Why You Should Never, Ever Make Your Bed as Soon as You Wake Up, According

Maybe it’s a hot take, but I’m a “why-make-your-bed-if-you’re-just-going-to-lie-back-down” person. However, I admit I understand why some people love making their bed every morning (or, let’s be real: they love having a made bed, but perhaps not actually making it). It’s a great way to quickly feel productive, and cleaning is beneficial for both physical and mental health.

But according to a video by Dr. Myro Figura, MD, an anesthesiologist on Instagram, making your bed right when you get up can have some pretty gross (and unhealthy) consequences.

Say what?! Find out why you may want to embrace your inner sloth and forgo making your bed right away—and how to protect yourself from the gross reason behind it.

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Why You Shouldn’t Make Your Bed as Soon as You Wake Up, According to Doctors

Basically, Dr. Figura explains that people sweat when they sleep, so when they make their bed, that traps in the moisture released from sweating overnight. That creates a great environment for dust mites—tiny bugs that eat humans’ dead skin cells—to thrive. According to Dr. Figura, the average mattress has more than 10 million dust mites, and if you have a pillow that two years old or more, 10% of its weight is actually from dust mites and their poop.

Are you gagging yet?

As such, Dr. Figura says that your best option is waiting at least one to two hours after waking up to make your bed. This gives the moisture in your sheets, pillowcases, blankets and mattress time to dry up so the dust mites can’t, as he says, “have a party” (in the form of eating, procreating and excreting) in your sweat.

We have to double check: Is this true? Parade asked another doctor for info.

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Why Dust Mites Love a Made Bed

Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, chief medical advisor for Sleepopolis, largely agrees with Dr. Figura.

“Dust mites thrive in warm, moist environments, like a freshly made bed,” he says. “By leaving your bed unmade, air can circulate through the sheets, which may reduce moisture, making it harder for mites to survive.”

If you thought that was gross, we have some bad news: This next part only gets grosser, unfortunately.

“Dust mites are not harmful in themselves,” Dr. Dasgupta explains, “but their waste products and dead body parts can trigger allergic reactions, causing respiratory issues and skin irritation.” (Uh, yikes!)

How Concerned Should I Be About Dust Mites in My Bed?

As nasty as that is, some people have made their bed for decades and may figure this issue can’t be that big of a deal, if they’re still here. Fair!

“[Dust mites] only pose health issues for people sensitive to dust mite allergens, such as those with asthma or allergies,” Dr. Dasgupta says. Still, that’s a lot of people—an estimated 20 million Americans have asthma or are sensitive to dust mite allergens.

Those individuals may experience mild to severe allergic reactions. On the mild (but still bothersome) end, you’re looking at sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, itchy eyes and coughing. At worst, however, people could have asthma attacks, chest tightness, difficulty breathing and wheezing.

Signs of Dust Mites

For better or worse, dust mites are too small to see with the naked eye. As a result, to know if you have them, you have to rely on those symptoms mentioned above (sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and worsened asthma).

Dr. Dasgupta particularly encourages being mindful of symptoms in the morning after you’ve slept for (hopefully) several hours. If you’re still unsure what’s triggering your asthma or allergies, see an allergist, immunologist and/or otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) who can best help you narrow down what’s making you feel so awful.

How to Reduce Dust Mites in Your Home

After that not-so-fun news, let’s move to something more positive: Getting rid of these pests and being proactive to prevent them. According to the American Lung Association, you can protect against dust mites by:

Reducing the humidity in your space
Replacing carpets (shoutout to hardwood and vinyl plank flooring!)
Dusting your furniture and floors regularly
Covering mattresses and pillows with allergen encasements
Reducing clutter and stuffed animals
Washing bedding and stuffed animals in hot water weekly
Vacuuming regularly
Using an air purifier

Hopefully, steps like these will help you feel less bogged down by buggers—so you can sleep well and tidy up when you’re done.

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