When you're doing your seasonal cleaning, don't forget the bedroom. Your sleeping environment can impact the quality of rest that you get. Studies have shown that clean bedrooms make you healthier, happier, more likely to exercise, and help you get better sleep. The bedroom is often overlooked when cleaning, but you spend a lot of your time there, so take some time to keep it fresh.
De-clutter for stress relief
What you see before you fall asleep can impact your rest, just like your environment when you wake up can affect your day. If what you're seeing is clutter, it can cause anxiety about all the things left to do. That tension can prevent you from getting good sleep, and can start your morning on the wrong foot. If getting organized feels overwhelming, take small steps. Experts suggest taking a picture first and working out a mental plan from that.
Then, go through with a laundry basket and put in things that you've identified as belonging in another room - then take them away. With what's left, take it one task at a time. Do a first sweep for items to trash or recycle. and things that already have a home.
Next, with the overflow, add in additional organization. If your accessories have gotten away from you, there are organizers specific to belts, shoes, jewelry, scarves, etc., that you can buy inexpensively online. For clothes that you lay out because they're not quite dirty enough for the hamper, try clothes hooks instead. You can put hooks on the back of your doors to hang them out of the way.
Strong smells can also cause stress, so contain anything with an unpleasant odor in a closed hamper or other storage. Add a hint of natural, calming scents like lavender, jasmine, and vanilla which are known to be soothing, but you can pick whatever relaxes you.
Start the deep clean
With everything put away, it will be much easier to get to the dirt. Again, you don't need to do everything all at once if that's too much. Set aside the time you have and take it a task at a time.
Start with dusting. Wipe down all your surfaces, and don’t forget the nooks and crannies. Use a dust wipe or moist cloth so you’re not just redistributing the debris. Dust build-up can make allergies worse and collected debris can harbor bed bugs and attract other insects. Don’t forget the insides and undersides of furniture, including the bed.
Now is the time to give some attention to the things you never get to, like light fixtures, photos, mirrors, blinds, and fan blades. Dust and skin cells hide there, too. For the fan, you can use an old pillow case for a fast clean.
Get into the corners with a dry mop or long duster, including closets and windows, to remove cobwebs and anything else hanging out there.
As a tip, leave the sheets on your bed and don’t vacuum until you’ve completed this step. With the dust you'll displace, you'll want to clean the bed and floor last. It’s also a good time to disinfect the things you touch the most. Door knobs and light switches are especially known to harbor germs.
Do the wash
You may be washing your sheets regularly, but when is the last time you washed your pillows, blankets, mattress protector, or dust ruffle? Or your curtains? This is the time to do it, just make sure you're following the instructions for each item to avoid damage. We have a how-to guide that covers cleaning your bed.
When you put the mattress back on, rotate and flip it. This will help even out the wear to give you better support and prolong the life of your mattress.
Washing isn’t just for fabric. With the laundry started, wipe down your windows and even your walls. Mop up tile or wood with the appropriate cleaning solution.
Vacuum
Get everything off the floor and vacuum into the closets and corners you usually skip. You can also use the vacuum attachments for any upholstery, and even for cleaning out the vents. You can vacuum your mattress and box spring to clean the dust off them, too.
If in your cleaning you find that your bedding support is broken or sagging, we offer a variety of frames and platforms that will give your mattress the right support to give you better rest.
To freshen up carpet without adding chemical odors or harsh smells, try baking soda. Sprinkle it over top and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then, vacuum twice – once in each direction.
Take care of the extras
Appliances and other additions should be reviewed and refreshed too. If you have a humidifier, fill it with a one-to-one mixture of water and vinegar and let it sit for about 3 hours. Rinse it out thoroughly and wipe it down, then let it sit to make sure it’s completely dry before using again.
If you have an air conditioning unit installed, clean it out too. Change the filter, clean the vents, and wipe down the whole thing. This will help it last longer and work better as the weather gets hot.
Keeping the air clean is important, as studies have shown that prolonged exposure to air pollution can worsen sleep apnea. Now may be a good time to add in an air purifier, or to clean the one you have.
If you use candles, diffusers, or may even turn the heat back on, check that they're in good repair and free of debris, with nothing flammable close by. If you haven't already, check your smoke detector.
Now you can enjoy that fresh, peaceful feeling of a clean room. With that weight off your mind, and the dust out of the air, your sleep and health could improve. The National Sleep Foundation reported that people who wash their bedding regularly get 19% better sleep. With a little time and energy, that could be you, too.