Is Your Dirty Bed Keeping You from Getting a Good Night’s Sleep?

Mattress: A protective cover will catch liquids and shield your mattress from allergy-aggravating dust mites (which, ew, nosh on your skin cells), says Philip Tierno, Ph.D., a professor of microbiology at New York University School of Medicine. Look for one that blocks allergens (try the brand PureCare), and wash it with warm water and gentle detergent twice per year.

via GIPHY

RELATED: We Test-Rode Sex on 6 Different Mattresses

Pillows: No matter the material, throw ’em in the washer every three months. To balance the load, clean two at a time in warm water, running the rinse cycle twice, then tumble dry on low with dryer balls to prevent clumps, says Parikh. Or avoid the bulky loads by investing in allergen-blocking pillow covers; wash them as often as your sheets.

This article was originally published in the May issue of Women’s Health, on newsstands now.

Gif courtesy of giphy.com