Is it healthier to leave your bed unmade?

Quick answer: Leaving your bed unmade for a short time can help heat and moisture escape. Pull back your duvet, ventilate the bedroom and allow bedding to cool before making it.

For years, making the bed has been treated as one of those small signs of having your life in order. Get up, straighten the sheets, pull the duvet into place and start the day.

But could immediately making your bed actually be the less hygienic option?

There is some science behind the idea that an unmade bed can be beneficial, particularly when it comes to moisture, ventilation and house dust mites. However, the often-repeated claim that leaving your bed messy all day is automatically “healthier” oversimplifies the evidence.

The more useful question is not really made bed or unmade bed?

It is: when should you make your bed?

What happens to your bed while you sleep?

A bed has its own small microclimate.

For several hours each night, your body is producing heat and releasing moisture while surrounded by a mattress, sheets, pillows and a duvet. The temperature and humidity immediately around your body can therefore be quite different from conditions elsewhere in the bedroom.

Researchers studying dust-mite habitats have even found that humidity within bedding can behave differently from the humidity measured in the surrounding room. This is one reason bedroom humidity alone doesn't tell us everything about conditions inside a bed.

Research published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy found that the microclimates within bedding can differ substantially depending on proximity to the sleeper and other environmental conditions.

So when you get out of bed in the morning, your bedding isn't necessarily in the same state it was when you climbed into it the night before.

It has been warmed for seven or eight hours and may contain additional moisture.

Immediately replacing a duvet over the mattress reduces the opportunity for that heat and moisture to disperse.

That is the strongest practical argument for airing your bed before making it.

Where did the idea that unmade beds are healthier come from?

One of the most widely quoted stories appeared in 2005 following research involving building scientists at Kingston University.

The researchers were investigating environmental conditions affecting house dust mites. Dr Stephen Pretlove explained that mites obtain water from the atmosphere and suggested that leaving a bed unmade could allow moisture to escape from sheets and mattresses, potentially creating conditions less favourable to mites.

It produced an irresistible headline: don't make your bed and you could kill the dust mites.

The underlying relationship between mites and humidity is real.

House dust mites thrive in relatively humid environments. Laboratory research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that maintaining lower relative humidity significantly restricted populations of Dermatophagoides farinae, one species of house dust mite.

But that doesn't prove that leaving every bed unmade all day will eliminate mites.

Other research has demonstrated that bedding contains complicated microenvironments where temperature and humidity can vary considerably.

So the sensible conclusion isn't that making your bed is unhealthy.

It is that allowing a warm bed to ventilate before covering it again is a reasonable part of good bed hygiene.

Why moisture matters more than whether your bed looks tidy

Moisture is the important part of this story.

House dust mites favour warm, humid environments and are particularly associated with mattresses, bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture.

Allergy UK explains that mites feed on shed skin cells and that their allergens can contribute to symptoms including allergic rhinitis, asthma and eczema in susceptible people.

Reducing humidity is therefore one element of dust-mite management.

UK government guidance makes a broader point about moisture in our homes: effective ventilation exchanges stale, moisture-laden indoor air for fresh air and helps reduce condensation and mould.

That matters beyond your mattress. A bedroom that regularly has wet windows, persistent condensation or mould needs more attention than simply leaving the duvet folded back.

A better morning routine: air first, make later

My own routine has changed over the years.

I used to make the bed immediately because, quite simply, it looked tidier.

Working more closely with bedding, fabrics and how different materials handle warmth and moisture changed my approach.

These days, the duvet gets pulled right back as soon as I get up.

My wife and I also sleep with the bedroom window open – even during winter. Admittedly, that may be taking dedication to a cool bedroom slightly further than most people would choose on a January morning.

You certainly don't have to follow us that far.

Instead, I recommend this simple routine:

• Pull the duvet completely back when you get up.
• Expose as much of the fitted sheet and mattress surface as possible.
• Open the bedroom window for around 10–20 minutes where weather, security and outdoor air conditions allow.
• Leave the bed uncovered for approximately 30–60 minutes.
• Make it once the bedding feels cool and dry.

The 30–60 minutes is a practical recommendation rather than a scientifically established magic number. The objective is simply to give accumulated warmth and moisture an opportunity to escape.

If you shower, have breakfast and get ready before returning to make the bed, you've effectively built the airing period into your morning without adding another chore.

Do you need to leave your bed unmade all day?

Probably not.

There isn't good evidence establishing that a bed left unmade for eight hours is healthier than one aired thoroughly in the morning and then made.

This distinction gets lost in some of the more dramatic coverage of the subject.

The potential unmade bed benefits come primarily from encouraging drying and ventilation, not from untidiness itself.

Once your sheets, mattress and duvet have cooled and aired, you can make the bed.

Think air it first, then make it.

Linen, percale or sateen: does your bedding change things?

Fabric choice affects how bedding feels around the body and how it manages heat and moisture.

Breathability is only one part of choosing what goes on your bed; our guide to the healthiest bedding to sleep on looks more broadly at natural fibres, duvets, mattress protectors and the materials surrounding you each night.

This is particularly noticeable if you're a hot sleeper.

Linen

Of the fabrics I work with, linen would be my first choice for someone who regularly sleeps hot or perspires heavily.

Flax linen is hydrophilic, meaning it interacts readily with moisture. Published textile research reports moisture-regain values for linen of approximately 9–12%, illustrating the fibre's ability to absorb moisture from its surroundings.

Good-quality linen bedding consequently feels particularly comfortable in warm conditions and airs readily after use.

Cotton percale

Cotton percale would be my second choice for a hot sleeper and is an excellent all-round option.

