Leave those covers kicked aside!
Tired of making the bed every morning? Rejoice: turns out it's healthier not to! A new study reveals that leaving the bed unmade helps air out the sheets and mattress. This in turn lets out humidity, which helps to dry out and kill dust mites.
Dust mites can only take in water from the atmosphere through special glands in their sides. If it's not damp enough, the dust mites die. Also, few things are better at sterilization than sunlight - so if your bed happens to get sun, letting it pour in on those nasty dust mites will also help do them in.
If you must make your bed (must you?) leave it unmade all day to air out, then make it when you get home from work at night. That way, the dust mites have the maximum amount of time to shrivel up and die while you are gone.
On the other hand, some recent research showed that, while only 27 percent of people make their beds, they are far more likely to rate themselves as "happy," and to have a job and a car, exercise regularly, and own their own homes. Experts put it down to an overall feeling of organization in your environment, which can impact your mental state.