Making your bed is unhygienic because it doesn't give a chance for your mattress and sheets to air out, amirite?

sometimes "unhygienic" stuff actually strengthens you... people who bite their nails have slightly stronger immune systems (on average) due to constantly interacting with bacteria/foreign bodies, etc. etc.

by Swimming_Fox_7350 2 days ago

If you want your teeth ruined..

by Anonymous 2 days ago

They're being pedantic

by Tristin93 2 days ago

You need to understand the difference between 1st infection and re-exposition. You have 2 systems within your immune system, the general(innate) one and the specific one(adaptive). The general system attacks any foreign material in your body. It's good at slowing down an infection, but it rarely finishes it. Pathogens have unique identifiers called 'antigens'. Your specific system will pick up an antigen, analyse it, and then deploy antibodies and T-cells equipped to recognise and attack that very specific antigen. But this analysis process takes days or even weeks. After the infection, the remaining T-Cells and B-Cells turn into memory cells. In future infections, the immune system will be able to identify that specific antigen and deploy antibodies without having to analyse it. If you take a close look, you'll notice that nowhere in this process does the innate system strengthen, nor does the adaptive system. All that happens is the immune system learns to recognise a certain antigen on a specific strain of a pathogen. You can take a pathogen, change nothing except it's antigens, suddenly it's like this pathogen has never been inside you before - even if it does the exact same things, and you show the exact same symptoms. This is a really heavy simplification of the whole system, but I think you get my point.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

They're just used to those bacteria. That's what makes the immune system stronger. Like if you constantly work out your biceps, you would have strong biceps. You wouldn't say "well their biceps are just used to lifting more weight."

by Smithtiara 1 day ago

Read my reply

by Anonymous 1 day ago

True, however it does chip away at your teeth over time and will have your teeth looking weird search it up.

by Desperate-Buy 1 day ago

Been biting my nails for 40 years. I get sick all the time and have perfect teeth. Am i doing it wrong?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

yes

by Fit_Awareness_948 1 day ago

I've been biting mine for close to 40! My teeth are great, and I rarely get sick. I must be biting them correctly?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Then just eat your boogers.

by MaximumSuperb 1 day ago

Way ahead of you buddy. Been doing that since pre school

by pricehollie 1 day ago

Does the chipping happen when your teeth snap together - so really anything tough you're nibbling small bits off could give the same result? I don't do nails, but even putting aside the massive amounts of sugar in them, I've wrestled with some homemade toffees in the past, and man, the jarring feeling of your teeth snapping together when you struggle to bit through it sometimes... Guess I'm lucky mine have been pretty strong! 😅

by Anonymous 1 day ago

…this is the "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" argument, and it's laughably false.

by Ok_Proposal_5658 1 day ago

"Whaddya mean my horrible spinal injury hasn't given me superpowers!?" 😛

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Same with people that eat their boogers.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I don't think they're exposed to any more than the average person's sinuses drip down their throat

by Tough-Fondant-821 1 day ago

You can't say it's an overuse of the word unhygienic and also say it is unhygienic. The fact it likely or usually causes no effect doesn't make it hygienic.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Having a neatly made bed improves my mental health. So Ill continue to make my bed and just wash my sheets regularly like I already do.

by Upstairs_Fig_9986 1 day ago

Same. The idea of keeping my bed messy because it's unhygienic is ridiculous. I wash my sheets at the end of every week and getting into a neatly made bed at the end of the day does wonders for my mood.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Same! Plus sometimes after a rough day at work, coming home to a neatly.made bed and room is everything to me.

by Upstairs_Fig_9986 1 day ago

You can come back and make your bed after 10-20 minutes, its fine

by Rude_Impress7694 1 day ago

This. Get up, brush your teeth, have breakfast, make your bed.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Exactly. It's nice having the bed ready when it's time to go to sleep. My dog also will push all the blankets off the bed if I don't make the bed in the morning. It just makes life easier.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

