Do you make your bed?

[jp1]

Supposedly a study came out which reached the conclusion that it's healthier to not make your bed because it reduces the amount of dust mites in the bedding, leading to less of them getting inhaled, etc.

I've variously made and not made my bed at different times of my life. As a kid my mother insisted that all beds be made every day. Then in college I didn't bother. Once I moved to NYC as an adult I had a futon that was both my couch and bed, so every morning I'd fold the bedding up and put it in a wicker basket, so that I could come home to a couch in the evening. Now that I live with SO in a bigger apartment we never make the bed.

So what do you do? And will you stop making the bed now since it's apparently healthier? Or is the study just germophobia run amok?

[kally]

I always make it, but I let it air out for a while. That'll do me.

[iris lilies]

Supposedly a study came out which reached the conclusion that it's healthier to not make your bed because it reduces the amount of dust mites in the bedding, leading to less of them getting inhaled, etc.

I've variously made and not made my bed at different times of my life. As a kid my mother insisted that all beds be made every day. Then in college I didn't bother. Once I moved to NYC as an adult I had a futon that was both my couch and bed, so every morning I'd fold the bedding up and put it in a wicker basket, so that I could come home to a couch in the evening. Now that I live with SO in a bigger apartment we never make the bed.

So what do you do? And will you stop making the bed now since it's apparently healthier? Or is the study just germophobia run amok?
I make the bed, it's an easy flip of comforter. Pits looks better, and otherwise the cats get into the bed an there is cat litter on their paws. Worse than dust mites.

[Ultralight]

Supposedly a study came out which reached the conclusion that it's healthier to not make your bed because it reduces the amount of dust mites in the bedding, leading to less of them getting inhaled, etc.

I've variously made and not made my bed at different times of my life. As a kid my mother insisted that all beds be made every day. Then in college I didn't bother. Once I moved to NYC as an adult I had a futon that was both my couch and bed, so every morning I'd fold the bedding up and put it in a wicker basket, so that I could come home to a couch in the evening. Now that I live with SO in a bigger apartment we never make the bed.

So what do you do? And will you stop making the bed now since it's apparently healthier? Or is the study just germophobia run amok?

The only time I ever make my bed (and even then, its half-*ssed) is when I am having a lady friend over... haha

[catherine]

I'm very hit or miss about making my bed. I really love how much better it looks when it's made, but I get up before DH and he never makes it when he gets up, so then I just never wind up going back upstairs until it's too late to care. However, some mornings my dog tries to nudge me out of bed before I'm ready to get up, so I seek refuge in the guest room in the wee hours to get one or two more hours' sleep. I always make that bed when I get up.

A dust mite study is VERY unlikely to change this behavior.

[lessisbest]

We let it air out while we exercise in the morning (pull back all the bedding), then we make it (together) after breakfast when we get dressed for the day. It takes us 15-seconds to make it. We also steam clean the mattress at least twice a year (when we change the bedding seasonally - Spring and Fall) and launder the pillows (and the pillow covers) every 3 months.

Years ago we watched John Stossel do a report about a 2-income family with 2 young children, where the mother was over-worked with responsibilities around the home. But the big bone of contention for Mr. Stossel was making beds. He just went on-and-on about it! First off, both of the children were old enough to make their own beds (our children helped an adult make the bed by age 2, and could make it themselves by age 4, and by 9-years old could change and launder the sheets). Stossel didn't see any reason to waste the time making a bed. The next morning we timed it - 15-seconds. Yah, John, that really is going to make a big difference in our life. We'd waste that much time, or more, just trying to straighten the bedding at night. We're never embarrassed having anyone look in our bedroom.

[Kestra]

I air it out constantly. Like UA I only make it if I expect company who will see my bed.

[jp1]

I make the bed, it's an easy flip of comforter. Pits looks better, and otherwise the cats get into the bed an there is cat litter on their paws. Worse than dust mites.



