Because you should know what you’re sleeping with
Cleaning bedrooms.
It’s not rocket science, is it?
A quick vacuum and dust and you’re done, right?
Not quite.
Most people don’t pay enough attention to making sure their bedrooms are clean and hygienic.
That’s why we’ve developed this handy bedroom cleaning checklist for you.
Did you know…?
Our bedrooms and mattresses can be a refuge for mites, allergens, dust, dead skin cells, dirt, grime, hair, and bodily fluids like saliva and sweat.
They can also attract some genuinely nasty little characters like bedbugs.
Recent lab tests from swabs taken from 7-year-old mattresses found more than 16 million colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch…Yeast, mould, and bacteria, including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, can be bunking in your mattress.
Gross, isn’t it?
Especially when you consider how much time we spend in bed.
So, what can you do?
Let’s break it down a step at a time.
Mattress matters
Ok. This one’s simple. Change your sheets every week and you’re done, correct?
Well, it’s a good start, but simply changing the linen on your bed isn’t enough to keep dust mites and other lurking germs and allergens at bay.
You also need to vacuum your mattress weekly. And when you do, you need to get down into the mattress’s seams, nooks, and crannies where all those unwanted guests like to hide.
Speaking of vacuuming…make sure your vacuum head and filters are free from dust before using them. Otherwise, you’re probably adding as much bad stuff as you’re taking away.
If dust mites set off your allergies, you should cover your mattress with a dust-mite-resistant cover. And, you guessed it, you should wash this cover regularly. Once your mattress is clean and made up with crisp, freshly washed sheets, doonas, and doona covers, you can reward yourself with a spritz of a fragrant linen spray. We find lavender linen sprays are brilliant at helping you shake off the day’s stresses and fall into a deep, refreshing sleep.
Bedroom furniture facts
We can become a bit blasé when it comes to cleaning bedroom furniture.
It’s often covered in items like your phone, reading glasses, drinks, books, and that mystery object you found in your pocket last night. It seems easier to leave well enough alone.
We hear you, but bedroom furniture items are dastardly dust collectors. They collect on the surfaces of hard items and irritate your eyes and sinuses. They can really stir up your allergies. Not to mention the harm they can do to household members who suffer from respiratory illnesses.
So dusting is a must.
But before you go out and buy a cute feather duster, you need to consider what tools will do the best job.
At Brighter Choices, our go-to dusters are damp dust cloths or purpose-made dusting cloths that are designed to trap dust.
Using anything else can result in dust and other allergens becoming airborne and eventually landing on your bedroom furniture, mattress, or clothing. It becomes a futile exercise.
Don’t be a softie
We all have our favourite soft furnishings.
You know, those comforting items like a pillow that cradles your head and neck each night. For kids, it might be a favourite teddy bear.
But there’s a reason we refer to these items as dust collectors.
To keep them clean and hygienic, you should vacuum them as a part of your weekly cleaning routine.
And if you love a beautifully made bed adorned with cushions and throws, remove the covers and wash them regularly in a hot washing machine cycle.
Bedding basics
Are you a hardcore bedding collector, who carefully chooses every item on your bed so they coordinate perfectly? Or do you take a more functional approach? Either way, your bedding deserves attention.
As we’ve already hinted, you should wash your sheets and pillowcases once a week.
But the way you wash them is critical.
We find the best method is to put them all in the washing machine and choose a cycle that heats up to at least 60 degrees Celsius.
However, to ensure they’re sanitary and fit for use, you should follow up with either a hot tumble dry or dry them in direct sunlight.
When it comes to blankets, mattress toppers and non-encased doonas, you can relax a little bit. They should still be washed regularly, but a weekly wash isn’t usually required. Of course, if they become soiled, you should clean them immediately.
What about window coverings?
We haven’t forgotten them. They’re also on the cleaning hit list because they attract dust and other allergens.
If you decide to go down the curtain route, choose lightweight, machine-washable curtains. They’re super easy to clean in your trusty washing machine.
But if you have blinds, your cleaning routine just got a whole lot easier. You should be able to dust them or wipe them down with something like baby wipes. Be careful though. You don’t want to use anything with harsh chemicals as this may strip the colour from them or damage them in some other way.
Don’t forget to look up
It’s common to forget to clean those bedroom areas that aren’t within our direct line of sight.
So, make a point of looking up for high surface areas. Ceiling fans, air conditioning vents and filters will need to be cleaned regularly.
You should also be checking cornices for cobwebs and ceilings for any sign of mould.
Other areas that are commonly overlooked are door handles and light switches. But it’s imperative to clean these, especially if anybody in the home is sick, as these items are touched frequently and have the potential to spread viruses and germs.
Flawless floors
Our bedroom flooring is trampled all over every day with dirty feet and shoes. It really cops a beating.
How do you keep such a high traffic area clean?
It depends on the type of flooring you have.
Carpets can be tricky. You need to vacuum them with a vacuum cleaner that picks up fine grit, dirt, and animal fur. If you’re using an ineffective vacuum cleaner, getting your bedroom carpet clean will be hard. It’s also good to have the floors professionally cleaned every 12-18 months.
Floorboards, tiles, and vinyl flooring in your bedroom are easier to keep clean. You just need a mop, water, and germ-killing floor cleaner.
Spray mops and steam mops work brilliantly on some flooring. But you should always check with your flooring supplier to make sure that your cleaning methods won’t damage your floors.
If you’re at the point of choosing flooring coverings, we recommend opting for a hard surface as these are easier to clean. You can trap dust and other allergens without difficulty.
Phew! Take a break. You deserve it.
If you’ve made it this far and carried out all the work suggested, congratulations! You now have a lovely clean bedroom to escape to at the end of a long day.
If, on the other hand, you’d rather relax in your bedroom than work in it – and let’s face it, that’s most of us – investing in a professional weekly clean might be a better option.
The team at Brighter Choices would love to help.