In the chaos of our busy lives, sleep often takes a backseat, yet it is the cornerstone of our health—both physical and mental. On World Sleep Day, it's a good time to reflect on whether we’re doing enough to create an environment that fosters deep, restorative sleep. It's a good time to ask if we are doing enough to ensure a restful naptime.
Unable To Sleep Well? The Real Culprit Is...
While we adjust our routines, get the perfect mattress, or invest in blackout curtains, we often overlook invisible disruptors that could be impacting our rest: allergens, pollutants, and even harmful bacteria in our seemingly serene bedrooms. As the season changes in India, allergens like pollen and airborne particles linger well into the night, and even in the comfort of your bedroom, they can become a hidden obstacle to achieving quality sleep.
The Hidden Culprits in Your Sleep Space
Did you know an unwashed pillowcase can harbor 3 million bacteria in just a week —making it 17,000 times more contaminated than a toilet seat? Even more shocking, an unwashed bedsheet can host 24,631 times more bacteria than a bathroom doorknob, according to a report by Amerisleep study.
Dust mites, allergens, and pet dander may be living deep within your bedding, while invisible airborne irritants, such as pollen, smoke, and harmful pollutants, linger long into the night.
It doesn’t stop there. According to Dyson’s Global Connected Indoor Air Quality Data Research, the highest levels of indoor air pollution (PM2.5) occur between 6 p.m. and midnight—right when most of us are settling in for bed.
This underscores the importance of not just a comfortable mattress or blackout curtains but a clean and healthy sleep environment.
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How To Enhance Sleep Hygiene
As mentioned, your mattress, pillows, and soft furnishings harbour a thriving ecosystem of microscopic life including dust, dust mites, bacteria, viruses, pollen, and other allergens.
Joanne Kang, lead research scientist (microbiology) at Dyson, offers some tips to help you achieve a cleaner bedroom environment:
1) Wash Bedding Weekly
Washing sheets, pillowcases, and blankets in hot water that is at least 140°F wash will help to break down and reduce allergens.Change your bedding once a week to remove microscopic skin flakes and keep dust and allergens at bay.
2) Vacuum Your Way
Dust mites might be small, but they’re tenacious as they cling to the fibres deep in your mattress, making them difficult to remove. Cordless vacuums are equipped with powerful suction and with the hair screw tool attached, can effectively remove dust embedded in your mattress. It is also a good practice to vacuum pillows, cushions, or soft toys to remove skin flakes/pet dander, dust mites, and allergens present.
3) Reach Every Nook and Cranny
Once you’ve deep-cleaned your mattress, clean around the edge and crevices with crevice tool to remove any hidden dust. Don’t forget under your bed and on cupboards or wardrobes as dust mites thrive in dark, warm, and humid areas with plenty of dust and skin flakes that often remain undisturbed.
Tips To Improve Bedroom Air Quality
"The air we breathe at night is just as critical as the mattress we sleep on. The bedroom can be a surprising source of pollutants, introduced through routine activities like cleaning, cooking, and even the use of candles or air fresheners," says Shawn Navarednam, Design Engineer at Dyson. He shares a few steps to improve air quality:
1) Invest in an Air Purifier
By placing an appropriate air purifier with accurate and efficient sensing capabilities, harmful pollutants can be captured and destroyed, thus enhancing indoor air quality of your bedroom, promoting a healthier environment for a better sleep.
2) Asthma and Allergy-Friendly Sleeping
By reducing allergens and pollutants, purifiers help minimize triggers for asthma and allergies, further contributing to improved rest and overall well-being.
These simple yet effective changes will not only reduce allergens and pollutants but also set the stage for restful nights and energized days. This World Sleep Day, explore how the right tools, like advanced cleaning and air-purifying solutions, can help you wake up refreshed and breathe easy.
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