An expert has shared how often we should be flipping our mattress (Image: Getty)
Many people have questioned whether they should be washing bedding as much as we should, and many experts have suggested different answers.
Jonathan Warren, bed expert and director at , has shared bed tips to help debunk some of the most common myths about bed hygiene.
One of them includes how to flip a mattress and how often to wash mattress protectors.
Warren said: “It’s important to remember that all items of bedding, from your sheets and cushions down to the mattress itself, will need to be cleaned following the specific washing instructions for that particular product.
“Before cleaning your bedding, ensure that you follow these instructions to avoid causing any damage.
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Before cleaning your bedding, ensure that you follow these instructions to avoid causing any damage (Image: Getty)
Flipping your mattress and washing your mattress protector
Warren advised: “A mattress protector will not only add a level of sleeping comfort, but is designed to also protect from day-to-day dirt that we don’t see from coming into contact with the mattress.
“Good hygiene practice would involve washing this every one to two months.
“But when we take off the mattress protector or flip the mattress, this is an opportunity to improve your bed hygiene too and clean the mattress itself when it is stripped.
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Odours can form if bedding is not washed enough (Image: Getty)
“There are specific powders for cleaning mattresses that you can buy, or you can just as effectively use laundry detergent.
“At the very least, we would suggest hoovering to remove accumulations of hair, dust and dirt that will otherwise stay in the mattress when you flip it.”
Washing bed sheets
The expert added: “A weekly wash of bed sheets and duvet covers will keep your bed feeling cosy, clean and fresh. If left unwashed, bacteria can develop, potentially leading to skin irritation and unpleasant smells forming.
“As a general rule of thumb, the best way to wash a duvet cover and bed sheet is on a cool cycle (30 degrees, for example) with a non-bio detergent and a tennis ball in the drum, to ensure that the fibres stay fluffy.
“It’s important that the sheets are dried fully (either outside on a washing line, or in a tumble dryer) before using it on your bed to avoid damp and musty smells.”