We tend to forget our mattress. We’ve been sleeping on it for years, covering it with fitted sheets, turning it over from time to time … But we never thought about changing it. However, according to a recent study carried out by researchers at the University of Salford (United Kingdom) for the benefit of the Dreams mattress brand, the best companion of our nights is also … a nest for bacteria.
To come to this conclusion, the scientists scrutinized a dozen old mattresses – over 8 years old. And the result is (really) scary. In bulk, they found there: molecules from cosmetic products, food scraps (microscopic, obviously), fungi (17 species have been identified), dead skin (hang in there: 4 kg of dead skin per mattress, provided it is over 10 years old!) as well as various faecal, genital, oral and intestinal bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and E. Coli.
A mattress that is too old is therefore bad for our health – and not just for the back. Especially since experts estimate that we spend an average of a third of our life there! Asthma, allergies, poisoning: the risk is very real. What if we made a commitment to review all our bedding before 2016?
Hygiene: a tip for knowing when to wash your pillow.
How to choose the right mattress? Our advices.
