Leaving your bed unmade in the morning 'is good for your health'

Next time someone mentions your messy bedroom habit, tell them it's actually for a good reason and they might want to start doing the same

By Andrew Nuttall, Senior Lifestyle Writer

09:58, Thu, Jul 18, 2024 | UPDATED: 10:02, Thu, Jul 18, 2024

Unmade bed

Not making your bed as soon as you get up could have some health perks (Image: Getty)

It's usually a good habit that's drilled into us as kids to make our beds each morning after we wake up. It makes the most sense to do it as soon as you get up as you're right there.

But, experts have warned that leaving your sheets in a messy pile for a little bit isn't going to harm you. In fact, there's a good reason you should be letting your sheets breathe for a while longer in the morning.

Dr Sermed Mezher, a London-based locum GP and online content creator, explained in a TikTok video that it's down to the fact "you're never sleeping alone" - even if you don't have a partner in bed with you. Every night, creatures measuring no more than a quarter of a millimetre long thrive under the covers.

He said: "Our beds contains millions of dust mites that feast on our flesh overnight. They love moisture and they use it to survive and reproduce.

"You may not even realise that you're allergic to them and they can be causing random symptoms like rashes or nasal congestion."

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@drsermedmezher
I Hate Sleeping Alone really. Dust mites are microscopic creatures that thrive in our homes, particularly in places where they can find their primary food source: dead skin cells. These tiny arachnids are most commonly found in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and carpetsareas that provide an abundant supply of human skin flakes, warmth, and moisture. Feeding Habits: Dust mites feed on the dead skin cells that humans and pets shed. Each night, as we sleep, we shed tiny particles of skin, which accumulate in our beds. Dust mites feast on these skin flakes, making our beds and pillows ideal environments for their sustenance. Their digestive enzymes break down the skin cells, which they then absorb as nourishment. Preference for Moisture: Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments. They require a certain level of moisture to survive and reproduce, as it helps them maintain their water balance. The humidity produced by our bodies as we sleepthrough sweat and breathcreates the perfect humid microclimate in our bedding. This moisture-rich environment supports the dust mites' lifecycle and allows their population to flourish. Lifecycle and Reproduction: Dust mites reproduce rapidly in favorable conditions. A single dust mite can lay up to 100 eggs in its lifetime, leading to large populations in areas where food and moisture are plentiful. The average lifespan of a dust mite is about two to three months, during which they can produce several generations, further increasing their numbers. #allergy #health
Storytelling - Adriel

Although the microscopic bugs cannot be banished for good, the doctor explained: "If you leave your bed unmade for 30 minutes to an hour in the morning ... the dry air that's allowed to circulate through actually kills some of the dust mites. Of course it won't clear out all of them, but definitely nothing wrong with thinning these lines."

Dr Mezher added this is also a good reminder that you should be regularly changing your bedsheets with once a week or fortnightly at the latest being recomended.

The sheets alone aren't the only places these creatures reside, as the doctor said: "They can also survive and reproduce within your mattress using the fibres as their solace so getting a mattress cover will help."

According to the Mayo Clinic, a dust mite allergy is common worldwide and can sometimes be confused with hay fever due to the shared symptoms of sneezing and a runny nose. The clue will be having these hay fever-like issues when the pollen count is too low to normally trigger them.

You can get further help with any symptoms by switching to allergy friendly covers on your bedding, especially on your pillows.