5 signs your mattress is dirty after Christmas – and how to clean it

After Christmas is the ideal time to refresh your living space. In addition to removing all your holiday decorations, you'll likely want...

After Christmas is the ideal time to refresh your living space. In addition to removing all your holiday decorations, you'll likely want to tidy up your home to store your new gifts properly. However, one area that definitely deserves some attention is yourmattress.

During the holiday season, your mattress experiences a significant amount of wear and tear. Christmas is a time when everyone tends to be a bit more relaxed, such as sleeping in longer, snacking in bed, and allowing your pets to dig under the sheets.

To learn more, I contacted Martin Seeley, a mattress specialist and CEO ofMattressNextDaywho highlighted five indicators that your mattress is unclean following the holidays and methods to rejuvenate it.

1. Humidity from your heater has accumulated in your mattress

During the Christmas and winter seasons, your heating system is typically operating non-stop, with windows kept shut to maintain indoor warmth and prevent cold air from entering. According to Seeley, this "combination causes bedroom humidity to rise to approximately 70–80%, which is the level at which mold and bacteria start to develop."

A strong indication that this is occurring is if your bedroom window frequently becomes fogged, which shows that your home has excessive humidity. This extra moisture and damp air gathers on windows and may penetrate into fabrics, carpets, mattresses, and curtains, leading to mold growth and affecting the overall freshness. To prevent this, it's essential to introduce proper ventilation into your home by opening a window slightly or using a fan.dehumidifier.

2. Christmas mornings spent in bed led to more dead skin cells

Although it's advised to maintain your usual morning routine during Christmas, we all likely admit to staying up too late and enjoying a festive extra sleep – I'm no exception! However, the more time you spend in bed, the dirtier your mattress gets.

Seeley states that humans lose approximately 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells each minute, meaning that during your holiday break, "you could shed over 1.4 million flakes just by lying in bed." These particles aren't limited to your bedding, as "they penetrate the upper layers of the mattress, combining with oils and moisture." This isn't just unsanitary but can also lead to illness due to allergens, so consider avoiding extra sleep andchange your bed sheets on a regular basis.

3. Leftover particles and smells from holiday treats

As you spend more time in bed, you may find yourself snacking more while lying down and also neglecting to clean the bedding. However, this habit can lead to crumbs and sugary spills seeping into the fabric and leaving behind a sticky residue.

"If it isn't cleaned correctly, it goes deeper into the fabric, creating an environment where bacteria can grow," explains Seeley. "The slight, damp odor that shows up in the new year is typically caused by what has been accumulating since December." To avoid this, you should launder your bedding and avoid eating in your bedroom.

4. Thick and celebratory bedding retains sweat and dust

Because of the lower temperatures, you're probably wearing a heavierduvetTo stay warm throughout the night. It's likely you've also adorned your bedroom for Christmas with holiday throws and bedding, which can increase how much your bed retains heat, moisture, and dust.

According to Seeley, "the typical person sweats approximately 500 milliliters during the night, and this moisture gets trapped under the duvet before soaking into the mattress." This concealed dampness affects the texture and cleanliness of your bed over time, making the mattress "feel heavier and less airy." Replacing your duvet and bedding is an effective method to rejuvenate your mattress and maintain its freshness for a longer period.

5. Animals can transfer germs onto your bed

Everyone enjoys snuggling with their pets, even in bed, and animals such as dogs and cats are naturally attracted to warmer bedrooms during the holiday season. However, if you allow your pets on your bed or beneath the covers, you may notice that they leave behind hair, dander, and other outdoor particles in your bedding from their paws and fur.

According to Seeley, researchdiscovered that "86% of dogs and 32% of cats had positive results for Enterobacteriaceae on their fur or paws. This category of bacteria consists of E. coli and Salmonella, which are associated with fecal contamination. It highlights how easily microorganisms transfer from sidewalks and gardens to beds, particularly when pets spend more time inside during the winter."

So, you may want to think about having your pet sleep in their own bed to prevent exposure to these contaminants. For a complete reset of your mattress, check out thisa detailed tutorial on how to clean your mattress.

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