To wonder why some MNetters need their bed to be sterile.

[Lookingforbargains]

Inspired by another thread (and by the general madness that is part and parcel of anything cleanliness-related on MN)…

Why are some people so determined that no (shudder) outdoor germs/nastiness gets anywhere near their bed? I mean, I can understand a basic level of care - not putting your outdoor shoes on the duvet, or your handbag on your pillow - but some people seemingly have to put on a full hazmat suit before sitting on the end of their own bed.

Now I understand wanting to keep it fresh, but why the fear of supposed germs that MNetters seem to think will be transferred to the bed? Why are these germs not scary on the sofa? Do people lick their beds, or perhaps want to keep open the option of performing surgery therein?

It’s pretty clear from other threads that it is mumsnet law to shower in the morning, so how much can it really matter if your bed isn’t totally sterile?!

I am currently sitting in my bed with DDog and my handbag is next to me as I’ve just been sorting through all the crap in it.

My clothes today have been in the car, into Tesco express and a quick whizz round The Range. I’m fairly confident they aren’t dripping in germs that will transfer to my bed. If they are, it hasn’t harmed me so far in my 51 year long life.

I sleep with a dog and a cat in the bed. MrWibble knew the score before he got invited into my bed. He did grumble the first few nights but now he's worse than me at getting WibbleDog up beside him.

WibbleCat still prefers to sleep on top of me so there's that.

I would never flop down on my bed or curl up on my sofa with outdoor shoes on, and would probably be quietly annoyed with DH if I saw him do it, but our beloved old cat is allowed to go wherever he wants and will come in from the garden and jump straight on the sofa or go up to our bed for a nap and I don't mind at all and have occasionally been known to "Deliveroo" him his lunch while he is on the bed to save him coming downstairs! 🙈

My bed, my haven, cat a must, tho I do wash my bedding at 60

I live in London.

London is plastered with urine, faeces, and vomit, both animal and human, as well as less obvious pollutants. It stinks of traffic and farts.

I use public transport regularly and see people putting feet and / or bags that have been on the dirty floor all over the seats all the time.

My home is my sanctuary from other people's grimness, and I don't want any of that filth on my nice, clean bed.

Sitting on TOP of your duvet in outdoor clothes isn't going to affect you UNDER the covers.
Some MNers must do a phenomenal volume of laundry.

I would get on my bed dressed, but not in the bed. No shoes. No dog. But that’s all mostly comfort related.. the bed gets changed probably once a month and I shower 2-3 times a week, so I’m a MN heathen.

I've never really seen clothes as outside clothes do people really get changed when they come in from outside to avoid germs and never sit on the bed except in their PJs.

I can't get worked up about this. I don't like things on my pillow, where my face goes and I hate shoes or handbags near beds (floors, yuck) but otherwise I am apparently v laissez faire by mn standards. I keep coats in the hall so they never go in the bedroom but I will sit or lie on my bed in my outfit of the day unless I feel really grubby otherwise. Sometimes I come home shattered and just need to flop for a minute. I grew up with cats who like snoozing on beds in the sun and at boarding school and uni we were in & out of each others rooms all day and sat on beds in our clothes- shoes off though. No one got sick from "sitting on beds in jeans". The opposite in fact. The person sick most often came from a "sterile" home!

I like to shower before bed though. Perhaps I'm fussier about what's in it than what's on it. I also change my sheets every other week and sleep naked so by mn standards I'm a lost cause anyway.

my clothes are ok - I’d sit on the bed to take my shoes off but when DH dumps his weekend bag on the duvet (quite near his pillow) after it’s been on the floor of a plane then a tube, I have to really restrain myself from pointing out how gross it is.

I am going to get a luggage rack. A little neat table style one.

London is not plastered with urine, faceas and vomit, it's not victorian times

This

I think their heads would explode if they realised just how many microorganisms are knocking around on every surface, no matter how much you clean, nothing is ever sterile. Save for anything that’s been through an autoclave.

I was wondering how it gets trodden in and trodden all over the place. Seems some people just don't see or smell it.

I blame the marketing and ads that have turned GERMS into this massive threat that must be eliminated at all costs. People have totally lost sight of the fact we have an immune system for a reason and that we are very capable of dealing with a reasonable amount of nasties on a regular basis.

It's no wonder people have such massive energy bills.

We sit on the bed in outdoor clothes. The cats do the same and the dog sleeps in the bed. Bedding is washed once a week and none of us have exploded in a ball of filth or disease

Same only my cat takes his outdoor clothes off first.

🤣 how did you train him to do that? Mine all wear the same furry onesie all the time and insist it's clean because they lick it everyday 🙄🙈

Well I have a ban on outdoor clothes especially walking gear on the beds as it's a perfect way to transfer Ticks and risk limes disease.

Apart from that not really fussed if that makes me strange so be it, but I have an outdoor job and it is something I have to consider.

I don't have any of these rules for my bed but naturally my shoes are downstairs and my bed is not, so I don't have to really ban shoes so much as just take them off as normal.

Personally I hate changing the bedding. I do it weekly because I think it's important and I also love fresh sheets. I have a super king size bed and it's like a workout to change though, so the cleaner it stays the less washing and faffing for me which is always a win-win.

Usually my main worry is whether a rogue spider is making my bed home rather than germs 🤣 my worst nightmare!

Sorry spell check error *Lyme's disease 🤣

Once a week? Sheer LUXURY 🤣🤣

My bed. My happy place. includes my dog …. Oh and the other half 😂

Well according to another thread, they all have a shower first . And presumably afterwards. And no doubt yes to the sex towel .

I assume that most of the posters on these threads have mental health issues.

I do almost all the bad things mentioned on this thread and none of us are ever sick with colds or bugs. I’ve not had a sick day off work in decades and my kids are never off school either.

I work outdoors too and this would never even cross my mind 😬