Here’s Why Making Your Bed in the Morning Is a Bad Idea

Making the bed is often seen as the epitome of cleanliness and tidiness, but there are a few surprising reasons why it may not always be the best idea. In this article, we’ll discuss why you might want to reconsider your morning routine of making the bed and how it could be detrimental to your health.

From increasing the presence of allergens to increasing the risk of overheating, we’ll explore the potential cons of making your bed and why it’s actually okay to leave it unmade. But, of course, if you can’t bear to leave your bed unmade, there are always alternative solutions to lessen the potential risks. And we’ll discuss these solutions in depth as well to help you decide which route is best for you.

The Health Consequences of Making the Bed

Studies have found that making the bed can trap dust mites within the duvet cover and bedding. These tiny bugs release allergens that can cause problems, especially for those with allergies or asthma.

In addition to potential asthma development, making the bed first thing in the morning may also hurt skin health. This is largely due to sweat getting trapped between the sheets after making the bed, creating an environment more conducive to bacteria buildup and other issues such as acne.

Wearing Out Bedding

Making the bed can also lead to unnecessary damage to duvet covers, comforters, blankets, and sheets over time. Due to the constant folding and stretching of fabric, these may become permanently stretched or misshapen resulting in an unsightly appearance for the bedroom overall. And maintaining high-quality bedding can be costly, meaning any damage caused by making the bed could end up costing you more in the long run.

Psychological Effects

Making the bed each morning could potentially create feelings of tension within an individual who is already feeling overwhelmed by their obligations or daily routine.

Making the bed can also encourage perfectionism through its emphasis on having each fold accurately aligned. This daily task may become difficult for those who struggle with hyperfocus or limited concentration periods. And even if you’re successful in making a perfect fold each morning, undoing each night could be stressful for anyone who’s dealing with perfectionist tendencies.

Wasting Time

Incorporating bed-making into your daily routine may not be as beneficial for your psychological well-being as investing time in activities such as meditation or exercise that provide greater returns in promoting physical health and emotional balance. These activities can also contribute to developing valuable skills in time management and goal-setting, which are important for success in both personal and professional endeavors.

Plus, making the bed can add time to your already busy mornings. This can be a big problem for anyone who struggles with being late and time management. If you really think about it, wouldn’t you rather spend time making a delicious breakfast over making your bed?

A Simple Solution

If you’re someone who absolutely has to have the bed made, there is a simple and easy fix. All you have to do is give your bedding an hour or so to air out before making the bed. This will give everything a chance to air out.

You can also buy allergy-friendly sheets, mattress toppers, hypoallergenic duvet covers, and more to prevent those annoying allergens from invading your space. It’s also important to regularly wash your bedding on a hot cycle (at least 130º F) at least every two weeks to keep dust mites and other allergens out.