How To Keep a Guest Bed Fresh
Whether it’s family or friends, having guests over can be wonderful but also stressful! Once they arrive, your routine is suddenly interrupted, and you have to cope with the sudden addition of more people into your home. Of course, the work starts long before your guests arrive, as you prep and polish your house ready to make a good impression. With a seemingly never-ending to-do list, any chores you can tick off early are a bonus.
That’s where our guide comes in. Here, we share our essential tips on how to keep a guest bed fresh, giving you one less thing to think about in the run-up to your guests’ arrival.
What is the best type of bedding to choose for guest bed sheets?
When choosing bedding for a guest bed, it's important to remember that it needs to be suitable for every type of sleeper. They might be hot sleepers or have respiratory issues or allergens that could be exacerbated by something like a teddy bear fabric bed set.
The best option here is to opt for hypoallergenic bedding that offers excellent temperature regulation. Whilst there are synthetic fabrics that are suitable, there are also plenty of natural fabrics that will be perfect for your guests. Some of the best materials for guest bedding that are both hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating include:
- Bamboo
- Cotton
- Silk
- Wool
Make sure to double-check the cleaning requirements for whatever type of bedding you opt for, as bedding such as silk will need to be cleaned differently from something like cotton!
Why does fresh bedding feel so good?
One of the best feelings in life is getting into fresh bedding – no, we're not accepting criticisms on this! The US National Sleep Foundation did a study in 2012 that found 73% of us sleep better on fresh sheets.
From the comfort of that just-cleaned scent to the feeling of clean sheets, there's plenty to love about a fresh bed. But there are also plenty of physical benefits – clean sheets are softer than dirty sheets and more hygienic, as washing them will eliminate dust mites and allergens.
This, in turn, helps improve the air quality in your bedroom, which is essential as poor air quality can exacerbate or even cause physical illnesses. Regular washing of bedding means you can have a hygienic and restful sleep!
Should you keep your guest bed dressed?
Whether or not you should keep your guest bed dressed when it's not being used is entirely personal preference. You might prefer to completely strip the bedding once your guest leaves and completely clean it before putting the bedding back on when it's next needed. Alternatively, you might not like seeing a bare bed and want to keep it dressed.
On the one hand, stripping a bed after someone leaves means that the mattress will get to breathe, and the bedding will be completely fresh when someone stays over again. On the other hand, it also means that you might be rushed to set up the bed if you have an unexpected visitor. It all depends on what you prefer!
How often should you change your guest bedsheets?
At the bare minimum, we recommend changing your bedsheets whenever you have a guest over. No one wants to sleep in the same bedding as someone else, so as soon as someone leaves, you will want to strip the bed and wash the bedding immediately.
If the guest bed isn't in use and you've opted to keep it dressed, we recommend thoroughly washing the entire bedding set at least once a month to keep it fresh and ready for unexpected visitors. Don't forget to choose bedding suitable for various sleepers, from those with sensitive skin to allergy sufferers, such as bamboo or cotton.
How to keep bedding smelling fresh in storage
If you have more than one bedding set for your guest bed, you'll need to keep the spare in storage. Anyone who's left clothing in storage for too long will know it runs the risk of smelling foul or even becoming damaged! Adding scented dryer sheets or baking soda in a vented jar will help eliminate any annoying smells whilst it's stored away.
The type of storage you use is also essential. Plastic boxes run the risk of emitting gases, which can seep into your bedding and cause odours or stains. Alternatively, use fabric storage bags or boxes, rattan boxes, or something with no lid. Keeping your bedding airtight might seem like an excellent way to keep it fresh, but it risks creating an environment where mould and mildew will thrive. Our guide on how to store bedding offers plenty of extra tips to keep it smelling amazing!
How can I keep the mattress for a guest bed fresh?
Keeping your guest bed fresh isn't just about the bed or the bedding – it's also about the mattress! We've put together some helpful tips to keep your mattress ready for guests:
Use a laundry freshener
If your guest bed hasn't been slept in, use Febreeze or another fabric spray to freshen up the bedding before guests arrive. If you've already had someone stay over, it would be best to fully change the bedding to something freshly washed to ensure your guests get a hygienic and cosy space to sleep.
Vacuum your mattress
Guest beds, by their very nature, don't see as much use as a regular bed, which means they run the risk of getting dusty. To keep your guest bed fresh and ready for visitors, clean the guest bedroom every month or two. If your guest mattress hasn't been used and needs to be freshened up to eliminate odours, then sprinkle some baking soda over the mattress and let it sit for an hour or so before vacuuming it up. Baking soda is an effective natural deodoriser and can be a great stain remover if you need it!
Vacuuming your mattress keeps it clean and reduces the risk of dust mites and allergens, ensuring your guests get restful and hygienic sleep. Make sure to air out the mattress regularly and open the windows to let air circulate - this will help keep your guest bedroom feeling fresh and ready to go. Find out more tips about cleaning your mattress in our handy guide!
Use a mattress protector
Mattress protectors, as their name suggests, offer extra protection to your mattress to help increase its life and reduce the risk of it getting any stains. Clean the mattress protector every few months, which will help eliminate dust mites or allergens. This is also a great time to air your mattress out – leave it completely uncovered for an hour or so to let it breathe to help avoid odours and more.
Rotate the mattress
It's important to rotate your mattress every six months, which is just as true for your guest bed. Rotating a mattress helps reduce the risk of sagging, ensuring it can continue to provide all the support you need at night while also helping extend its lifespan.
Some mattresses may require flipping, so you'll need to completely turn the mattress over to the unused side, whereas others are rotated only. This will be because they're one-sided mattresses, with features such as padding and foam only on the top – flipping it over will cause your guests to miss out on those benefits!
Even if your guest bed isn’t used often, it’s worth rotating or flipping the mattress regularly to ensure even use when it is.
Control humidity
By their very nature, guest bedrooms don't get as much use as normal bedrooms. This means they are more at risk of developing mould and mildew in the mattress and general environment, as they won't be cleaned as much. Mould and mildew thrive in humidity, so add a dehumidifier to the guest bedroom to reduce the amount of water in the air. Keeping the door open and opening the windows every week for a few hours will help to circulate the air in the room.