Keeping Warm in Bed this Winter

December 22, 2012
Healthy SleepIn the Bedroom

It’s Winter and it’s getting cold!

Winter is harsh, even deadly in certain parts of the country and it’s important to be prepared. While some of us are warmer sleepers than others, heavier fabrics certainly reduce the drafts that can occur on a cold winter’s night. Some prefer wool mattress pads or cushy feather beds while soft flannel sheets, down comforters or wool blankets will suffice for others. No matter what combination you prefer, it’s imperative to start with a fresh set of linens.

Keeping Warm in Bed this Winter

Keeping Warm in Bed this Winter Co..Co..Co..Cold Photo By CayUSA

If you’re like many families who have two complete sets of bedding, one for summer and one for winter, it’s important to look your winter bedding over when you get it out of storage. Inspect your winter bedding for any holes or damage. Once it passes your inspection, you’re ready to run it through the washer and dryer so it’s nice and clean to put on your bed. It’s also a good idea to launder your summer set of bedding before putting it away for the season. Storing dirty sheets and bedspreads will only breed stains and germs and who wants to deal with that?

Be sure to wash and dry all winter blankets, sheets and duvet covers for all the beds in your home. Make sure your family’s winter bedding sets are adequate for winter. Before making your family’s beds for winter it’s important to strip all the beds completely. This includes removing the mattress pad, bedspread, duvet cover or comforter, sheets, pillowcases, pillow protectors and pillows. Be sure to wash all your bedding on the hottest setting the fabric will tolerate. Believe it or not, humans shed just like pets. Skin oils and dead skin cells are all over bed sheets which is why you should frequently wash your bed sheets (at least once a week). The fall is also a great time to flip or rotate your mattress. Many families are maintaining the quality of their bedding and mattresses by following this routine every fall and spring.

Down comforters, wool blankets, heavy cotton/polyester blankets, flannel sheets and 400 count sheets are a few examples of heavier linens that can make your bed much warmer in the winter. If you live in a part of the country where winter temperatures fluctuate, think layers. It’s always easier to remove blankets in the middle of the night if you get too hot. But who wants to get out of bed shivering at 3 a.m. because the bed’s blankets weren’t keeping you warm enough? Keeping an extra blanket nearby, in a drawer or on the foot of the bed, in case it gets cold will prevent you from having to walk so far in the middle of the night. The key to staying warm in bed this winter is to bundle your bed the same way you would bundle up yourself before going outside.