My step-dad told me, "No matter how bad your day is, you would have accomplished at least one thing."

by Marvinwinfield 1 day ago

Circular reasoning. It relies on the premise that making your bed is productive, which is exactly what is being questioned

by Javierlangworth 1 day ago

Its a ritual, same as making coffee. For some people it feels really good and for some it does nothing. My ritual is making coffee if even if its for somebody else.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

This is me. Making the bed is part of my morning ritual

by Sensitive-Painter 1 day ago

no I make coffee because I'm dependent on it to make me function, not because it's a ritual.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Doesn't have to be, but it is for a lot of people.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

An unmade bed does look messy to me. For some people making up and tidying a space affords them a more peaceful mind. When my bed is made my bedroom feels more calm and inviting.

by lisawill 1 day ago

i don't like being in my house if the bed isn't made

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I'll admit, I can empathize with that type of arbitrary neurosis. There's certain things I feel like that about, just not unmade beds.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

This is more defensible than the hygiene arguments. At least your dissonance/discomfort can be real, as opposed to the notion that a made bed is cleaner, which isn't borne out by the science. People who don't change their sheets for many weeks or even months, however... 😷

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Sets a tone for the day. Also, sets an easy reminder in the routine of the day. Also Also sets a point to look at for mental health. If yoh know everyday, you make the bed, and the last 3 days you haven't, it can let you or someone around you know something might be off for you.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Looks nice. Gets the blankets off the floor. Can sit and read comfortably. Lowers temptation to just sleep when I finish work

by oreillytalia 1 day ago

Also gives me a nice surface to fold laundry onto. If the bed's messy I'm more likely to leave the laundry piled, which starts a cycle.

by Novel-Equivalent3235 1 day ago

It establishes discipline and routine which is good for mental health

by Adventurous-Safe 1 day ago

Isn't one of the common instantly actionable things that does way more for depression than it seems it would just getting yourself ready like you're going to leave the house, even if you're not planning to? I would imagine the bed making routine fits a similar space mentally.

by Novel-Equivalent3235 1 day ago

Dust

by Creative-Language707 1 day ago

If there are any dust mites about, they LURRRV you making the bed while it's still warm, so they can have cosy sexy time while feasting on your discarded cells, and make more dust mite babies ready for when you get back 😉 They can still do it cold, but their little hearts just won't be in it. Well actually they kinda dry out and die 😬 I only 'make' my bed (pull the covers over it) if I'm letting the cat in my room, so he's not contacting where I sleep.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Unless your house is never dusted or you rarely change your sheets, dust is a non-issue.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I didn't say non-existent, I said non-issue. Read.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

It's a gift to later in the day me. I do this one annoying task so I can climb into a well made bed and sleep like the dead later.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I don't want cat hair all over my pillowcase and sheets. Plus my bedroom is small and leaving my bed unmade makes it feel even smaller to me. Can't explain why though lol

by Quirky_Extreme 1 day ago

Maybe treat your pet like a pet and don't allow it on your bed then.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

you've got me, the whole 30 seconds it takes to make my bed is obviously ruining my whole life 😂

by Quirky_Extreme 1 day ago

I love when people invent strawman arguments rather than admitting they have no argument.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

For me it's a combination of sleeping better in a made bed and prior military service.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

A better plan is just wash your sheets.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Daily? And the more important part is airing out the mattress

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Oh but you are sweating on it. And sloughing off dead skin cells all night, plus skin oils.

by dahliaquitzon 1 day ago

You just said you don't change your fitted sheet though? Do you mean you've got a mattress protector under your fitted sheet?

by dahliaquitzon 1 day ago

you should still occasionally wash your mattress protector but maybe like 2-4 times a year? Sheets weekly. All of them. No exceptions.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

We change our sheets weekly, but have a mattress protector that gets washed every couple of months or so (they're designed this way), a ton is getting through your sheets.

by Novel-Equivalent3235 1 day ago

Do you put another sheet over it?

