It’s holiday season, which for many means dragging out the suitcase from the attic and getting ready to start packing. But do we really think about the items we’re just placing on the bed without taking the time to clean them?
In new survey data from leading bed retailer, Bensons for Beds, 2,000 people shared the items they commonly place or have on their beds.
Mobile phones came out on top as the most common item, with over half of the respondents claiming to take their phones to bed. Suitcases were also in the top five, with almost 40% of respondents not thinking twice about placing them on top of their beds.
Most common items placed on Brits’ beds
- Mobile phone: 59%
- Worn clothing: 53%
- Books or magazines: 43%
- Handbags or backpacks: 39%
- Suitcases: 38%
The results revealed that three in five Brits do not clean their mobile phone before using it in bed, meaning they bring the day’s dirt and grime right into the sheets with them. Just 1 in 6 (15%) say they clean their mobile phones before using them in bed.
Thankfully, those in London are statistically more likely to clean their phones before use in bed, with one fifth (20%) of Londoners claiming to clean their mobile before using it in bed.
Almost 1 in 5 (18%) Brits say they sit on, or get into, their beds in worn clothing every day (ie. clothing that hasn’t been washed and has been worn outside of the house). Over half (56%) say they do this at least once a week – if not more. Less than a quarter (24%) say they “never” get into bed in worn clothing.
To understand the consequences of placing these items on the bed, Bensons for Beds talked with The Essex House Dolly, Nicola Rodriguez. Qualified interior designer and expert in all things cleaning, Nicola shared the following comment, “It has been estimated that people touch their phone hundreds if not thousands of times a day. While many of us wash our hands regularly going to the bathroom, cooking, cleaning, or gardening, we are much less likely to consider washing our hands after using our mobile phones.. With this in mind, germs such as these include the diarrhoea-inducing E. coli (which, by the way, comes from human poo) and the skin-infecting Staphylococcus, as well as Actinobacteria, which can cause tuberculosis and diphtheria, Citrobacter, which can lead to painful urinary tract infections, and Enterococcus, which is known to cause meningitis. Klebsiella, Micrococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas and Streptococcus have also been found on phones and all can have equally nasty effects on humans.
“Leaving your dirty clothes on your bed is also a huge no. Leaving these on your bed can cause infections, rashes and acne.
“Believe it or not, grubby books and magazines are also a no to leave on your bed. It turns out that tiny bed bugs and their eggs can hide in the spines of hardcover books. The bugs crawl out at night to feed, find a new home in a headboard, and soon readers are enjoying not only plot twists but post-bite sores!
“Luggage is actually so important not to put on your bed. Try to keep a suitcase from touching walls and carpet and beds when you arrive at your destination, as it might reduce the likelihood of bedbugs ‘climbing aboard’ because the luggage has reduced points of contact, but bed bugs, as with most insects, can climb really well. You also do not know what your luggage may have come into contact with on your travels.
“Additionally, the contents of your suitcase, like clothes, toiletries, and shoes, can also introduce and contain microbes. The longer you wait to unpack and clean, the more likely your suitcase will breed germs and bacteria, infect things in your home, and frankly, start to stink.”
Tips for a more hygienic bed space
Nicola shared the following tips with Bensons for having a more clean, hygienic sleeping space:
“I would suggest to always keep your bed clear of anything that has not been cleaned and use a laundry basket instead of the bed or floor. Luggage should be stored either in your loft, garage, handbags to be kept in a safe place away from your bedroom. I would always suggest packing your suitcase on the floor if it has not already been wiped down first and a towel or sheet put underneath it to prevent germs.
When you are unpacking I would usually put on a hard surface such as a table to again prevent any of the things I already suggested. All books or magazines to be kept on a bookshelf, on a coffee table or in a bookcase.
Mobile phones should always be cleaned with a disinfectant wipe that contains 70% isopropyl alcohol. Do not use window cleaner or any over the counter sprays. Always turn your phone off, and wipe over the screen and the back case of the phone. Always use a screen protector too as this eliminates any cracks in the screen accumulating dirt.”
For more advice on creating a healthy, more hygienic bed space visit Bensons for Beds sleep hub.
