As of: March 1, 2024, 11:17 a.m
By: Nina Dudek
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You are never alone at night!
Because there are up to 1.5 million mites in the bed.
This is unhealthy and can even have a negative impact on sleep - here's how to keep your bedroom clean.
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Did you know that some women wear their pajamas for longer than two weeks?
Or theoretically up to 1,800 liters of sweat can be absorbed in a ten-year-old mattress?
If your pillow is 20 years old, 17 different species of fungi could already be living in it.
And would you have guessed that you lose around one and a half grams of dead skin cells every day?
That's almost half a teaspoon full of dead skin - and most of it rubs off while you sleep in bed.
Do you find all of this disgusting?
In fact, these disgusting facts are pure facts that most of us don't even notice.
Unfortunately, when it comes to hygiene in bed and bedroom, the motto is: “Out of sight, out of mind”.
The invisible bed companions are not only unsavory, but can also be dangerous to your health.
Table of contents
These are the 4 nastiest hygiene traps in the bedroom
Why is hygiene in bed and bedroom particularly important?
How do I know if I have mites in my bed?
Secret weapon mite vacuum
What does sleep hygiene have to do with sleep quality?
Get rid of the mites in the cot!
Top basics for your hygienically clean, feel-good bedroom
These are the 4 nastiest hygiene traps in the bedroom
The number 1 hygiene trap is pajamas.
A survey has shown that men wear their pajamas for an average of 13 days - women even wear them for 17 days.
Hygiene is different, as sleeping underwear that is worn for too long can lead to bladder infections or even skin infections.
It's best to change your pajamas or nightdress twice a week and wash them at 60 degrees.
Also often real disgusting packages: mattresses and pillows.
From dust mites to fungal spores to dander and hair, a lot of things accumulate here, which can lead to allergies or skin problems.
The only thing that helps is to ventilate well in the sun regularly and buy a new mattress or pillow every 4 to 5 years.
The humidity in the bedroom can lead to
mold growth
.
An adult loses up to two liters of sweat per night - which leads to tropical humidity.
Mold thrives in corners, behind furniture or on walls.
Proper ventilation is the be-all and end-all here.
Even if kitty or bello likes to sleep with their master and mistress:
pets in bed are a hygienic disaster.
In addition to dirt and hair, they can even bring parasites such as fleas or ticks.
Why is hygiene in bed and bedroom particularly important?
Hygiene in bed and bedroom is important not only to prevent illnesses and allergies, but also to promote restful sleep.
A clean sleep environment can help you feel more relaxed and rested, and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.
Think about your kitchen or bathroom.
How often is mopping and cleaning done here?
In most German households the answer is “almost every day after use”.
And the bedroom?
Vacuumed once a week and bed linen changed as per feel.
The mattress and pillows see fresh air no more than once a year for “spring cleaning”.
But the hygiene of your bed and sleeping space should not be taken lightly.
Because it plays an essential role in your health and well-being.
An unsanitary sleeping environment can lead to a variety of health problems, from allergies and asthma to infections and skin problems.
How do I know if I have mites in my bed?
To identify bed mites, look for signs of dust mite allergy, such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, and asthma.
Mites are too small to see directly.
However, you can use special tests from the pharmacy to determine whether mites are present.
Regular ventilation, vacuuming with a HEPA filter and mite sprays help against mites.
If you have severe symptoms or suspect an allergy, you should consult a doctor.
Secret weapon mite vacuum
Hoover Ultra Vortex mite vacuum cleaner © Hoover
The UV-C lamp eliminates up to 99.9% of all mites, bacteria and allergens.
The Hoover mite vacuum cleaner received the quality seal from Allergy UK.
The additional Hoover Roll & Beat mode stirs up bacteria and mites so that they can be vacuumed up even more effectively.
€97.22 instead of €149.00 at Amazon
What does sleep hygiene have to do with sleep quality?
Different studies always lead to the same result: you sleep better in a clean, tidy and good-smelling bedroom.
On the one hand, there are obvious reasons for this: musty bed linen, a messy room or stale air are simply unpleasant.
And cause you to feel less rested in the morning.
This, in turn, can affect your productivity and performance throughout the day.
On the other hand, children and sensitive people in particular react strongly to all kinds of dirt. Be it the allergy-triggering mite droppings, the dust under the bed or the fungal spores in the pillow.
Breathing becomes more difficult, the lungs suffer, and the eyes and nose become irritated.
There's no question of a restful sleep!
Very simple: the anti-mite plug
ONVAYA ultrasonic mite controller against mites © ONVAYA
Use ultrasound instead of chemicals to combat mites.
Simply plug it into a socket, it works automatically on carpets, mattresses and upholstery and is harmless to people or pets.
Double pack on eBay
Extra hygiene in the children's room
Pinworms are more often found in children's bedding, whose eggs can spread through the air and infect the entire family, explains Professor Markus Egert, microbiologist and household hygiene expert at Furtwangen University, to Focus magazine.
Therefore, wash children's bed linen at least once a week at at least 60 degrees Celsius with a heavy-duty powder detergent.
Get rid of the mites in the cot!
Strong against mites in bed – UV light vacuum cleaner © OTTO
Order from OTTO
The MAXXMEE mattress cleaning device is a handheld dust mite vacuum cleaner that fights mites with UV-C light and sucks them in.
Eliminates 99.99% of annoying bugs.
You can read which other mite vacuum cleaners are good in the article: When arachnids wet the bed... Using mite vacuum cleaners against mites in bed
The top basics for your hygienically clean, feel-good bedroom
It can be so easy!
With a few but selected products you can easily maintain hygiene.
Little effort – big impact.
Mattress protector – practical like a fitted sheet
LISA mattress protector with side walls © Third of Life
Order from Amazon
This mattress protector from sleep specialist Third of Life can be put on like a fitted sheet.
Wrinkle-free and without slipping.
100% waterproof & breathable, tested for harmful substances according to Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®
High quality anti-mite bed linen
This bed linen is available in many different designs.
© OTTO
Look for high-quality materials such as pure cotton.
It is breathable and does not lose quality even after several hot washes.
This means you can always wash the bed linen at 60° C, or even better at 95° C, without worry.
€39.99 instead of €59.99 at OTTO
Use encasings against mites
Pillowcase mite encasing from Blumtal © OTTO
An “encasing” is an anti-mite cover made of very tightly woven fabric that completely encloses the mattress, duvet or pillow.
This protects you from the harmful secretions of house dust mites.
€42.90 at OTTO
Mite detergent
PARAM mite detergent © Amazon
Destroys mites, their eggs or larvae with every wash cycle - even at low washing temperatures.
Smells pleasantly floral thanks to the natural active ingredient geraniol.
Order from Amazon
air cleaner
The Philips air purifier 800 series cleans rooms up to 49 m² © Philips
Not everyone has the opportunity to really let fresh air into their bedroom.
Be it in winter when it's super cold or because the window faces a busy street.
Air purifiers are a clever and safe solution here.
Especially for small children or sensitive people.
They filter out all the “leftovers” of mites etc. from the air.
Free shipping on Amazon
Mite spray for mattresses
DFNT mite spray for mattresses 500 ml © Amazon
Sometimes there is no other way to get rid of the disgusting beasts: This anti-mite spray is made in Germany from natural ingredients.
Based on tea tree oil, it offers long-term protection and only needs to be used every three months.
Order from Amazon
This article was created using machine assistance and was carefully reviewed by editor Nina Dudek before publication.