Considering our mattress and our beds are where we spend a third of our lives asleep, you'd hope that the mattress was a clean and comfortable place. Just as you'd want your living room to be clean, your kitchen to be sparkling or your bathroom welcoming, your mattress and beds should be clean and inviting too. But researchers in Canada found that many households treat their mattress and beds with little respect.

Mattress – Watch the Mess

The research found that people use their mattress for just about everything – as places to have a cuddle not just with their loved ones but with their pets. Having animals on your mattress can increase the risks of dust mites and allergies. Add to that the fact some of us eat and drink in bed, or even smoke, the mattress can turn from being a place of comfort and sleep, to one of mess, smelliness and unhygienic habits. Some people flop onto their mattress in their day clothes, or even with their shoes on, leaving germs and dirt in their beds. And the mattress is often used as an impromptu table to change babies and pack bags.

Mattress, Beds – Cleaning Techniques

Our mattress and beds go through busy times, experiencing countless stresses and strains. It's thought the average mattress has up to 10 million dust mites after years of use, and another gross thought to add to that is the fact the average person sweats up to 90 litres in bed! Urgh. So as well as routinely buying a new mattress – beds should be replaced every eight to ten years – it's important you practice good cleaning and care techniques for your mattress.

• Hoover your mattress monthly to help eliminate dust mites and debris
• Replace your mattress at least once every ten years to ensure it give you the best comfort and support
• If your mattress has stains and sags, it's time to consider a replacement mattress
• If you are getting neck or back aches or feel uncomfortable, you might need to up-grade your mattress for a more supportive model

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