Malaysia recently sees a resurgence of daily COVID-19 cases in a rapid manner, which were previously under control, prompting the reintroduction of CMCO in all states, except Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang.

In a bid to flatten the COVID-19 epidemiological curve in the country, other than encouraging people to stay home and implementing WFH instructions in the affected states, education institutions such as schools and kindergartens were ordered to close until further notice.

As lockdowns do not end the pandemic, it is imperative to keep our guard up and stick to health safety protocols to protect ourselves during this COVID-19 outbreak.

Protecting Yourself and Others from COVID-19

Close person-to-person contact appears to be the main source of Coronavirus transmission. As we eagerly await the arrival of a vaccine against Coronavirus, the best way to prevent being infected by COVID-19 is to steer clear from being exposed to this virus.

While COVID-19 has certainly introduced new waves of anxiety, uncertainties, and unprecedented challenges in our daily lives, we must not forget that there are still other types of viruses and microbes that may bring harmful effects and fatalities to our health. In fact, some of them live in our home and specifically, our bedroom!

Bacteria and Viruses in Your Bedroom

As we spend more time at home during this pandemic, this means that we also spend a lot more uninterrupted blocks of time in the bedroom than in any other room in the house – be it for sleeping, completing work, playing with kids, or following online classes or meetings.

Are you aware, though, that there is a legion of germs that also find our bedroom just as homey?

Bacteria and viruses can spread from person to person and from person to surface. In our bedroom, dust, disease-causing microorganisms like dust mites, bacteria, viruses, bedbugs, and possibly pet dander keep us company all the time.

6 Practical Ways to Virus-Proof Your Bedroom

A huge chunk of effort to protect ourselves from bacteria and viruses should be done by keeping ourselves and our surroundings clean. Thus, it goes without saying that ensuring our bedroom, one of the most important places in our life is virus-free and germ-free, is paramount.

Here are some practical tips that you can follow to make sure your bedroom would not be a breeding ground for germs, coronavirus or any other viruses.

1. Shower and wear clean clothes before going to bed

Maintaining good personal hygiene is crucial, especially during this coronavirus outbreak. Since viruses can be washed away with anything that has surfactant properties (or anything that lathers), such as your usual soap, body wash, and shampoo; we ought to shower before going to bed just to make sure that the viruses from outside contact do not enter our bedroom. Better yet, wear clean clothes to keep viruses out of your bedroom since many germs may be transmitted via contaminated clothing.

2. Clean hard surfaces in your bedroom

Frequently touched surfaces in your bedroom should be cleaned religiously. Vacuum your floor regularly and use alcohol-based disinfectants to clean and kill the viruses on the surfaces inside your bedroom. If you prefer to use anti-bacterial wipes, choose those that are able to kill 99.9% of germs. Do not forget to wash your hands after cleaning!

3. Wash your child’s stuffed toys

While teddy bears may appear to be your child’s best friends, did you know that 80% of your child’s cuddly toys harbour harmful bacteria? So, make sure you wash them regularly to get rid of dust and germs and for those that are battery-operated, remove the batteries first before cleaning them.

4. Change and wash bed sheets and beddings regularly

Coronavirus can live on fabrics for 2–3 days including bed sheets and pillowcases. Not washing your sheets regularly exposes you to fungi, bacteria, viruses, and animal dander that are commonly found on sheets and other bedding materials. Other things that can be found on sheets include bodily secretions, sweat, and skin cells.

With all the above being said, you need to change and wash your bed sheets every week or two; followed by washing the dirty laundry in hot water to remove unwanted germs, viruses, dust mites, and allergens. When handling dirty linens, avoid shaking the dirty laundry to minimise dispersing viruses into the air. Instead, bring them straight to the washing machine.

5. Clean your mattress

Did you know that the average person spends 36 years in bed over the course of their lives? Given this statistic, it is advised to maintain mattress cleanliness to stop unwanted build-ups and clear allergens. Regularly vacuuming uncovered mattresses, spot-cleaning your mattress, or using a disinfectant spray in a sweeping motion are good ways to keep clean and go after unseen germs on your mattress.

6. Replace old bedding products

If you have been using your bedding products for several years now, perhaps it is time for you to replace your mattress and bedding accessories to warrant a good sleep and healthier life. As a general rule, you should replace your sheets every 2 years, duvets or comforters every 5 years or so, and change your pillows every 1 or 2 years.

A mattress typically has a lifespan of approximately 8 years. If your mattress has become too uncomfortable to sleep on or if your allergies or asthma is getting worse, then it is probably time to get a new one as mattresses are where the majority of the dust mites, allergens, and other microbes grow in your home.