by Breannetrantow 1 day ago

Okay that makes sense. I was getting worried

by Breannetrantow 1 day ago

Or maybe wash your sheets once a week

by Anonymous 1 day ago

He's still asking permission to use the restroom and asking someone if he can have a drink of water. So…

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Well, gross.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Bro…

by Jadathiel 1 day ago

I just do it because it looks nice

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Yeah I would rather it be unhygienic and look neat than look messy, they get washed regularly so it can't be all that bad.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

It feels good to get into a made bed at the end of the day. Makes me sleep better. A made bed also looks nice. I don't understand the "no one sees my bed, I have no one to impress" argument. I hardly ever have people over but my wife and I see it. We like living in a clean and tidy house.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

The "no one sees my bed argument" always sounds like an argument from a depressed person that doesn't think they're worth the effort.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I agree. Small easy tasks like that are good for you. It's good to start your day with something productive. Making your bed is a very easy way to get that ball rolling.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Source?

by anais81 1 day ago

Mites. This has been talked about for years

by Grimesderrick 1 day ago

Well it's common knowledge! If you live in a tropical climate with no air conditioning or access to dehumidifiers. As I do not live in a tropical climate with no AC, I will continue to make my bed.

by anitadaugherty 1 day ago

I mean, give it like 20-30 minutes and then make it. Why does this have to be all or nothing?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Idk man, I have seen some people sleeping on mattresses that cockroaches wouldn't even entertain lol.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Just clean you sheets and make your bed

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Okay jordan peterson we know its you. /s

by SuccessfulMoment2623 1 day ago

Honestly, I operate on the philosophy of it's my room, no one else goes in there but me, and IDGAF about how my bed looks. I care if it's comfy.

by Rough_Lie 1 day ago

"No one else goes in there but me". Great self own

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I saw a study that indicated making your bed in the morning increases happiness by a small but noticeable amount. Ever since then I've considered it an insanely quick and easy way for me to lift my mood when I get up.

by Numerous_Bend 1 day ago

Just wash your sheets every week like a normal folk

by Anonymous 1 day ago

And you should still air out your bed for two hours before making the bed

by Anonymous 1 day ago

…You know you don't need to choose between doing one thing or the other, right?

by alhansen 1 day ago

I never ever make my bed. Your opinion is also scientific consensus AFAIK so everyone should share this opinion. Because it's a fact.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

My cats track the litter between their toes into my sheets if I don't make the bed. How's your hygiene now?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Having pets in the house and on the bed negates pretty much any sanitized process.

by Potential-Fly 1 day ago

The true unpopular opinion lol

by Quick_Reach_2775 1 day ago

Exactly my point. The cat is your pet, you are not the cat's pet. Treat it like it's a pet, not like it's your boss.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

My cat is literally not allowed in my bedroom specifically for this gross reason. Door stays shut always.

by Vegetable-Baby 1 day ago

I make my bed because I don't want spiders or other insects in my bed.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Most of them enjoy the cave that forms under your blankie once you've made the bed way more.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

there not lifting a blanket to get in.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I'm a goblin apparently because I almost never make my bed. I'm just going to mess it all up again later anyway and I take day naps often. I do wash my sheets every other week though which is more than can be said for many. 😅

by Vivienfunk 1 day ago

Agreed. Making you bed immediately is a case of form over function. It looks better but is actually worse.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

People who make their bed every morning have too much time

by Pleasant_Coffee 1 day ago

housewives and maids had the luxury of allowing the bed to air out for an hour or two before making it up. we've no maids and we all work now.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Depends on the humidity of your home. Dust mites only need a relative humidity of 50%. So if your home's humidity is lower than that, it helps. Otherwise it doesn't.

by GuardLeading 1 day ago

Wash your sheets?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

My parents expected me to make my bed. I don't make my bed now that I live on my own. I'm not a super sweaty sleeper, but I do sweat a little bit

by gwendolyn22 1 day ago

Because it's more comfortable to get into a made bed every night.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

