7 Things You Really Shouldn’t Be Doing in Bed

Our bedrooms are increasingly becoming multifunctional spaces – we are no longer just using them as a place to sleep. But, like everything, there should be boundaries in place to ensure your bed remains a haven to retreat to at the end of the day.

Don’t…

1. Eat: crumbs in the bed – need we say more? Eating in bed also means it is likely to be very close to you going to sleep. As The Sleep Charity advises, eating late at night or having a heavy meal before bedtime can make it challenging to sleep at night.
2. Drink liquids that can stain: when it comes to coffee or red wine, try to keep these dark liquids away from the bed. To help protect the mattress itself from staining, make sure you use a mattress protector. If your mattress is stained, read our guide on cleaning the common offenders.
3. Use it as a home office: the past couple of years have seen a surge in homeworking, but it is crucial to maintain clear boundaries. Ideally, have a dedicated office area that is not the bedroom and definitely not the bed itself!
4. Treat it like a trampoline: no matter how fun it might be, bouncing on the bed could permanently damage the spring unit and invalidate any warranties or guarantees. Avoid standing on it too if you can.
5. Sleep with pets: we know this is a big divider, but ideally, your pet should not be sleeping under the covers with you. The added fur, fluid (yes, really!) and skin cells shed by an extra body will significantly impact your mattress, allergen levels, and possibly your quality of sleep. The Sleep Charity has shared more advice on co-sleeping with pets.
6. Sit on the edge of the mattress: if you are a parent or caregiver, it can be tempting to perch on the edge of your child’s bed as you read them a bedtime story. Unfortunately, this will weaken the edge of the mattress and base by concentrating the weight in the same small area.
7. Sleep on one side of the mattress: you should be regularly rotating your mattress (end to end) and flipping it over (unless it is single-sided) to help minimise impression marks.

All these things are causing us to throw away our mattresses far sooner than they should be. By taking good care of your bed and mattress, you can prolong its lifespan and get your money’s worth!