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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To thing that making a bed is the most pointless exercise?

130 replies

PyongyangKipperbang · 03/04/2023 01:17

You wake, you throw back the covers and they stay there. That airs the bed.

12 to 18 hours later you get back in said bed, and pull the covers over. Job done.

Why the need to "make the bed"? My mother would occasionally be running for the bus because she had to make the beds before she left the house. Making the beds first thing in the morning was considered, and still is it seems, to be a standard. Why?!

As an adult who uses a bed to sleep in and bed room as ....well a room for a bed why would I waste precious sleep time to get up ten minutes early to make sure that the pillows are straight?

OP posts:
mamnotmum · 03/04/2023 07:27

I make it in the sense of straightening the pillows and pulling the duvet straight. Takes 20 seconds and looks so much better.

I don't do hospital corners and runnings and dressing cushions etc though. Too much like effort!

DiscoBeat · 03/04/2023 07:33

I throw the covers back and open the windows to air the bed while I'm showering and having breakfast then make the bed. It looks so messy otherwise and only takes a moment.

helpfulperson · 03/04/2023 07:53

I think a lot of housework is pointless and just another stick that women used to beat themselves and others with. Hygienic is all I aim for.

DappledThings · 03/04/2023 07:56

Fold duvet back in the morning, fold it back over in the evening. Takes seconds. But I can't get into an unmade bed, it feels weird. If I come up and I've not yet folded the duvet back over I'll always do that then go and brush my teeth so it's made for a few minutes before I get in.

Droppit · 03/04/2023 07:58

I fold the duvet over when I get up. I like the bed to air out. If I am going to work I leave it like that but if it's the weekend I normally remember to come back at some point and fold it back again.

MrsMoastyToasty · 03/04/2023 08:00

Don't you know that if you don't make the bed then monsters will climb into the creases for a snooze?
That's what I tell my DS.

Exl · 03/04/2023 08:01

Totally agree OP. After I throw back the duvet I like to leave it there so the bed can air all day. The idea of soon putting the duvet back over to ‘make’ the bed is kinda gross to me, 30 min is not a proper airing!

QueenBeaver · 03/04/2023 08:08

I much prefer getting into a made bed. It’s all personal preference I guess 🤷‍♀️

Clawdy · 03/04/2023 08:13

My mum was not remotely house-proud or tidy, but she always made the beds, and I remember her saying once " If someone feels poorly and needs a lie-down they need to get into a nice tidy bed." So it's one of the few things Mum did that I copied!

determinedtomakethiswork · 03/04/2023 08:16

But even if you wanted to air the sheets then you could plump up the pillows, straighten the sheets and fold the duvet back neatly. The room would still look tidy.

honeylulu · 03/04/2023 08:16

Psychologically it's just more pleasant to walk into the room at the end of the day and see your nice neat and tidy bed waiting. At the weekends I do try and do the airing thing - duvet back, windows open but it's always made before the evening. My husband and son would agree with you it's a waste of time and never make the bed except when they change the bedding. 9 year old daughter makes her bed (unasked) every day including neatly lined up teddies and folded pyjamas. I think it's a personal preference.

BlackBarbies · 03/04/2023 08:17

MavisMcMinty · 03/04/2023 01:32

I’d say ironing is a far greater waste of time than making the bed. I don’t do either.

Same😬

Mothership4two · 03/04/2023 08:17

If it takes you 10 minutes to make a bed OP then you are doing it wrong

Squirrelsnut · 03/04/2023 08:17

I air my bed all day by not making it, but I do quickly put the pulled back duvet straight. When I get in at night it feels cool and fresh, almost like completely clean sheets.

Thursdayschild7 · 03/04/2023 08:20

"State of your bed is state of your head." Just make it I think.

SoupDragon · 03/04/2023 08:24

I do agree to an extent but shaking the duvet re-distributes the feathers and fluffs it up.

pd339 · 03/04/2023 08:25

Did you read the other thread from a few days ago about a woman moaning about her "unhygenic" husband who didn't make the bed. It was a classic :)

QuitRunningForThatRunawayBus · 03/04/2023 08:30

Making the bed went out when duvets arrived thank goodness. Much prefer to leave the duvet folded back, particularly when you consider how much everyone sweats overnight. Air and sunlight all the way here.

borntobequiet · 03/04/2023 08:32

The people I know who don’t bother to make their beds tend to be careless, thoughtless and disorganised in much else they do.

IglesiasPiggl · 03/04/2023 08:34

borntobequiet · 03/04/2023 08:32

The people I know who don’t bother to make their beds tend to be careless, thoughtless and disorganised in much else they do.

If I'm honest, I find this too.

sommeliermama · 03/04/2023 08:38

borntobequiet · 03/04/2023 08:32

The people I know who don’t bother to make their beds tend to be careless, thoughtless and disorganised in much else they do.

Agreed!

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 03/04/2023 08:41

BOYBANDLOVER · 03/04/2023 01:43

I've never pulled the quilt right up as i feel it doesn't get aired out
by doing that your trapping stale air.

by getting straight out then covering up the sheet nothings aired out properly

i do make it neat half way down though, not just covers thrown off
and spray a very watered down outdoors fresh fabric softener on the bottom sheet

i do change my bed(super king so nota easy job) twice a week though and have to have specific bedding(super soft teddy or 100% brushed cotton) becasue of my sons sensory needs as he sleeps with me

Don't spray fabric softener on soft furnishings (or anything else for that matter) it's highly flammable.

They make fabric freshener for this purpose.

Walkacrossthesand · 03/04/2023 08:43

All you morning bed-makers - do you realise that you are trebling the number of house dust mites in your bedding? They love and breed in warm moist spaces, and 20-30 mins 'airing' while you shower and dress, isn't going to cut it.
The 'neatly fold back duvet' approach is probably optimum - if you want to put loads of cushions on you can do it midday or when you get in from work but that might highlight the pointlessness of covering your sleeping surface in cushions

GOODCAT · 03/04/2023 08:43

One of us makes ours. I don't think either of us would like the feeling of coming home and going into the bedroom to get changed to find the bedroom untidy.

Each to their own though.

TheNoodlesIncident · 03/04/2023 08:56

I use the bed as a laundry sorting place - fold the throw back so the clean washing goes on the non cat haired area. And DS uses it as a comfy place to park up while chatting to his mates online. So I do much prefer it made, even aside from its looking slovenly if it's not neatened. I couldn't leave it unmade all day, feel twitchy at the thought...

It doesn't take much. It's a double bed with a king sized duvet on so it stays relatively in place, only needing to be drawn smooth and pillows shaken briefly.

I have two cushions that I use for reading in bed, once I'm done with that I pitch them on the floor for the night. So I just smooth out the throw on top (there because the cat sleeps with us overnight), cushions back on, job done.