Bedroom Health And Hygiene.

Do you want to sleep better? Let’s have a look at bedroom health and hygiene. When you vacumm and dust your bedroom regularly, you ensure that the air is clear of allergens and dust particles, it also prevents bacteria and viruses from harbouring in you home. With a clean room and fresh air, your sleep will be better and healthier. Most people are advised to wash bedding every week, but these should be washed at a minimum setting of 60`C. A recent study found that just after one week, pillowcases can have around 17 thousand times more bacteria than a toilet seat! A mattress protector is advised to reduce the chance of sweat and skin particlesgetting into your mattress. Be sure to vacuum you mattress at least once a month, paying extra attention to buttons and piping. Wash or dry clean duvets at least twice a year in the Spring and late Summer.(Most duvets can be washed in a washing machinecheck your machine). An important tip: Leave your bed unmade to let it cool and air out on a daily basis. Warmth and moisture from your body encourage dust mite growth, bad news especially for Asthma sufferers .Get into the habit of when you`re getting ready in the morning , pull the duvet off the bed and let the bedding breathe to avoid a build up of moisture allowing those mites to thrive and then place them back later in the day. If you cannot bear to leave the bed “unmade” place them back before you leave the house. At the weekends, or on bed changing day, leave all bedding off for a few hours. Do you ever get out of the shower and then leave your wet towel on the bed, forget about it, and realise it has been there all day? Moist environments encourage mould. If you are leaving damp towels and, therefore, damp bedding, mould can grow and release spores. If you have asthma, you are likely more sensitive to these spores which can trigger your symptoms or make them worse. Instead, hang your towel outside to dry or pop it in the tumble dryer. If you have to dry them inside, make sure the room is well ventilated to avoid encouraging mould growth. Have a comfortable mattress and pillow - your sleeping surface is critical to comfort and a pain free sleep, so choose the best mattress and pillow foryour needs wisely. Visit an reputable bed shop who can give the best advice on choosing the right mattress for you .Remember mattresses don’t last forever and as we sleep on them every night , it’s important to update your old one. There is nothing nicer than a comfortable bed, pillows and excellent bedding. The sheets are important too, choose the right ones for your needs. People spend 100”s of pounds on phones, ipads etc, but never think about spending money on a good mattress! and suitable bedding this should be top priorty for your health and well being.

Try not to use ipads, iphones or even watch a tv in bed if you suffer from poor sleeping patterns. A clutter free bedroom is helpful for a calmer state of mind and cultivates a positive space for sleep. Dim the lights. Artificial lighting and light pollution have some pretty negative effects on your sleep patterns. Choose relaxing colours in a bedroom.Pale greens, -Quiet and restful, green is a soothing colour that can invite harmony and diffuse anxiety. Blue -Blues are especially known to have a relaxing effect perfect for creating a serene feeling at home,–A highly peaceful colour, blue can be especially helpful for stress management because it can encourage a powerful sense of calm.

Yellows- pale yellow is a happy colour and in a north facing bedroom, brings happiness even on a dull grey day. Talking of grey, grey can be depressing if used in a bedroom, it can seem like waking up to a grey morning every day, use it sparingly and team it with other colours or with white. Everyone has their own idea for colour in a bedroom, but reds and oranges are not advisable if you are looking for calm and serene place to relax and sleep. If you are feeling unfreshed when you wake up each day, and feel tired throughout the day, and you are not suffering from any specific health problems, it may be that your sleeping patterns are interrupted. Spend some time adressing this problem and you will benefit in the long term. Look at your bed hygiene, your mattress and pillows, the bedroom itself, the colour and decor, take advantantage of this time of the year, Spring, to improve your overall health .

by Christine Gough.