The Dirtiest Places In The Bedroom You're Forgetting To Clean

According to a survey by the New York Post, Americans spend around 11 hours a day lying or sleeping on their beds, so it stands to reason that the bedroom is a place that gets a lot of use. But despite this, the bedroom isn't always top of the list when it comes to cleaning. More obvious areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom, tend to grab our attention thanks to the fact that they can become obviously dirty in a very short time.

In actuality, your bedroom is attracting insane amounts of dust and dirt daily. And leaving this to accumulate can be detrimental to your health. Dust can contribute to poor indoor air quality, which could trigger asthma and breathing problems, as well as exacerbate skin allergies. Plus, keeping dust mites out of your bedroom is difficult without regular cleaning. Aside from dust, general dirt and grime are likely to build up too, making your bedroom a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, as well as a great hiding place for nasties like bed bugs. Bearing all this in mind, we're sure you'll agree that keeping every corner of your bedroom clean is essential. Here are some spots you might be forgetting.

Even if you use a mattress protector and wash your sheets regularly, you still sleep on your mattress every night, and dirt is going to build up. The biggest culprits here are falling skin cells and the oils that accompany them. The best way to clean your mattress naturally is to start by vacuuming it before sprinkling with baking soda to deodorize. Leave this on the mattress for several hours before vacuuming off. If you can, it's also worth leaving your mattress out in the sun for a day from time to time to absorb UV rays.

While you're busy cleaning your mattress, don't forget that the headboard will also need some attention. Headboards are generally made from metal, wood, or fabric, and all these materials can harbor dust. Use your vacuum's nozzle attachment to go over both the front and back of the headboard, but if it won't fit, use a feather duster on a stick or a radiator duster to get into the awkward corners. You might also want to consider whether a headboard is really necessary for your bedroom setup, particularly if you need to cut down on dust.

Storing things under your bed can save space, but if you just shove stuff under there, you're inviting dust. Cleaning under the bed is also much harder if you've got to move lots of loose items for successful vacuuming. Instead, invest in underbed storage or, for a cheap hack, use old drawers to create underbed storage instead. Being able to pull out just one or two storage boxes or drawers will considerably speed up the cleaning process, as well as ensure that you actually get all the dust out of the space.

Most people know that you can use mirrors to make your small space look bigger. But mirrors in your bedroom can't bounce light around a room if they're covered in finger marks, streaks, or smudges. Window cleaner is your best friend here. Simply wipe down with a dry microfiber cloth before spraying with window cleaner and then wiping in circles with another clean cloth. After the mirror has air dried, you can buff with a newspaper to help prevent any streaking. Don't forget to clean the frame too.

Everyone needs lighting in the bedroom. From a big overhead light for getting changed at night to a bedside light for reading, they are an essential piece of furniture. But light fixtures and lamp shades are real dust magnets, which can eventually affect the quality of light in a room. A microfiber cloth is the best way to keep them clean, as it will help to grab the dust rather than spread it around. Don't forget to dust lamp stands as well and use a little furniture polish to give them a shine.

Out of sight is usually out of mind, which is why it's easy to forget that bed frames can gather huge amounts of dust, hair, and dead skin cells like your mattress. This forgotten spot in your bedroom might be dirtier than you think, so make sure you use a suitable cleaner for its material. You can also use a bristled brush for tricky corners or more stubborn stains. And don't forget the underside of slats if you have a slatted bed. A lint roller is also ideal for picking up hair and dust on fabric beds.

If you're wondering how often you need to clean your sheets, the answer is probably more often than you think. You should be washing your bedding in a hot water wash once a week to ensure that you're killing bacteria and dust mites, along with removing any oils and dead skin from your body. Ideally, you'll need water that's at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit and above, but if you want to save energy, you could use a cold wash and a laundry sanitizer that's specifically designed to kill bacteria.

Even the tallest amongst us struggle to see the top of our wardrobes, so it's no wonder this is a spot in the bedroom that often gets overlooked during cleaning. Unfortunately, this means the top of most wardrobes is often very dusty. Fortunately, it's fairly easy to clean, and all you need is an extendable duster. This microfiber duster from OXO comes with a pivotable head, allowing you to angle it for more precise cleaning. Don't forget to add this to your regular cleaning schedule to prevent further dust from building up.

Windows in your bedroom likely don't get as much attention as the ones in your living room or kitchen. But like every other window, they can build up grime and dust quickly, so routine cleans are necessary. There are various ways to clean your windows for a streak-free finish, but one of the simplest is to start with a good-quality glass cleaning spray, followed by a squeegee to wipe downwards. The squeegee helps to avoid streaks and leaves your window shiny and clean.

How often should you clean your door handles? Ideally, these should be cleaned once a week, as we touch them multiple times a day, transferring germs and bacteria onto the surfaces. Use a disinfectant cloth or a rag dampened with disinfectant spray to wipe around the door handles thoroughly. If there's a buildup of grime, an old toothbrush is a brilliant tool to get into any crevices in the mechanism and lock to remove it.

It's easy to just dump clothes on the floor or on a chair when you're feeling lazy, but apart from this looking somewhat messy, these clothes can easily trap dust and dirt in your bedroom. This clutter also does nothing for the aesthetics of the room. Instead, make sure everything is either put in a laundry hamper or hung up in your closet. The bedroom is the best place to keep your laundry basket at home because it will remind you not to leave dirty clothes lying about.

Ceiling fans provide a lovely breeze and coolness when it's warm, but their very name shows how tricky they can be to clean without a little prep. Because they're on the ceiling, it's not easy to get at these fans, but fortunately, an extendable duster will also come in handy here. Don't forget to place an old sheet underneath before cleaning — you don't want dust all over your bed. Once clean, try these easy hacks that will keep your ceiling fan dust-free going forward.

It's easy to forget about the nightstand, although we use it every day. But whilst the top might stay clean, it's the drawers or space underneath that often get overlooked. You need to empty the nightstand regularly to dust and clean, as well as dispose of anything that doesn't belong there. One of these 12 DIY drawer dividers to organize your home could help keep the space tidy. And don't forget to shift the nightstand out of its normal position to dust the sides and backs as well as vacuum under it.