While the merits of making your bed are many, science may support leaving it a mess.
For years, experts have maintained that the morning ritual can help you sleep better, have more sex, boost productivity and reduce anxiety.
However, research suggests that an unmade bed might help you avoid one major nightmarish health concern.
When a bed is made as soon as we leave it, the warmth and humidity we generate during sleep through sweat and respiration are trapped, creating a toasty microclimate that allows dust mites to flourish.
Among the most common indoor allergens worldwide, dust mites are microscopic organisms that thrive in warm, humid environments, such as bedding, mattresses, carpets and upholstered furniture.
What’s more, wintertime is the worst for dust mite proliferation, as limited ventilation and heating systems conspire to keep indoor spaces warm and insulated.
The good news is that a study conducted at Kingston University in London found that waiting to make the bed can significantly reduce the number of dust mites in and under your covers in all seasons.
Leaving the bed unmade allows trapped moisture from sleep to evaporate, creating dry, unfavorable conditions that dehydrate and reduce dust mites.
Dust mites are known to cause health problems, including skin conditions, nasal irritation and severe respiratory issues, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms.
Studies show that 10% of people and 80% of allergy sufferers are allergic to dust mite waste and their decomposing bodies.
Skin prick tests and blood tests can diagnose a dust mite allergy, while there are at-home test kits that measure dust mite levels in your home.
And, startlingly, up to a million dust mites can be moving around your mattress at any given time.
Thus, reducing dust mite levels is critical to mitigating negative effects for asthma sufferers, young children, older adults or individuals with chronic sinus or respiratory conditions.
Experts note that the solution isn’t simply to leave the bed perpetually unmade, but rather to adjust when we make it.
Instead of making the bed as soon as you rise and shine, allow your bedding to “air out” for at least an hour each day by pulling back the duvet, opening windows and leaving the bed open to fresh, moving air.
This flow helps disperse moisture and lower humidity, thereby making it more difficult for dust mites to colonize your bed.
If you don’t have much time before heading to work, make the bed when you get home to ensure a proper airing.
Experts also recommend a weekly sheet wash on a high cycle with a laundry cleanser to kill off bacteria. The bed should be deep-cleaned monthly with a vacuum and steam cleaner to remove germs and bugs. It’s also imperative to wash duvets and pillows every six months.
