“Mr. Lightwood,” she said, raising herself up on her elbows. “Are those scones under your bed?” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess
Hmm, it seems that Mr Lightwood is a bit of a character. But scones under a bed? I don’t know, that might be stretching things…but let’s talk about beds. That special place in our lives. So, how is your bed? I wonder if Mr Lightfoot’s companion would continue her explorations after reading some of my tips for you here. Poor Mr Lightfoot!
How DOES one fold those blasted fitted sheets? Who doesn’t get frustrated when trying to fold a fitted sheet? The large mattress cover simply was not designed to be folded neatly. Is that the case?
I have a simple method that will ensure that it works for everyone. Even though you think it’s absolutely difficult to fold a fitted sheet nicely, anyone can accomplish it with the appropriate approach! And, best of all, it’s quick and saves wardrobe space.
Here is what you need to do, and it works right away using this trick.
Spread out the fitted sheet in front of you with the elastic and the long side facing you.
From the outside, grip the bottom corners with both hands.
Each of them should be pushed towards the upper corners.
The sheet has now been folded in half.
Straighten and smooth everything out a little. Then fold the right side of the sheet into the middle. Fold the left side over the right side. You now have a little rectangle that you can fold up lengthwise multiple times until the desired size is reached.
Here is a newsflash: Do not make your bed in the morning!
And it’s scientifically proven! I know, you appreciate neatness and order. But, if this is the reason you make your bed every morning, perhaps you should think again. Making your bed in the morning is, in fact, far from hygienic.
Of course, a nicely made bed looks neater and blends in better with a clean room than rumpled bedding. It’s no surprise that neat people make their beds every day. However, appearances can be deceiving! A made bed, as discovered by a research team from Kingston University in London, is a haven for mites. For them, it is the ideal breeding habitat for them to multiply. Yuck!
Mites just love that moist, dark environment to survive and reproduce. When we make our bed in the morning, just after waking up, we offer them this. Mites, together with the moisture that our bodies have shed during the night, are unwittingly trapped under the blanket and pillow. It makes for a great place for them to, um, reproduce? But, mites find life considerably tougher if we don’t make our beds. This is because daylight and warmth reach the mattress so that the mites dry out.
Oh, and is it true that mites are harmful to humans?
Crawling creatures in the bed are unappealing, to say the least. In fact, spider excrement causes humans to have breathing issues and asthma-like symptoms. Rashes, itching, and eczema are possible side effects. Some people even get a cold or cough as a result of an allergic reaction. I think, you should consult your dermatologist in this case.
What can you do if you have a mite infestation?
If you suspect your bed has mites, there are a few simple things you may try to get rid of them. Temperatures below 20 degrees are not conducive to mites, so air the room frequently and maintain a low temperature. Because the little arachnids just can’t stand high temperatures, you should wash your bed linens at least once a week at 60 degrees. You should also sanitize your laundry if possible. Special bedding accessories are available for allergy patients who respond to mites with sniffles and sneezing. Pests are kept out of the pillow, duvet, and mattress with the use of certain covers.
Now, let’s be honest here. When was the last time your bed linens were changed? Was it only a fortnight ago, or has it been much longer? This can have serious implications, particularly in terms of your health! But what are they, exactly?
Let me explain! I might actually agree with you sometimes, there are some household activities which could be postponed until they are no longer possible to avoid. One of them is ironing, and another is dishwashing. And, laundry isn’t something everyone enjoys doing.
BUT stripping and making the bed is undoubtedly at the top of the must do list. Sheets, blankets, and pillows should not only be removed one by one, but they must also be covered afterwards. Yes, it takes some time to do so. However, the effort is well worth it, particularly when you think of your health!
What happens if you don’t? Well, for one, skin impurities are encouraged.
When you sleep on the same bed linen for several weeks or even months, skin pollutants like pimples and blackheads might develop. Not only can dust particles and filth collect in bed linens, but sweat and cosmetic residues also accumulate on pillows, sheets, and duvets. Allergies are worsened. Allergy patients are particularly affected by pollen from hazel, alder, birch, rye, and different grasses in the spring and summer. Your allergy may worsen if you don’t shower before bed and change your bed linens regularly. Pollen in your hair, on your clothes, and in your house does not end at your bedside. It is therefore critical to wash and cover the bed on a regular basis.
Another problem is that your health problems increase.
The leftovers in bed linen provide a nice feast for house dust mites. If you don’t change your bed linen regularly enough, you’re providing ideal conditions for undesirable little animals to merrily reproduce. Even those of you who aren’t allergic to dust mites still can get a rash, itchy eyes, sniffles, sneezing, and coughing. Animal excrement is the main source of contamination. They too must, after all, as we all know, follow their call of nature.
Getting back to our delightful Mr Lightwood. ARE those scones under your bed?
Oh, dear!
Well, I guess we’ll see you next time.
Love, Iris xx