How to store mattress/bedding hygienically.

dllive

Hi all

Ive got a couple of spare bedrooms that probably wont be used again for 6+ months. Couple of 'hygiene' questons:

1) Ive stripped all bedding off. Should I put some sort of cover over it? (Clingfilm or something). My concern is that if I leave the bedding on, bed bugs or similar will make a home there. Also dust will settle I guess.

2) I was think of storing the bedding (and winter clothes) in those vacuum bag things which suck all the air out. Is that a hygenic way to store bedding/clothes? (bugs cant exist with no air). Does anyone use them?

Any advice/recommendations most welcome.

Thanks 

ka7e

I use them, but check regularly as the seals often fail - not enough to fill entirely with air, but they are not as rigid as they first were. And I'm not sure but I think a lot of bugs and moths can survive in the egg or larval stage with very little air! I also had clothes in storage for 3 years after moving and renovating a house (lots of dust)  and they were fine in taped cardboard boxes - I packed a tumble dryer sheet in with them and they came out smelling freshly laundered.

vic_sf49

I have a decades old plastic "quilt storage" bag, that is along the line of the vacuum bags, but without the vacuum bit.

I put quilt &  bedding in that, either all made up or just chucked in there separately depending on effort levels.

For the mattress, I put a fitted sheet on it as a "protector" in case my sneaky cats barge the door open. I don't want cat hair on my guest bed.

And when I've made up the bed prior to guests staying, I put the fitted sheet back on the top as well.

Slinky

I would just leave the mattress with a fitted sheet over it that can be whipped off prior to you using the bed again and popped in the wash.  We keep our bed linen in the airing cupboard which keeps it nice and fresh.  Keep your bedrooms reasonably well ventilated and all will be well.

Bed bugs are unlikely to get anywhere near your mattress unless you physically bring them into your home, a common cause being from luggage brought home from places with poor hygiene. You sound like you're the sort of person who is careful with hygiene so I can't imagine you'd be visiting infested places.

Chloe_G

Last couple of years I kept some out of season clothing in a new zipped suitcase under the bed.  This year when I opened it there was a great fat silverfish crawling around in there... so I''m back to using my vacuum storage bags only.  I wish they would invent a better 'zipped' closure though - a couple of mine won't close anymore.

dllive

Thanks guys - all very useful comments!

I like the idea of popping a tumble dryer sheet in the bag with the bedding.