncomfortable conditions that dry out the mites and dramatically reduce their numbers.
Who is this especially important for?
Reducing dust mite levels is particularly critical for:
• Asthma patients
• Young children
• Older adults
• People with chronic sinus conditions or breathing problems
Dust mites are known to cause many health problems: Skin conditions, nasal irritation, and severe breathing problems that worsen asthma symptoms. Skin tests and blood tests can diagnose mite allergies, and there are also home testing kits that measure mite levels in the home.
So what should you do? 4 practical recommendations
1. Wait an hour before making the bed: The solution is not to leave the bed unmade forever, but to adjust the timing. Instead of making the bed immediately upon waking, let the bedding “breathe” for at least one hour each day. Pull the blanket back, open windows, and let fresh, moving air reach the bed.
2. No time in the morning? Make it in the evening: If you don’t have time before leaving for work, simply make the bed when you return home. This way you ensure the bed received sufficient ventilation during the day.
Wash the sheets at high heat with a bacteria-killing detergent
3. Wash the sheets at high heat: Experts recommend weekly washing of sheets on a hot cycle with a laundry detergent that kills bacteria. The bed itself should undergo a monthly deep cleaning with a vacuum cleaner and steam cleaner to remove bacteria and insects. It is also important to wash blankets and pillows every six months.
4. Create airflow: Airflow helps disperse moisture and lower relative humidity, making it harder for dust mites to settle in your bed. Open windows, use fans, and don’t be afraid to let the bed breathe.
Bottom line, the morning habit of making the bed doesn’t have to disappear – it just needs a slight change. One hour of waiting can make a huge difference to your health, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma.
Sometimes, the simplest things – like letting the bed breathe before making it – are the ones that can significantly improve our quality of life. So tomorrow morning, when you get up, simply pull back the blanket, open the window, and head to work. The bed will wait for you – and your health will improve too.