This man IS NOT a Navy Admiral.

by Anonymous 23 hours ago

For many people, an unmade bed is a sensory nightmare.

by Anonymous 23 hours ago

Yes. But it doesn't take long. You can schedule the task for after breakfast.

by Available_Amoeba_621 23 hours ago

Make your bed during the day and then turn it down 2hrs before bed so your sheets can air out and cool off

by BigComplaint 23 hours ago

I use the rubber bed sheets made by Kink. So I don't think this advice applies to me and my bed.

by Anonymous 23 hours ago

Makin your bed can create a sense of accomplishment, improve your mood, and help maintain a tidy environment, which may lead to better sleep and reduced stress. It sets a positive tone for the day and encourages other productive habits.

by Sad_Doctor 23 hours ago

I make my bed every day to keep myself from taking a nap, which I'm super prone to do. I change my sheets weekly and I live in a dry area.

by Anonymous 22 hours ago

I make my bed daily; however, I air it out while I get ready for work, then make it before I walk out the door.

by Batzfilomena 22 hours ago

Get more data

by Anonymous 22 hours ago

It's more hygienic for my house bc we have cats. Don't like climbing into a bed covered in cat hair

by LegPublic537 21 hours ago

Or worse, cat litter if they track it around.

by Vivienfunk 21 hours ago

Thankfully we have pellets that don't track the way litter does! And I like to clean their feet after I noticed they've pooped but I can't control what they do when we're not home

by LegPublic537 21 hours ago

YES!! So disgusting when people dont let their pillows, duvets and matress air through the day. If you get company later, then make your bed after work.

by DryPair 21 hours ago

This is the dumbest excuse for not making a bed that I have ever heard, so far. And I don't like making the bed.

by Anonymous 20 hours ago

Idk about all that, but Idk why making your bed is considered to be so important. Obviously you can make your bed if you want, but some people treat not making your bed as some sign of laziness, when it really just doesn't matter

by Doriannolan 20 hours ago

Not all of us sweat profusely and wake up with wet bed sheets. Nothing needs to air out

by Anonymous 20 hours ago

My air conditioned home isn't really a problem for this. That said, I make the bed daily but not immediately after waking. I usually do it as one of the last things before I leave for work in the morning. It's more about coming back home to a tidy house than anything else for me really. All bedding is laundered weekly with the exception of the mattress protector which gets done once a month usually.

by Anonymous 19 hours ago

Wash your blankets and your sheets

by Anonymous 19 hours ago

It's so weird to me that people make their bed when they wake up. I've always opened up my sheets after sleeping.

by InflationPitiful 19 hours ago

OP, how many times a month do you change your sheets? Be honest

by Jadathiel 19 hours ago

guy that does not have a cat

by Anonymous 19 hours ago

This sounds like a desperate argument I'd make to my mom at like 9 years old trying to get out of making my bed

by camylle51 18 hours ago

I don't think that "airing it out" helps anything except odors. The bacteria don't float away.

by Anonymous 18 hours ago

Not trapping in moisture Not trapping in warmth Allowing airflow (deoderising) Allowing UV light exposure (deoderising and sanitising) So categorically, yes leaving it unmade (folded back) absolutely makes it a more hostile environment for bacterial growth in most cases. 🤓

by Anonymous 18 hours ago

I used to make my bed all the time but now I live with my girlfriend. the bed always needs to be pulled back but still neat and window on tilt soon as

by Few_Machine958 18 hours ago

You know what wouldn't be hygienic? Letting the cats play in our clean sheets all day when we're at work.

by Lucius62 18 hours ago

Round doorknobs help. It's really hard for them to get a grip! 😁

by Anonymous 18 hours ago

Yea, cutting one room off of the AC/heat for 8-10 hours a day seems kinda dumb when I can just make the bed before I leave for work.

by Lucius62 17 hours ago

If you're washing yourself and your sheets it's really not an issue

by Anonymous 17 hours ago