Washing the bedsheets is just one of multiple household chores that needs to be done regularly. Many experts say bedding should be washed once every one to two weeks for health reasons. But have you ever tried vacuuming your mattress? A doctor revealed this could be vital to help you avoid respiratory problems, as well as allergic reactions and asthma flare ups.
NHS surgeon, Doctor Karan Raj, took to video sharing platform TikTok to explain why. Replying to another video where the creator tried vacuuming his mattress, Dr Raj explained: “What you're looking at isn't just dust. Unfortunately, it's a forbidden cocktail of dead skin cells, dust mites and their excrement.
Every night you share your bed with a few million dust mites.” He warned of some of the health complications that can come from this. “They love to take dumps on your bed and sadly dust mite faeces contain a protein that's a major trigger for asthma and other allergies,” he said.
“You see these microscopic fiends are attracted to filthy environments as well as that 1.5 grams of dead skin cells you shed on a daily basis to feed them.” To reduce the allergen load Dr Raj therefore advised vacuuming your mattress on a “regular basis”.
You can Hoover away a “significant amount” of the mites, their faeces, dead skin cells, pet dander and pollen, he said. Dr Raj continued: “This reduces the risk of these allergens causing itchy eyes, a runny nose or sneezing and less chance of these exacerbating ex.