Quality bedding is one of the main focuses in your bedroom. However, when considering factors that contribute to a comfortable and relaxing sleep, most people overlook the importance of properly stored bedding or linen. Properly storing your bedding, including flat sheets, bed sheets, extra blankets and more protects them against dust, bugs, dirt, mold, smells, stains, and damage.
While it’s unlikely that most will pay attention to how they store their bedding in a linen closet, it’s still important that you properly store them because good bedding is essential in offering a good night’s sleep. Here’s all you need to know about proper storage of your bedding.
Reasons to Store Your Bedding Properly
When it comes to things we value, we often get particular about how they’re stored because we want to keep them in good condition. Similarly, if you appreciate a good night’s sleep, you’ll want to store your bed sheets in good condition. Proper storage of bedding is necessary because it:
Ensures Good Sleep Hygiene
When cleaning your bedding, one of the main things you’re trying to eliminate is dust because clean bedding is one of the main factors that contribute to good sleep hygiene. However, your bedding can still attract dust if you don’t store them properly. To avoid this, you must store your beddings properly, so they don’t collect dust.
Keeps Away Bugs and Insects
Scurrying insects or bugs can appear anywhere; it doesn’t matter where you stay. These insects can leave behind little droppings that present symptoms for people with asthma, especially young children. To protect your beddings, keep them clean and store them properly.
Prevents Mold and Mildew
Even the slightest dampness can create a breeding ground for mildew and mold to grow on your bed linens. Using beddings that contain mold can cause intense reactions in people with asthma. When you properly store your dry bedding away from dampness, you prolong the life of your bedding by preventing mold damage.
Prevents Allergies
Proper bedding storage protects them from allergens like mold, pollen, bugs, and dust, which can make you sniffle, cough, sneeze, or lead to a poor night’s sleep. Cleaning and properly storing your bedding will help you avoid allergens that could cause allergic reactions.
How to Store Your Bedding the Right Way
If you’re used to cramming your bedding anyhow and anywhere you find it; it’s time to stop. Learn how to properly store your extra bedding and prevent the bedding from getting damaged or producing a lousy scent. Instead, keep your bedding clean and dry all year round.
Start By Washing Your Bedding Correctly
It’s important to wash your bedding to ensure they’re clean before storage – there’s no reason to store dirty beddings. After washing your bedding, it’s even more important to ensure that the fabrics are completely dry before storing them. Any dampness can create a breeding environment for mildew and mold growth. After washing your bedding, check the different types of bedding that requires air drying and ensure you air dry them.
Consider Optimal Storage Conditions to Allow Air Flow
When storing your bedding, ensure you allow the fabric to breathe. This tip is more important for beddings made from natural fibers like wool. The ideal way to store your bedding is on the shelves in a closet. Closet shelves will allow adequate airflow to allow the fabric to breathe, which will help keep off mold and unpleasant, musty smells.
Avoid storing your bedding in plastic bags because they can trap moisture and facilitate mold and mildew breeding on the fabric. Even though neatly folding your bedding and storing them on closet shelves is recommended, some people are not so lucky to have such a space. Consider the following storage options if you don’t have enough space:
- Large cotton storage bags – Cotton bags allow enough airflow while protecting your bedding from dust and bugs. These are great for weighted blankets.
- Vacuum storage bags – Vacuum bags work well for wool, synthetic, or cotton duvets and comforters. If you store your beddings in a vacuum storage bag, avoid storing your authentic down comforters and duvets in it.
- Large acid-free boxes – Acid-free boxes are an excellent option for long-term storage, no matter the bedding collections you have.
- Comforter hangers – Comforter hangers are designed to keep your linen wrinkle-free and organized while allowing air to pass through the linen fabric.
It’s also essential to keep your bedding out of attics, sheds, or garages as much as possible. That way, you’ll avoid moisture, bugs, or even mice that might be present in those places.
Maximize Your Space by Folding Your Bedding Before Storage
Learning how to fold your bedding correctly is a vital hack to store bedding properly. Properly folded bedding not only keeps bedding neat, it will take up less space allowing more bedding pieces in one area. For bulky bedding, such as heavy comforters that can’t be folded, the best solution is to roll them, tie them into place using ribbons and store them vertically to avoid compression. When folding blankets and sheets, consider storing them by weight; keep the heavier bedding on the bottom.
Keep Your Bedding Smelling Fresh
There’s something exceptionally comforting about having a familiar scent in your home. So, why not take the initiative to enhance your beddings scent subtly? You can purchase your favorite scented sachets and place them in your storage area to give your bedding a subtle aroma – don’t place the sachets directly on your beddings. Here are other ways you can keep your sheets, blankets, duvets, or any other bedding smelling fresh:
- Odor absorbers or air fresheners – You can make your own DIY air freshener or odor absorber and place it in your bedding storage area.
- Avoid using mothballs – Even though many people use mothballs to prevent damage from moths, they can leave an undesirable scent on the beddings. You can use cedar-lined chests instead.
- Use dryer sheets – Adding a few dryer sheets inside your folded bedding will help keep the fabric fresh.
Let No Bull Help You Adopt a Healthy Sleep Hygiene
If you prioritize having a comfortable and healthy sleep, storing your bedding in the right way and ensuring they’re in good condition is just the beginning to attaining a good night’s sleep. You also want to ensure you properly clean your bedding as well. At No Bull, we’re not just mattress experts or salespeople, we’re also dedicated to ensuring you get the best night’s sleep possible. You also need a good mattress that provides you with an optimal sleeping position and reduces pain. For more information, contact us today or visit our Better Sleep Guide to learn more.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm
https://www.happy-mothering.com/easy-diy-air-freshener/