In practical use, it feels light and airy rather than close to the body. This is why I tend to favour cotton percale bedding for people who tell us they sleep warm or want a fresher, cooler-feeling bed.

In practical use, it feels light and airy rather than close to the body.

This is why our 270 thread count organic cotton percale is the cotton bedding I tend to favour for people who tell us they sleep warm.

Cotton sateen

Cotton sateen provides a different sleeping experience.

Its weave creates a smoother, silkier surface and a fabric that tends to feel slightly warmer and more enveloping than percale.

That doesn't make sateen unhealthy or unbreathable. It simply means that someone whose priority is maximum coolness may prefer percale, while someone who enjoys a smoother, cosier bed may prefer sateen.

This distinction is far more useful than assuming all cotton bed sheets behave identically because they contain the same fibre.

The habits worth worrying about more

Making your bed five minutes after waking is unlikely to be the biggest bed-hygiene problem in most homes.

Several everyday habits deserve more attention.

Never ventilating the bedroom

Government ventilation guidance warns that inadequate ventilation can allow moisture and pollutants to accumulate indoors, increasing condensation and mould risk.

Open windows temporarily where appropriate and safe, keep trickle vents unobstructed and use the ventilation systems available in your home.

Regularly overheating the bedroom

Temperature affects both the bedroom and the microclimate beneath your duvet.

If overheating is a regular problem, it is also worth considering whether you need all your usual bedding layers; our guide to sleeping with no covers looks at when lighter, breathable bedding may be the better approach.

A UK experimental study from Loughborough University found poorer sleep efficiency and poorer self-reported sleep experience under overheated bedroom conditions compared with participants' baseline sleep.

If you're repeatedly waking hot or sweaty, consider the bedroom temperature, duvet tog, mattress and bedding materials rather than simply accepting overheating as normal.

Drying lots of washing indoors without adequate ventilation

Wet washing releases moisture into your home.

NICE specifically identifies indoor air-drying of clothes as a moisture-producing activity and recommends avoiding it where possible or increasing ventilation when it cannot be avoided.

Ignoring the washing routine

Airing bedding isn't a substitute for washing it.

If house dust mite allergy is an issue, Allergy UK recommends washing appropriate bedding weekly at 60°C or above, explaining that this temperature kills mites. Always check the individual product's care label before choosing a wash temperature.

Cambridge University Hospitals similarly advises people managing dust-mite exposure to consider washable bedding and breathable allergen-barrier covers.

For ordinary bedding care where a diagnosed allergy isn't the issue, follow the manufacturer's washing instructions rather than automatically using high temperatures.

Covering a hot bed with layer after layer

Mattress protectors, fitted sheets, flat sheets, blankets, heavy duvets and throws can create a substantial collection of layers.

That may be wonderfully cosy in winter, but if you're consistently waking overheated, look at the whole bedding system rather than focusing only on your sheets.

A breathable bedding set cannot compensate for a duvet that is simply too warm for you.

What about eczema and allergies?

This is where we should be careful about describing an unmade bed as “healthier” for everyone.

Leaving your duvet folded back is not a treatment for eczema, asthma or dust-mite allergy.

For people with confirmed house dust mite allergy, established measures are considerably broader.

Allergy UK recommends measures including regular bedding washing, controlling humidity, ventilation, allergen-barrier covers where appropriate and reducing reservoirs of dust.

The National Eczema Society also provides specialist guidance for people managing eczema, where overheating, fabrics, washing products and individual triggers may all matter.

If you experience persistent morning congestion, wheezing, itchy eyes or worsening eczema, seek appropriate medical advice rather than relying on changes to your bed-making routine alone.

So, is it healthier to leave your bed unmade?

Yes – for a while.

But the evidence doesn't give us a convincing reason to abandon making beds altogether.

The useful part of leaving your bed unmade is the opportunity it gives accumulated heat and moisture to escape.

Pulling back the duvet, exposing the mattress and sheets, ventilating the room and allowing everything to cool and dry before making the bed is a simple habit that costs nothing.

Combine that with breathable bed sheets, suitable duvets and pillows, regular washing, sensible bedroom temperatures and good ventilation, and you have a much more meaningful approach to bed hygiene and sleep health than simply deciding that a messy bed must be healthier.

Mine gets aired every morning.

Then it gets made.

That, to me, is the best of both worlds.

Frequently asked questions about leaving your bed unmade

Does leaving your bed unmade kill dust mites?

Lower humidity can make conditions less favourable for house dust mites, and research supports the importance of humidity in mite survival. However, leaving a bed unmade should not be presented as a guaranteed way to kill or eliminate dust mites.

How long should you leave your bed unmade?

There is no scientifically established number of minutes. As a practical routine, I suggest 30–60 minutes, giving the mattress and bedding time to cool and air before replacing the duvet.

Should you open your bedroom window every morning?

Opening a window temporarily can improve ventilation where outdoor conditions, security and safety make it appropriate. UK government and NICE guidance both recognise ventilation as important for removing indoor moisture.

Is it better to fold the duvet back?

Yes. If your aim is to air the bed, folding or pulling the duvet well back exposes more of the sheets and mattress than simply leaving the duvet rumpled on top.

What bedding is best for hot sleepers?

From my experience, I would choose linen bedding first, followed by cotton percale. Both are excellent options when breathability and a cooler sleeping environment are priorities. Cotton sateen is better suited to people who prefer a smoother, slightly warmer feel.

Is making your bed every morning unhealthy?

There is no good evidence that making your bed itself is unhealthy. The more useful habit is simply to air a warm bed before making it, particularly if you sleep hot or your bedroom tends to retain moisture.