The importance of maintaining a clean living environment is well-known, but how often do we consider the cleanliness of our mattresses?

A recent viral video has highlighted the shocking amount of filth that can accumulate in our beds, leading to a call for regular vacuuming of mattresses.

Dave Chen decided to deep clean his bed after watching a video suggesting that mattresses should be vacuumed weekly, in addition to washing the sheets.

'So I’ve got my Dyson here, you can see it’s empty,' Chen said.

'I’m going to vacuum my bed so you can see how much dust goes into the vacuum cleaner.'

A man deep cleaned his bed to show how much dirt had accumulated on his bed. Image source: Freepik.

He was astounded to find a significant layer of dirt and dust collected from his mattress.

This was despite having vacuumed his mattress just two weeks prior.

Chen's video, which has been viewed over 5.4 million times, sparked a wave of disgust and surprise among viewers.

Many pointed out that the 'dust' he vacuumed was actually a mix of dead skin cells, dust mites, and dust mite excrement.

'I wish I knew less now,' one replied.

While another added: 'I don’t want to know this information anymore.'

This revelation led to a flurry of comments from viewers expressing their shock and vowing to start vacuuming their mattresses.

'I’m gonna throw up! Gonna do this today,' one commented.

The video also sparked a discussion about the best ways to keep mattresses clean.

Some viewers suggested using a special attachment for mattresses that comes with the Dyson vacuum cleaner.

'There’s a proper mattress attachment that comes with the Dyson to do just that. Don’t use the floor vacuum next time—just a heads up,' one advised.

Others recommended using a mattress protector.

'Coming from someone that works in the bedding industry, get a mattress protector,' another said.

However, as one viewer pointed out, even with a mattress protector, dust and dead skin cells can still accumulate on the mattress, emphasising the importance of regular cleaning.

'You should always regularly clean your sheets and vacuum your mattress no matter what you use on your bed,' one replied.

In 2023, renowned Australian scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki offered a simple guide explaining how often you should change your main bed linen.

He suggested changing sheets once every two weeks, or twice a week if you're in a sweaty environment.

This is because every day, our skin generates about one-and-a-half grams of dead skin cells, which can attract and feed a million dust mites.

The Sleep Foundation has also warned that dust mites can lead to skin rashes and irritation and may worsen allergy symptoms.

If you have pets, and particularly if you let them sleep in your bed, washing your sheets every three to four days is recommended.

Key Takeaways

• A viral video demonstrated the considerable amount of dust and dirt that can accumulate in a mattress, even after only two weeks without vacuuming.
• Experts recommend vacuuming your mattress regularly, in addition to using a mattress protector and washing sheets, to maintain cleanliness and reduce the presence of dust mites and dead skin cells.
• Australian scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki both insist on the importance of regular mattress cleaning and change of bed linen, suggesting a steam clean once a year and changing sheets every two weeks, or twice a week in sweaty environments.
• The Sleep Foundation warns that dust mites can cause health issues such as skin rashes, irritation, and worsening of allergy symptoms, highlighting the need for frequent bedding maintenance, especially if pets share the bed.

So, dear members, when was the last time you cleaned your mattress? Do you have any quick tips on keeping it clean for as long as possible? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

 

[PattiB]

I don’t vacuum my mattress that often & never get that amount of gunk off it. I do use a mattress protector though so I suppose it must be doing its job.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I vacuum my mattress regularly. I thought that was the norm!

 

[Jest]

two days ago.

 

[Trudylee]

Use a Bed Topper, remove its Cover and wash regularily along with your Sheets

 

[Christinepregnell]

Use a Bed Topper, remove its Cover and wash regularily along with your Sheets

Yes I do this helps to stop stop matress getting dirty