Make the most of the winter sun

“Living in the UK, sunshine in the winter is like gold dust,” says Johns, “however, from time to time we are graced with winter sun. This is great news for both our mental health and our bed linen. The sun is a fantastic natural cleaning aid for your bedding. The UV rays from the sun help to kill dust mites, mildew and other allergens. Not only this, but it also works to absorb moisture and odours from your bedding, helping them to stay fresh.

“Another bonus of sunlight is its bleaching abilities. If you have duvets or pillows with lots of unsightly yellow staining, laying them in the sunlight can help to lighten the stains. Of course, sunlight is minimal during the winter, so make the most of the sun when it is around, ensuring to leave your bedding exposed to direct sunlight for as long as possible.”

Bring out the summer fans

“Whilst I would always recommend airing your bedding outside,” says Johns, “in the winter months this isn’t an option. Rain or no rain, the air is generally full of moisture in the winter, so your bedding will not be able to dry efficiently, and thus create a breeding ground for dust mites and mildew.

“Opening your windows to air your bedding lends a similar issue, and with the likelihood of heavy rainfall, it isn’t worth risking that alone. Instead, I would recommend reaching for the fan that saw you through the summer months. Hang your bedding over a clothes airer and stand your fan in front, not too close, and switch on to a medium setting. Doing this will help to dry out your bedding, and reduce the chances of mould and mildew. It will also help to prevent a build-up of dust and skin particles, helping you to keep things as fresh and hygienic as possible.

“Before doing this, however, ensure that your fan is clean, and the room in which you are airing your bedding is free of excess dust. If not, you risk blowing additional dust into your bedding. Similarly, once you have done fanning your bedding, make sure to give your room a good clean and rid it of any dust that may have been eliminated from your bedding before it has the chance to make its way back to your bed.”

This is why you need to wash your sheets more in winter