It looks like there’s one more trend to try: airing your duvet in the intense cold. According to those who do it, the practice serves to kill bacteria, eliminate negative energy” or promote better sleep.
According to, Cecilia Blomdahl, TikTok influencer from Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago, explained, in a video on the social network, that “I learned from my mother. Airing duvets is something very common in Scandinavia, and probably in other parts of the world too.”
He added that “the main objective is just freshen the bed linenand it really makes it feel fresh and airy. But the side effect is that it can actually help improve sleep quality. When we sleep, we sweat and breathe, and this moisture is trapped in the bedding. Therefore, by airing the duvet, we can help remove this moisture.”
It also says that if you don’t have anywhere to hang it, just open the window for an hour before making the bed.
According to , although we are skeptical about the scale of the trend, the idea “exploded” on TikTok. However, the idea of hanging clothes to dry outdoors is something that people, including those in Scandinavia and the Nordic countries, seem to appreciate it.
But what about science? Well, there aren’t many out there. The main benefit, according to those who work with bedding, is that you can eliminate part of the accumulated humidity.
“We all lose around half a liter of water a night while we sleep, and this perspiration is trapped in bedding, especially duvets,” he explained. Robert Lancaster-Gayeco-founder of Tielle Love Luxury. “For a duvet to function as it should, we need to keep it as dry as possible.”
However, the effectiveness of keeping the duvet out for a few hours depends on humidity and temperature. AND it can also bring unwanted particles into the room, although this problem is more serious in spring and summer.
“On a high pollen day, clothing left outside can absorb a lot of pollen particles, which we then bring inside and breathe in at night. This can make hay fever worse,” he explained. Elena Salageanallergy consultant at Holistic Allergy, adding: “It is well known that pollen from grass, trees and herbs can stick to sheets, especially if they are cotton.”
Some claim that airing the duvet outside can help kill bacteriaeither due to the cold or the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, but thisIt is also not conclusive. The cold can help fight dust mites, but only a little.
“They are not completely eliminated, but we can reduce their number a little”, he explained. Ashley Matsuka Kidderlaundry specialist.
Armaghan-e-Rehman Mansooran infectious disease expert at the University of Kentucky’s UK HealthCare, added that freezing is often used to preserve bacteria for laboratory use. “THE Most common bacteria do not die at freezing temperaturesalthough its activity may slow down or stop temporarily.”
When brought back to the heat, they continue their lives (feeding on the oils, skin and sweat), as if nothing had happened. THE The idea that the Sun helps kill bacteria is also dubious. There are studies that show that UV-C radiation can help reduce dust mites, but this is a high dose of UV-C, and that is not what the Sun provides.
“UV-C é […] produced by the Sun, but it is the shortest ultraviolet wavelength and is almost completely filtered by the atmosphere before reaching the Earth’s surface,” explains the European Commission. “Therefore, people have little or no natural exposure to it, and that is good. The shorter the wavelength, the greater the impact ultraviolet radiation can have on human health.”
To kill bacteria, the most effective way remains wash bedding at high temperatures and, if you’re lucky, put it in the dryer.
“Studies show that bed bugs, including their eggs, die when exposed to temperatures of 45°C or higher for a prolonged period,” explains . “Even if some survive the washing machine, the dryer can kill them. Drying clothes, bedding and other fabrics on the highest setting for at least 30 minutes is usually enough to kill bed bugs and their remaining eggs.”
Overall, drying your bedding outdoors can be convenient and better for the planet than using a dryer. It can also temporarily reduce the presence of bed bugs or make clothes less damp. But There are probably no major benefits to this practiceand regular washing remains essential to keeping bed bugs at bay. Maybe it will even help you sleep better.
Teresa Oliveira Campos, ZAP //
