This is something that almost everyone does in the morning, a few minutes after waking up. It’s a hygiene mistake!
Everyone has their own little routine in the morning when they wake up. And we know that to start the day off on the right foot, this routine can be essential. Drink a glass of water, make yourself a coffee, do a workout, jump straight into the shower… But be careful, not all habits are good!
Making your bed in the morning when you get up is a habit that is ingrained in many people. This gesture is often seen as the first accomplishment of the day, a symbol of organization and discipline. It seems to be a hygienic habit, but in reality, no one recommends it, and it is even advised to do exactly the opposite. This practice could be far from beneficial for our hygiene.
One of the main reasons experts advise against making your bed immediately after waking up has to do with dust mites. These tiny, microscopic creatures, invisible to the naked eye, thrive in warm, moist environments, like a bed after a night’s sleep. That’s because we naturally lose sweat and body heat during the night, creating the perfect environment for these mites. According to scientific studies, a bed can harbor up to 1.5 million dust mites. Making your bed too quickly in the morning traps this heat and moisture under the sheets, making it even easier for dust mites to proliferate.
Dust mites aren’t a problem for everyone, but they are known to aggravate allergies and respiratory problems, such as asthma. A buildup of their droppings can lead to symptoms like sneezing, itching, or even more serious respiratory problems.
Here’s the right routine to adopt. Instead of making your bed immediately when you get up, pull the sheets and duvet back and leave them open to allow air to circulate. Let the bed air for 30 minutes on weekdays and a few hours on weekends, for example.
Opening the windows and letting the room ventilate is even more effective, and you improve the air quality in the room. Then, make your bed as usual. This ventilation helps reduce the moisture trapped in the fabrics and, therefore, makes the bed less hospitable for dust mites.
This simple act of ventilation is not only beneficial for fighting dust mites, but it also helps to get rid of bad odors that can build up during the night. A question of habit, but also of health!