Month: July 2020

25
Jul
2020
Does Alcohol Affect Your Sleeping Pattern?

Does Alcohol Affect Your Sleeping Pattern?

For many of us, the perfect way to unwind after a long stressful day is to reach for a beer or a glass of wine. Perceived wisdom suggests that not only is it the perfect way to relax, it can also help us get off to sleep at night. A few alcoholic beverages can leave us feeling drowsy, but is it accurate to say it helps us sleep, and what are the true effects of alcohol on our sleep?

Here are a few ways alcohol affects your sleep:

It induces faster sleep 

Alcohol has a profound effect on our body’s ability to sleep, and for the most part, the effect is negative.

You might find that after a couple of drinks it’s much easier to drop off to sleep. Alcohol is a depressant, which has a sedative effect on your body. That’s why alcohol can lead to a relaxed feeling and eventually help you get to sleep faster.

On the face of it, this might seem positive, but once you are asleep, alcohol has much more damaging effects on your quality of sleep.

It brings more interruptions during the night 

Drinking alcohol also makes it more likely you’ll be forced out of bed in the middle of the night. Whether that is for a drink of water due to dehydration or a trip to the toilet due to a full bladder, alcohol makes it more likely we’ll have a disrupted night’s sleep.

It blocks valuable REM sleep 

Alcohol shifts the normal sleep cycle to contribute to a feeling of sluggishness when you wake. When you’ve been drinking, you’ll spend longer in deep sleep but less time in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is your body’s window to restore and regenerate. Reduced due to the consumption of alcohol, less REM sleep leaves you feeling fatigued (and hungover) the next day.

Posted by m6beds in Alcohol & Sleeo, Alcohol and Sleep, M6 Beds
17
Jul
2020
What Is the Best Way to Wash Your Bedding? 

What Is the Best Way to Wash Your Bedding? 

Now you know how often you should be washing your bedding, here are some tips and tricks to keeping them squeaky clean.

The best way to wash your bedding is selecting the hottest setting the material can stand. The hotter the water, the better job it will do taking out all the pathogens and critters that have found their way onto your bedsheets. It’s worth checking the labels before you dive in and destroy your bedding, some linens can’t be washed in high temperatures or put in the dryer without sustaining damage.

A solution to this would be hanging them out to dry outside. Sunlight is a natural antimicrobial agent and kills mites so makes a better option than drying them inside. One final tip would be to iron your bedsheets once they’ve been cleaned. This will further sanitize more sensitive linens without committing them to a long soak in boiling water.

It can feel like washing your bedding is a bit of a drag, but it’s important for health and hygiene. A handy tip to avoid leaving your bedding too long when you can’t be bothered is to have two sets of sheets and pillow and duvet covers. This way, it’s a quick replacement when two weeks comes around, allowing you to wash the dirty bedding another time. Following the advice in our article will help you take care of your health when you head off for a snooze each night, with the bonus of being able to regularly jump into fresh sheets.

Posted by m6beds in Bed Care, Clean Bedding, Duvet Care, Investing in a Bed, Look After Your Bed, M6 Beds, Mattress Care, Mattress Type, Washing Bed Sheets
12
Jul
2020
How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding? 

How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding? 

There are few better feelings than climbing into clean sheets after a long day. While a good run through the washing machines brings comfort and a fresh smell, a regular clean is important for our health. We know it’s important, but exactly how often should you change your sheets?

How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding? 

Bedsheets, pillowcases and duvet covers should be front of the line for a regular wash because they have the most regular contact with your body; you should also be wary of keeping your pillows and mattress clean. Here is how often you should be washing your bedding:

How often should you wash your sheets? (Every 1-2 weeks) 

How often you should wash your sheets can depend on you, but everyone should be stripping their bed at least once a fortnight. You should consider washing them once a week if you have any dust or pollen allergies, you or your partner sweat a lot, either of you is unwell, or if a pet sleeps in bed with you. If you don’t, you may be increasing the chance of running into some of the issues we mentioned earlier.

How often should you wash your pillows? (Every 3 months) 

You can get away with washing your pillows a little less often than the sheets but it’s still recommended you wash the pillows at least every 3 months. Despite the covers, your pillow still picks up the likes of body oils, dead skin cells and dust mites. If left too long, it can be a health risk, as well as pretty unpleasant.

How often should you wash your mattress? (Every eight years)

Although your mattress is better protected than pillows and sheets, it’s recommended you replace your mattress every eight years. Worn out old mattresses will be covered in sweat, dead skin and mites, they could also be to blame for people getting a poor night’s sleep. Buying a fresh one and treating yourself to a mattress top will not only be beneficial for hygiene but could be the key to sounder sleep at night.

Posted by m6beds in Bed Buying Tips, Bed Care, Bed Cleaning Tips, Choosing The Right Mattress, Choosing the right pillows, Clean Bed, Divan Bed, Improve Sleep Patterns, Invest In A Bigger Bed, Investing in a Bed, M6 Beds
02
Jul
2020
Does your bed need an MOT?

Does your bed need an MOT?

When should you change your mattress?

If you really want to get the best possible night’s sleep so you look and feel at your best, The Sleep Council recommends you start to think about replacing your bed after seven to ten years.

  1. Is it seven or eight years old or more? The critical ‘Seven year itch’ can be a make or break moment for many marriages and mattresses.
  2. Did you have your best night’s sleep recently with another one?
  3. Are you waking up more frequently unrefreshed and aching?
  4. Do you disturb your partner or are you disturbed by them when changing sleep positions?
  5. Does it look used or worn?
  6. Does it feel lumpy?
  7. Does it make suspicious noises in the night?
  8. Is it sagging – do you and your partner roll towards each other unintentionally in the middle of the night?
  9. Are the base, legs or castors lumpy, worn or wobbly?
  10. Would it be embarrassing if neighbours saw it without its covers?
Posted by m6beds in Bed Buying Tips, Bedroom, Choose Your Perfect Mattress, Choosing The Right Mattress, Choosing the right pillows, Investing in a Bed, M6 Beds, Mattress Care, Mattress Type, Mattresses, Memory Foam Mattress