Similar to people who smell good all day long, keeping your bed smelling good all the time might seem like an unsolvable mystery. But in reality, it’s easier than you think. 

It’s not even about doing anything special like spraying fabric refresher all over the bedding. It’s mostly about doing the basics and doing them well. In any case, we are not talking about making your bed smell like lavender or roses, though that’s fine if you want, but rather keeping it smelling clean and fresh. 

Why It’s Important to Keep Your Bed Smelling Fresh

• It’s relaxing to get into a fresh smelling bed. It helps you calm down and sleep better. 
• How your bed smells is a good indication of how clean it is. And as we discussed in another post, a dirty bed can mess up your sleep quality. 
• If your bed smells fresh, then it means you are not breathing in dust, dust mites, mold and other allergens on your bed. That’s great news for everyone, but especially for those with allergies or asthma. If, instead, your bed smells dusty, musty or moldy, it’s a sign of too many allergens on your bed.  
• A fresh-smelling bed usually also means a fresh-smelling bedroom. If every time you enter your bedroom you are hit with an unpleasant smell, the culprit is usually the bed. So making your bed smell nice is the first step in making your entire bedroom smell fresh and clean.

5 Ways To Keep Your Bed Smelling Nice All The Time

To tackle foul smells on your bed, it’s important to understand what causes them in the first place. Generally, a buildup of moisture, dirt, dead skin cells and other debris on your bedding is what makes your bed smell not-so-fresh. They invite mold, mildew and odor-causing bacteria.

Knowing this, here are the best ways to keep your bed smelling fresh all the time. 

1. Wash Bedding Regularly 

The most obvious way to keep your bed smelling fresh is to keep it clean. And the best way to keep it clean is to wash the bedding regularly. 

You should change your bedsheets and pillowcase 1-4 times a week. For most people, once a week is usually enough. But if you get night sweats, your bed is more likely to smell and could even get mold or mildew. Wash your sheets 2-3 times a week. 

If you want to go longer without having to change your sheets, get the Hercleon Jax sheets. They are optimized for hygiene with built-in antibacterial protection that fights off odor-causing bacteria. They stay fresh and hygienic for longer than regular bed sheets. 

Also don't forget to wash your duvet cover once a week. As for the duvet itself, once or twice a year is enough to keep it smelling fresh. You can occasionally air it outside to freshen it. 

2. Use a Mattress Protector (and Occasionally Vacuum Your Mattress)

The mattress is one of the most common reasons for a foul smelling bed. It can accumulate moisture from sweat, which can encourage mold, mildew and bacteria to grow inside the foam. Dead skin cells, body oils and allergens settling on and in the mattress can also make it smell stale or musty. 

A smelly mattress is harder to deal with since you cannot wash it. The best option is to protect it before it starts smelling. Use a waterproof mattress protector to keep moisture, allergens, dirt and other stuff from getting into the mattress.

Remember to wash the mattress protector at least once a month. Then once or twice a year, strip the mattress, sprinkle it with baking soda (leave it to rest for a couple of hours) and then vacuum it. This will refresh and deodorize the mattress. 

3. Use Natural Bedding 

Natural fabrics like cotton, silk, bamboo, Tencel and linen are more resistant to odors compared to polyester and other synthetic fabrics. 

If you can, get sheets made with natural fabrics. In addition to smelling fresher, natural bed sheets are also more breathable, better at moisture wicking and they feel softer. 

4. Watch Your Own Hygiene

Yes, you can be the reason your bed never smells fresh. Improving your own hygiene can help keep your bed smelling nice. 

Take a shower or bath before getting into bed and don't sit or lie on your bed with clothes that you’ve been with outside. 

This is not related to your hygiene, but also watch out for pets getting on the bed. If your dog or cat spends a lot of time on your bed, they can also leave an unpleasant smell. Getting them a mattress pad or their own pet bed can help. 

5. Keep Your Bedroom Clean and Well Ventilated  

Finally, keep your entire bedroom clean. If your bedroom is dirty and smelly, chances are that your bed will be, too. 

Good ventilation is also important. It keeps moisture from building up in your bedroom and bed, thus preventing musty odors. So whenever the weather allows, throw open the windows. 

Stripping your bed for about half an hour to an hour each morning also helps dry out any moisture to ensure you don't trap smells under the duvet.