Top mattress care and cleaning tips you need to know for good sleep and hygiene
By Rachael Gavin|
If there's ever anything you wanted to know about mattresses, H?arrison Reid is your guy.
The Bondi lifeguard's father owned mattress retail stores in New Zealand for more than 40 years, so while growing up he learnt everything there is to know about the industry.
Reid considers mattresses to be part of his DNA and though he planned to return home to follow in his father's footsteps, he's launched his own mattress brand right here in Australia.
READ MORE: Our favourite stick vacuums for every budget?
10:PM Sleep is named after the optimal time to go to sleep, and also Reid's own bedtime.
He launched the company to make the mattress buying process easier with less confusion about all the options on the market.
To celebrate World Sleep Day, March 17, Reid sat down with 9Honey Living to share his expert advice on keeping our mattresses in top condition for as long as possible.
And given 10:PM found dumped mattresses contained 12 million dust mites on the average mattress in it's test of some of the 1.8 million dumped mattresses discarded in Australia every year, it's worth adding some of Reid's care tips into our cleaning routines.
What care and cleaning habits should we get into to maintain the quality of our mattress?
When the mattress starts to age it can begin to sag, which can make for a very uncomfortable sleep and can also lead to long term issues like back aches. Make sure you have your mattress supported by a good bed base and look for something comfortable and supportive.
You should be cleaning your bed linen at least once a week, especially in Australia's hot and humid climate. This is important for hygienic and allergenic reasons, but it also helps protect your mattress. Make sure you take this opportunity to let the mattress air as well.
Rotating is important too, though with mattress technology these days you don't need to do it as frequently. I know some people love the little dent they make in their bed over the years, but your mattress doesn't share the same love. So make sure you spin it around 180 degrees when the seasons change as a rule of thumb.
READ MORE: Aussies reveal how often they wash จC and hopefully change จC their sheets?
Would you recommend using a mattress protector?
Absolutely. A mattress protector is that extra bit of insurance you need in case accidents happen. It also helps as an additional barrier to stop moisture and skin cells making their way into the mattress.
Trust me, it's much easier to throw your protector in the wash than it is to clean a whole mattress, so if for nothing else, do it for the ease.
Using a mattress protector from the very start ensures that no unnecessary wear and tear occurs in the early stages and that your mattress will stay cleaner and fresher for longer.?
READ MORE: ?The truth about thread count and whether higher is better when choosing bed sheets
Should we air out mattresses before putting new sheets on?
It's really important to let your mattress air in order to prevent moisture turning into mould and bacteria, and to lessen the amount of dust and dust mites. When you wash your sheets, you should open your windows, ensure sunlight is hitting the mattress and let the sun's magic do its work.?
You should also be careful with making your bed every morning. Those diligent in making a neat and tidy bed everyday are actually doing their mattress a disservice. When we make them every day, we're actually trapping everything in and increasing the likelihood of capturing moisture, which leads to mould and bacteria growth, and dust mites. You should neatly place covers at the end of the bed each day and let the moisture air out.?
Do we need to vacuum mattresses or clean them ourselves?
To get a handle on dust mites, which will inevitably appear in your mattress due to dust and skin, we should be fitting in a vacuum when we rotate our mattresses. To avoid build up, focus on the seams and grooves, and if possible, get an upholstery attachment which helps disturb the surface of the mattress, and bring the dust toward the surface so you can get rid of as much as you can.?
For cleaning, you should use natural products, as chemicals can worsen the condition by seeping in and then in turn being in contact with our skin at night. I recommend using bi-carb soda to deodorize the mattress, again when the seasons change. Sprinkle bi-carb over to cover the mattress and let it settle in, then vacuum it up.?
Leave the mattress to air outside (if possible) or next to a window to let the sun sanitise it.?
READ MORE: The great top sheet debate is raging so we found out how many Aussies actually use one?
How can we tell if our mattress has reached the end of its lifespan?
The age of a mattress is a good rule of thumb, but of course things can be different from mattress to mattress. Generally, you shouldn't hold onto a mattress longer than ten years.
You should keep a close eye out for visible wear like sagging, tears and stains. Other things to note are if you start to wake up with a sore back, or your allergies or asthma start to feel worse. These signs show that your mattress may no longer be supportive enough, and that the build-up of dust and dust mites means it's time to move on to a fresh, new mattress.?
????For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.