I guess we actually consider this too. I usually pull the sheet up since the cats spend all day sleeping on the bed. I think I'd rather sleep with dust mites than cat hair and litter...

[lessisbest]

It took awhile to locate this commencement speech, but it's a good one on the topic of making your bed.

http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-mcraven-commencement-speech-at-ut-2014-5

[Float On]

I toss everything over towards the end of the bed while I get up, make coffee, shower, dress, make-up, hair. Then the last thing I do before leaving is make the bed. I wash my sheets weekly to every other week. While the sheets are in the wash (I only have one set), I may rotate the mattress. Sometimes I sprinkle baking soda on it and then vaccuum. I like to buy a new mattress about every 6 years.

At one time it was common to take the mattresses outside, beat them and let the sun soak into them. Glad we don't do that anymore. Mattresses are really hard to move around.

[rodeosweetheart]

Make bed upon arising. Tend to wash bedding on weekends, line dry in fresh air.

Makes me feel a whole lot better.

[Tammy]

SO and I live in less than 600 sq ft in a studio apartment. Bed gets made every morning cause we can see it all day long. Makes our space feel neat and clean.

[ctg492]

I am a clean bed freak, borderline obsessive. I would wash pillow cases everyday and sheets too if it was not a hassle. We have dogs and they sleep with us, enough said. So I wash sheets twice a week, pillow cases at least that, I use cotton quilts that I shake off weekly and wash way to often, I have been known to vacuums the top blanket too. SO yes I make the bed.

I would love one of those beds in magazines with through pillows galore, fancy comforter, but learned long ago not able to toss in laundry and the pillows become toys for the dogs. I love my dogs;)

[dinah]

For the most part we just sleep on top of the bedding. Hubby will sleep with an afghan but for the most part I don't use anything (I am always hot). So, there's nothing really make.

In the Winter we do sleep under the comforter/duvet, but there's no top sheet (seriously, what is the point of a top sheet?) or anything so it's just a pull up the comforter/duvet and make the pillows look nice. No Big Deal. But if we (I mean I) forget then No Big Deal either.

[Selah]

I make the bed every day and wash all the linens once a week, and pillowcases twice a week. Keeps down the dust mites and cat hair-related allergy symptoms, and making the bed makes me feel better to see it made during the day. If I don't, I feel a little half-a***ed all day long. It really makes a difference for me psychologically. I didn't use to care about it, but then I read some psychological studies about how making the bed helps alleviate depression and increase motivation. I needed both of those things, so that got me started. Once I realized it was actually an effective practice for me, I kept doing it.

[Ultralight]

I make the bed every day and wash all the linens once a week, and pillowcases twice a week. Keeps down the dust mites and cat hair-related allergy symptoms, and making the bed makes me feel better to see it made during the day. If I don't, I feel a little half-a***ed all day long. It really makes a difference for me psychologically. I didn't use to care about it, but then I read some psychological studies about how making the bed helps alleviate depression and increase motivation. I needed both of those things, so that got me started. Once I realized it was actually an effective practice for me, I kept doing it.

Washing all bedding at least once a week is a big deal to me too! I wash it once a week like clockwork and additionally as guests...uh..."visit."

[kib]

I'm minimal about bedding, two pillows and one light blanket so making the bed = straightening the blanket. Which I usually do.

[bekkilyn]

Absolutely, including hospital corners.

(There are times when I get distracted or lazy and it doesn't get made, but for the most part, yes.)

[goldensmom]

Absolutely, including hospital corners.

Me too, always and have since I was old enough to remember. Mom taught me that is what people do and if there was a fire would you want the fireman to see that you didn't make your bed??? Mom passed away many years ago but I think of her often when making the bed.

[Teacher Terry]

I am in the only if I am having company over just in case they go in there. I do the sheets every week.

[Miss Cellane]

Old housekeeping manuals from the 1800s advise leaving beds for an hour or so to air out every morning. I think that's healthy. I doubt leaving the bed unmade all day adds any health benefits to just letting the bed air out for an hour.

