This Bedroom Item Is Surprisingly Dirty—Here Are the Gross Things That Happen If You Don’t Clean It
Updated: Jun. 12, 2024
The germiest item in your bedroom might be the one you least expect
You likely know how important it is to wash your sheets every week, or what happens when don’t clean your pillowcase. Germs and dust mites can accumulate, and the last thing you want is to sleep in a bed that’s full of them. And yet, despite all of your efforts to keep your sheets clean and germ-free, there’s an unassuming part of your bed that may be accumulating just as much bacteria—and it’s less likely to be cleaned as often, if at all. And that’s your headboard.
Yes, that’s right. Your headboard isn’t just collecting dust as time goes on. It can also be a breeding ground for germs. Want to rest assured you’re not resting in a bed teeming with gross bacteria? Here’s what you need to know, including how to keep your headboard clean.
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How germy does your headboard get?
A study by Mattress Clarity and microbiologist Amy-May Pointer analyzed the bacteria in a typical bed and found the headboard to be the greatest offender. The headboard contained a diverse set of bacteria, including “fungus [and] mold colonies as well as bacterial colonies.” It tends to be a breeding ground for germs even beyond your bedsheets or mattress, likely because it’s the part of your bed that you wouldn’t expect needs to be cleaned regularly.
Headboards come in contact with skin and hair on a nightly basis, which leave behind sweat, oils, dead skin and makeup and hair-product residue. They also accumulate dust that circulates throughout the room. Environmental conditions such as the moisture and heat from high temperatures, as well as unclean sheets and mattresses, also contribute to the spread of headboard germs.
What happens if you don’t clean your headboard?
In her analysis, Pointer found Staphylococcus aureus spp on the headboard, a dangerous strain of staphylococcal bacteria known to cause a particular type of staph infection on the skin. This type of infection is contagious and can be treated with a topical antibiotic, but if it goes untreated, it can be fatal.
This, of course, sounds pretty bleak. However, given that the entire house can become a breeding ground for germs that cause staph infections, it isn’t uncommon to find some of your household items—including the headboard—harboring them. With proper cleaning and care, this is a problem that you should never have to worry about.
How to keep your headboard clean
Don’t assume the worst. This doesn’t automatically mean your headboard should make its way to the trash. It simply means you have to keep up with headboard cleaning on a regular basis, in the same way that you would wash your pillows, launder your sheets and yes, even deep-clean your mattress. Here’s how to best clean your headboard.
- Vacuum once a week. First, use a handheld vacuum to remove the dust. Be sure to vacuum it thoroughly, especially if you have an upholstered headboard—the fabric can be porous. This type of cleaning should be done at least once a week to avoid the spread of germs.
- Pre-treat stains. If you have spots to treat, stain removal will depend on the type of fabric your headboard is made of. Headboards with a “W” label should be treated with a water-based cleaning solvent, while those labeled with an “S” should use a dry-cleaning solvent. (If it’s marked as both, you can use either.) In some cases, baking soda and vinegar might help with stain removal.
- Clean the headboard. Once dust, debris and stains are cleared, choose a cleaning method approved for your fabric. Headboards made of leather can be wiped down easily, while ones made of fabrics such as cotton, linen or polyester will need a little more care. Using a microfiber cloth and your cleaning solution of choice, work your way from top to bottom, rubbing the upholstery fabric with minimal pressure.
- Let it dry. Whether you’re air-drying or bringing in a box fan to encourage the drying process, it’s important that all leftover moisture is removed—no germ breeding ground allowed here!
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Sources:
- Mattress Clarity: “What Bacteria Is in Your Bed?”
- Merck Manuals: “Staphylococcus aureus Infections (2023)”
- Cleveland Clinic: “Staph infection”
- Washington University School of Medicine: “Drug-resistant staph can spread easily in household environments”
