A "Mitey" Solution

Have you ever gotten in trouble for not making your bed? Well, it turns out that you might
actually be better off not making it.

Your bed is the home of over 1 million dust mites. This may sound disgusting, but it is likely
nothing to worry about. Dust mites are so small that they are microscopic, meaning that they can
only be seen with a microscope. And while they may look menacing under a microscope, dust
mites are mostly harmless. However, they can cause problems for people with allergies or
asthma. For these people, dust mites can cause sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, and other
symptoms.

At night, you sweat and shed tiny pieces of skin. The dust mites that live in our sheets love the
moist environment created by the sweat. They also like to feed on the dead skin. When you make
your bed in the morning, you trap the sweat, skin, and dust mites inside your sheets. The dust
mites now have a perfect place to live, eat, and reproduce like crazy!

If you don’t make your bed, however, you make things a bit more difficult for the little guys.
When your sheets are rumpled, the mites, skin, and sweat are exposed to light and fresh air. The
light and air kills the mites, leaving your bed cleaner and making it easier for you to breathe.

This means that it may actually be best for your health if you simply do not make your bed,
especially if you have allergies or asthma. If you just cannot bear the sight of an unkempt bed,
experts suggest that you at least wait until the afternoon to make it. Even a few hours of light and
air will help to reduce the number of dust mites in your bed.

“Untidy Beds May Keep Us Healthy.” BBC News. 18 Jan. 2005. Web. Retrieved 19 Jun. 2016.