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Brits urged to sprinkle baking soda on their beds this week
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Brits urged to sprinkle baking soda on their beds this week As temperatures soar towards the weekend, an expert has shared how baking soda can come in very handy. Brits could be on course for another heatwave by the weekend, with temperatures of up to 28C forecast. As the mercury climbs across the UK, many people are likely to sweat more in bed than they would during the winter months, with much of that moisture ending up absorbed by their mattress.
Brits urged to sprinkle baking soda on their beds this week
As temperatures soar towards the weekend, an expert has shared how baking soda can come in very handy.
Brits could be on course for another heatwave by the weekend, with temperatures of up to 28C forecast. As the mercury climbs across the UK, many people are likely to sweat more in bed than they would during the winter months, with much of that moisture ending up absorbed by their mattress.
According to experts at Mattress Online, sweat loss during sleep rises by 76.9% in summer compared to winter. The average person loses half a litre of fluid through perspiration during a summer night's sleep, which can wreak havoc on your bed. Fortunately, baking soda is the little-known remedy that could come in very handy during a heatwave.
Excessive sweating can seep into the mattress, triggering bacterial growth and unpleasant odours.
To help Brits tackle the problem, Hannah Shore, Head of Sleep Science at Mattress Online, has shared her top tips for keeping your mattress fresh throughout the year.
One of the simplest involves nothing more than grabbing a tub of baking soda and heading to your bedroom during hot spells.
Simply scatter a small amount of baking soda across your mattress to absorb moisture and keep it smelling clean and fresh. Leave it for at least an hour — the longer the better — then vacuum it up thoroughly.
Why this works
Human sweat is slightly acidic, while baking soda is alkaline. This means that when perspiration seeps into your mattress as you sleep, sprinkling baking soda on top can help neutralise and eliminate any unpleasant smells.
It also has excellent moisture-absorbing properties. Over time, sweat and humidity can become trapped deep within mattress fibres, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. The powder draws this moisture to the surface so it can be effortlessly vacuumed away.
Alongside this baking soda trick, it's also worth putting pillows, sheets and duvets through a hot wash, as this will help eliminate germs and dust mites. With your mattress stripped bare, you can begin vacuuming it in small sections, paying particular attention to seams, corners and crevices where dust tends to build up.
If any areas require spot cleaning, a mild detergent mixed with warm water should do the job. Use a clean, damp cloth and be careful not to drench your mattress in the process.
Allow your mattress to air thoroughly to make sure it's completely dry before replacing the bedding. If it's double-sided, flip it over and repeat the process for a truly thorough clean.