Getting quality sleep is one of the most important things we can do for optimal health, and where we sleep is an important part of that puzzle. So, what exactly should you be cleaning? Let's begin with the mattress.
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We recommend that you give your mattress a deep clean every six months. You should: vacuum it (yes, really), clean stains with a solution of 1 teaspoon of laundry detergent mixed with 1 cup of warm water, and freshen it with our homemade mattress deodorizer made of baking soda and essential oils.
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You should wash your sheets at least once a week. Pretreat stains prior to washing, and don't overload the washer. We suggest that you avoid combining bed sheets with other laundry, especially towels. This will help protect the fabric of your sheets. Also, stick with a normal cycle. There's no need to go heavy duty; this could cause more tangling and wrinkling. And always shake out your sheets before drying. For more info, plus a DIY natural fabric softener, click here.
In addition to shaking out your sheets before putting them in the dryer, we'd love to encourage you to try wool dryer balls. We think they are laundry must-haves. They can reduce drying time by up to half, they soften fabrics (without any chemicals), and they reduce wrinkling and static cling. If you really want to go the extra mile, make your own felted wool dryer balls.
First off, pillows should be washed at least every three months (I know, I wasn't doing that either until I read this) because of skin cells, dust mites, and body oils. Blech. Our advice is to add washing soda to your laundry cycle to help lift any stains and to whiten the pillow. Plus, add a little lavender essential oil to really drive that clean, fresh feeling home. Get the step-by-step here.
If you're in the camp of letting your dogs or cats share your bed (raises hand), we suspect there's quite a bit of animal fur you're sleeping with. Check out these interesting solutions to help clean up pet hair, including using a dryer sheet, rubber gloves, or a sponge. Genius!
Ideally you wouldn't have anything under your bed because feng shui says no. Great, but even if the space is completely empty, it still gets dirty and dusty under there. But how to clean those hard-to-reach spots? These hacks are sure to help.