As for bed making--either make or or don't. Don't invent "health" reasons to so you don't have to make your bed. Just own the fact that you don't like to make the bed, and get on with your life.

I make my bed because I like the way the bedroom looks with the bed made. And because I pass by the open bedroom door frequently when I'm at home, so I feel better when the bed is made.

[catherine]

I am a clean bed freak, borderline obsessive. I would wash pillow cases everyday and sheets too if it was not a hassle.

DD is like that. She is absolutely obsessive about her pillowcases. I have to make sure I have one clean one a day for her to change, and if the dog goes in her room, she'll change the pillowcase twice. I'm not sure why she's like that. She is absolutely not OCD in any other way. It might have something to do with the time she came home from college and probably transported bedbugs, because shortly after we found bedbugs in her room and wound up throwing away the rug, sheets, you name it. I think we threw away the mattress, too, but it was really old anyway.

[jp1]

For the most part we just sleep on top of the bedding. Hubby will sleep with an afghan but for the most part I don't use anything (I am always hot). So, there's nothing really make.

In the Winter we do sleep under the comforter/duvet, but there's no top sheet (seriously, what is the point of a top sheet?) or anything so it's just a pull up the comforter/duvet and make the pillows look nice. No Big Deal. But if we (I mean I) forget then No Big Deal either.

The top sheet is to keep the cover clean. If I didn't use one I'd feel the need to wash the comforter every week.

[razz]

Get up and throw sheets back to air bed. Make the bed after breakfast when I get dressed. Have done this all my life. It amused my family how predictable I was about this. Linens are washed weekly and no pets on the bed ever.

[Gardnr]

The sheets are thrown back when we get up for daily airing but it's made before we head to work. I don't really want it "open" to all day dust and cat prints thank you very much!

The most important is to wash every 14d at the most. We shed skin like you cannot believe! eeewwwwww....

[Tammy]

Most house dust is human skin

[kib]

Lol. Reading way too fast, I discovered that "mouse dust is human skin."

[pony mom]

Mine is made every day. Sheets/blankets pulled back, sprayed with homemade linen spray, then left airing for awhile. Sheets washed weekly. Now I'm down to only a cotton set for warmer weather and flannel for colder. I hear that bamboo is great year round, but haven't tried it yet.

If I'm sick and spending more time in bed than usual, they'll get washed when I'm well enough to shower (sometimes you're just too sick to care how clean you are). I always shower at night. The past few years I have a pet peeve of being clean at bedtime, and I'd never lay in bed in clothes worn outside.

[freshstart]

well, when I lived alone, I only made it really nice when exBF was coming. If anyone would see my room I made it. Otherwise I didn't bother. But I am a clean sheet and duvet cover freak. The dogs sleep on top of the duvet cover, actually Bernice had created an Elvis bed in my bed. She takes 4 pillows (kindly leaves me one) and moves them all around until it is perfect. but now I have to wash the pillows more. But I promised her a wonderful life so she wins on the pillows. Unfortunately, when I bent to strip the bed, all the stupid cardiac symptoms came back, so now I have to ask the wonderful cleaning lady to do this. Not a fan of this.

the best feeling in the world- everything washed on hot, with bleach on the white sheets, every single thing washed- pillows, duvet, mattress pad. Put a new duvet cover on, make it look nice and then get in and sleep.

[rosarugosa]

I make my bed every day without fail. This helps me start my day feeling like I've got things under control!

[herbgeek]

I am the sloppy holdout. My bed gets made once a week when the sheets are changed. I knew I was lazy, but I do find from these threads how much of an outlier I am. :}

[Williamsmith]

Yes, I make my bed every morning and wash the bedsheets once a week. Doesn't everybody? I did not know it was an option.

[ctg492]

Oh smiling, the old joke used to be Change sheets in the Spring and Fall. Just like take a bath Saturday if you need it or not;) My father had an old neighbor that would say that and meant it.

[Tiam]

I like to because I like the effect. But not always.