Beds - protecting your bed and your mattress

Help to prolong the life of beds and mattresses.

All new beds come with care instructions, which you should follow in order to get the very most from your new purchase. The same applies to mattresses. In addition to the general care guidelines, however, there are some steps you can take to make sure that beds and mattresses stay in top condition for as long as possible.

• Air your bed - you may have been taught to make your bed as soon as you get up, but it's actually better to leave it to air. That's because the common dust mite, which tends to live in your mattress, thrives on warm, moist conditions. If you throw back your bedcovers, you're letting cool, fresh air into your bedding, which allows moisture to evaporate and reduces the favourable conditions that the dust mites need.

• Buy protective covers - it's good practice to buy anti-allergen covers for mattresses and pillows, even if you don't think you suffer from allergies. These covers are treated so that fewer allergens can be released into the air from your mattress, which will improve your overall health. These covers are available from many different places so you should be able to find them easily.

• Buy beds and mattresses together - don't try buying a new mattress for an old base. If your bed needs changing, then change the whole thing. If your base is 10 years old or more, it will not be giving you the benefits you need.

• Remove packaging - no matter how much you want to keep your base and mattress looking new, always remove any plastic or polythene coverings that come with your new beds. Leaving these wrappings on your bed may result in mildew or damp which in turn will damage your base and mattress very quickly.

• Clean carefully - mattresses and bases will get stained or damaged. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions before you start cleaning and stay away from harsh detergents or over-soaking, which could permanently damage both mattresses and beds.

Bed Next Day sells a range of traditional and contemporary single, double, king and superking beds, most of which are available with next day delivery. Brands include Silentnight, the Original Bedstead Company, Sprung Land and Sealy. Take a look at the beds available on our website, www.mattressnextday.co.uk and order online today, or call 0844 3911 222 if you have any questions.