Make your bedroom a haven of cleanliness!

[7 December 2009 - 14h15]

With its mattress, carpet, curtains and wall coverings, the bedroom can be a breeding ground for germs!

So when it comes to hygiene, there are two golden rules for this room: adjust the heating so that the temperature does not rise above 18 to 19 degrees, and make sure it is well aired. Dr Fabien Squinazi, Director of the Paris City Hygiene Laboratory explains why it is so important to air the bedroom in the early morning: “While we are sleeping, we give off water vapour and carbon dioxide. This becomes trapped in the room. By airing the bedroom in the morning before making the bed, these traces of humidity on the sheets can be eliminated. And this helps to restrict the development of germs.”

Carpets, like many other items types of furnishing, also give off pollutant gases! Which is another good reason for giving the room a good airing. The wardrobe, bed, carpet, paint and wall coverings all contain synthetic materials and these can create chemical pollution. One way of getting rid of this pollution – which can irritate the airways – is to air the room.

As well as the pollution they cause, carpets – and wall fabrics too – have another “defect”: dust collects on and in them instead of being blown away. And this can be a major problem for people who suffer from asthma and allergies. If that’s you, the only solution is to clear out your bedroom and change carpets for wooden flooring or tiles and use paint on the walls.

If you decide to stick with carpet and fabric, make sure these are shampooed once a year. The rest of the time you can avoid parasites accumulating by vacuuming once or twice a week. And air the room well before and after vacuuming – not during, as this will only cause the dust to be scattered more widely.

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