do you air your bed?

skylight

I hang the duvet over my bedroom door and have my windows open (regardless of the time of year almost) whilst I shower then make my bed once dressed etc.

orangesmartie

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I never make my bed. I have duvets on the bed for most of the year and they're turned back in the mornings and left like that until I go back to bed again.

I do this too - and make sure at least one of the bedroom windows is open to let some air in

Carolyntia

I always air my bed. Especially since I found this:

"While you are sleeping, you breathe about two pounds of moisture, along with breath odors and flocks of microorganisms, into the air, your pillow and your bedding. You also perspire, perhaps a cup's worth, and exude skin oils and body smells. And you use up the room's oxygen and replace it with exhaled carbon dioxide. When there are two or more people in the bed or the room, these effects are multiplied. All this explains why, if you sleep with closed windows, the room has a characteristic stale morning smell (although you might not perceive it until you leave for a few minutes and then return.) Unless you leave the bedcovers pulled down and the windows open for an hour or two, the moisture you have left in the bed either does not evaporate or evaporates very slowly, which makes for an environment in pillows and mattress in which dust mites, molds, and other microbial life have more of an opportunity to multiply. Opening the windows lets in new air to dilute the pollutants (microbial and particulate), carry them off, and bring in fresh supplies of oxygen."

beemuzed

I always knew my Mum was right! So, why do these websites advocate the complete opposite? I can see that the room looks neater with the bed made - but it really needn't take ages. I usually leave it to air whilst having my shower, dressing and breakfast. That's when I tend to return and pull the duvet back over.Incidentally. our bedroom window is usually open all year round!
Seems like posters to date would agree wth the airing principle. Be good to see if there's anyone out there from the opposing school of thought?

marmiterulesok

I have a duvet and always fold in down at the bottom of the bed.It stays like this all day,so yes,I do air the bed (wouldn't dream of doing otherwise).I do straighten the bottom sheet.
Sometimes,after a few hours (if I'm at home),I move the duvet up the bed to air the bottom end of the bed.I also have the bedroom window open all day.

marmiterulesok

beemuzed wrote: »

I always knew my Mum was right! So, why do these websites advocate the complete opposite? I can see that the room looks neater with the bed made - but it really needn't take ages. I usually leave it to air whilst having my shower, dressing and breakfast. That's when I tend to return and pull the duvet back over.Incidentally. our bedroom window is usually open all year round!
Seems like posters to date would agree wth the airing principle. Be good to see if there's anyone out there from the opposing school of thought?

My folded down duvet doesn't look untidy....:)

Like you,I'd be interested to know why some advocate making the bed.

Carolyntia

My duvet stays hung over the end of the bed all day. I live in a new house and the windows have built in vents at the top. It's also possible to have the windows ajar and locked. Mine are always open

GreyQueen

I fold my duvet down over the end of the bed on rising and leave it there with the bedroom window ajar all day unless it's the depths of winter, in which case I close the window when I go to work.

I always goggle at homemaking advice about making the bed on exiting it; all that moisture and humid heat for the dust mites to snuggle up into and breed; yuck!

One thing that I have noticed on my travels is that the Dutch and the Germans are very big on airing bedlinen, even to the point of hanging it out of the windows and, if I wasn't in a ground floor flat, I'd be tempted to follow suit. Much the more hygenic option IMO.

Incidentlay, old school homemaking was very big on airing rooms in general and I often wonder if allergies etc aren't worsened by living in small homes stuffed up with carpets, furniture and clutter and often double-glazed to boot.

xx_Jo_xx

I tend to make my bed nearly every day, but normally after Ive had my shower. I dont leave the windows open all day, as Im out at work, but in the warmer months they are open normally during the night or for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening.

I do wash my bedding, including the duvet, pillows and protectors, and hoover and air the mattress regularly (almost on a weekly basis). Im asthmatic, so have always done all the bedding and hoovered it often - I just dont turn the mattress as often as I probably should!!

sparrer

Like the op I'm in my 60's and was taught to air the bed every morning. There's only me, I sleep on one side of the king sized bed and fold the duvet over sideways in the morning, otherwise the foot of the bed wouldn't get aired properly. I can see that it's difficult to do that if there are two of you though, so as has been suggested hanging over the banister/door would solve that problem. I also vac the bedding every time I do the bedroom floor, which is 2/3 times a week with my hairy animals!