Spring Clean: Why you should tidy your room for better rest

You might not have realised it, but having a hygienic, clutter-free sleeping space is one of the best ways to ensure you have a much better night's rest, so it's worth putting in the time to get your room in order.

The benefits of a tidy bedroom for sleep

Picture the perfect sleep sanctuary, and there's a good chance you imagine a clean room with a spacious, soft bed and crisp, freshly laundered sheets. If this sounds like heaven, you're not alone, because these qualities are closely tied to getting a healthy night's rest.

There has been quite a lot of research into the link between having a disorderly home and quality of sleep.

One 2015 study by St. Lawrence University found that people who tended to hoard belongings, especially when it led to a cluttered, unusable bedroom, were much more likely to suffer from poor sleep, depression, and stress.

This suggests that there are major benefits for your well-being in keeping your room tidy.

Giving your bedroom a spring clean also reduces anything that can aggravate health conditions, such as dust mites.

Over 44% of British adults suffer from an allergy, according to figures from Allergy UK, and 59% of indoor allergy sufferers say that their symptoms get worse in the bedroom.

Taking the time to air and clean your bedroom can give you a reprieve from these conditions, allowing you to get to sleep more easily.

Additionally, many people have reported that they experienced better rest when they put the effort into keeping their bedroom in shape.

A survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that people who made their bed every day were 19% more likely to get a good night's sleep.

The survey also reported that 75% of people said they slept better when their sheets had a fresh scent to them.

How to start your bedroom spring clean

To help you get good sleep, we've put together a few tips for getting your spring clean underway.

Sort through any clutter

Whether you like to store your clothes on the floor or you've got piles of books on your nightstand, the first step to getting your bedroom shipshape is to take a long hard look at your belongings and remove anything that you'd classify as clutter.

The easiest way to determine if something is worth keeping is to use the six-month rule. Simply think about whether you've used or worn the item in the last six months: if you haven't, then it's probably time to get rid.

Obviously, you may need to make an exception for sentimental or seasonal belongings, so bear that in mind as well.

When you've got a batch of items ready to move on, you can sort them into three categories: sell, bin, and donate. You can sell anything of value to make some money, and you likely have items that could benefit a charity if you donate them.

When you're disposing of things, be sure to read Recycle Now's 'what happens to my recycling' guide to ensure they go to the right place.

You might also wish to consider storage solutions, such as underbed boxes or extra shelving, to give you more space to organise your belongings. If you make use of this added space and stay on top of your tidying, there's no reason you can't stay clutter-free in the future.

Dust and hoover your bedroom

With the decluttering taken care of, you can get on with the actual cleaning of your bedroom.

As we've mentioned, those pesky dust mites can be a real pain, so it's important that you take the time to give your room a thorough dusting and hoovering to get them shifted.

Start by opening your window to get some airflow, then methodically clean and dust all the surfaces in your room, taking care to reach all the areas, such as light fixtures, shelves, and under your bed, that might accumulate dust and fluff.

Follow this up by hoovering your floor to remove any loose particles or those clinging to fibres if you have a carpet.

Clean and air your mattress

Your mattress is incredibly important for providing the comfort and support you need for getting a good night's rest, and that's why you need to take good care of it.

Unfortunately, your mattress is also a hotspot for dust mites, so cleaning and airing it regularly is very important.

Firstly, you will need to take your mattress outside to make sure that it is properly aired. Depending on your manufacturer's instructions, you may be able to use a soft brush and a vacuum to remove dust to refresh it and guard against mites.

If you have a memory foam mattress, our care guide can provide all the information you need for a thorough cleaning.

Finally, place your mattress back on your bed, taking care to turn it over and rotate it to ensure it wears out evenly. Should you feel that your mattress is starting to feel uncomfortable, it's worth reading our guide to replacing a mattress, which will help you decide if it's past its use-by date.

You might want to consider upgrading to a memory foam mattress or adding a memory foam topper to improve support and comfort levels.

Wash your bedding

You'll also need to make sure that you take care of your bedding to make sure it is nice and fresh for use.

Again, make sure that you check any washing instructions before you commit to a routine, as certain fabrics can require specialist attention.

If possible, wash at a high temperature to kill off any dust mites, or put bedclothes into a freezer for 24 hours and then cold wash.

If your bedding has seen better days and it's time for an update, then it's worth considering our pillows, duvets, or bedding bundles, many of which are hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant. Our mattress protectors will help to keep your mattress fresher for longer and extend its lifespan.

Take our advice on board and you will be able to spring clean your bedroom for much-improved sleep in the coming months. Don’t hesitate to get in touch in touch if you have any questions. Visit this blog and our guides pages for more sleeping tips.