How To Maintain Your Bed

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU….

Buy a new bed?

According to the National Bed Federation a bed can deteriorate by as much as 70% over the first ten years of use, but because the process is gradual, people don't often notice how uncomfortable or unsupportive it has become. Ideally, replace your bed every seven to eight years. That might feel financially excessive, but if you break down the cost of a £1,000 bed over seven years, it works out at just 20p per night.

Change the mattress?

Your mattress may look okay to the naked eye but what’s going on inside? As The Sleep Council explains, every year you shed a pound of skin (454g) into your mattress and lose around half a pint (285ml) of moisture during your nightly shut eye. And where does it go? Deep down into your mattress. In terms of health, regular mattress replacement is vital to reduce the prevalence of house dust mites that are linked with allergies. 

If you’ve had your mattress for more than 10 years, your situation may also have changed during that time – you may have lost or gained a sleeping partner, you may have changed weight or moved to a house with a different room temperature and humidity level. The National Bed Federation estimates the average replacement cycle is around 11-12 years but you shouldn’t have a mattress any longer than eight to ten years.

Clean and turn the mattress?

A washable mattress cover will protect it from stains and perspiration, and help your mattress last longer. Wash it fortnightly with your bedding, and try turning your mattress over from side to side and end to end every few months. There are some mattresses that are designed not to be turned, so check the label first.

Wash the bedding? 

You should be washing your bedding every two weeks to keep your sleeping environment hygienic, but ideally weekly – especially in summer or if you have the heating on at night. Wash sheets and duvets in warm water – 40°C-60°C is perfect – but beware that too-high a temperatures can destroy fibres and dull patterns. Meanwhile, anything less than 60°C risks bugs and mites surviving the washing cycle. For stain removal, try an oxygenated bleach product, as traditional bleaches can cause damage. Either spot treat the stain, or put a scoop of Oxi Clean powder in the machine alongside your usual laundry detergent. Once clean, the heat from the iron can kill off any remaining bacteria on the sheets.

Change the pillow? 

Pillows are a haven for dead skin cells, dirt, oil, sweat and saliva. To provide a barrier between the surface and your skin, use protective covers and wash them regularly. You should consider changing your pillow at least once a year, especially if you wake up with tension headaches, sneezing or aches and pains or if you notice permanent stains or noticeable lumps.

Wash the duvet?

A duvet that hasn’t been washed for a year could be home to more than 20,000 dust mites. Generally, you should clean your duvet every two to three months, and at a minimum, twice a year. Synthetic fibre duvets should be washed in a large machine on a normal spic cycle at 60°C, while a feather or down filled duvet should be dry cleaned.

Air the bed?

To keep your bed fresh, pull back the bed covers for at least 20 minutes every morning to let everything air and allow body moisture to evaporate. Make sure to dust and hoover around your bed regularly too, and open windows as much as possible to let old air out and fresh air in.
 

The products we're loving to help you get a good night's sleep...

 
THE ANTI-AGEING BED
The HOGO rest system technology of this newly launched bed claims to reduces a person’s biological age by an average of 15 years. The graphite and silver mesh surrounding the bed is linked to a ground connection that generates a natural bubble, which both protects against electromagnetic pollution and clears it from the body, providing a space that is free from emissions, chemicals and non-natural elements. This system claims to improve immune defences and regulate hormones. The range also covers the entire set up – from base to pillow.

THE ANTI-SNORE PILLOW
John Lewis & Partners has launched an anti-snore pillow designed to reduce snoring frequency by up to 50%. Best suited to those who sleep on their back or side, it helps to keep the spine aligned for a comfortable and undisturbed night’s sleep. 

THE HEAT-REGULATING DUVET
Developed for NASA astronauts, the Climasoft Outlast Duvet  by Brinkhaus proactively manages heat and moisture to maintain an optimum body temperature throughout the night. It utilises phase change materials that absorb, store and release heat for optimum thermal comfort.