The Gross Reason You Should Clean Your Headboard More Often

This forgotten spot deserves your attention.

Few feelings compare to that of slipping into a bed with freshly washed sheets . (Clearly, being clean and cozy in bed is one of life’s greatest pleasures.) But when you peel back your comforter, are you considering the cleanliness of your headboard ? If your answer is no, read on to learn more about the study that confirmed your headboard has all kinds of funky microbes lurking on it, plus expert tips for how to properly clean it.

Meet Our Expert

• Sarah McAllister , cleaning expert and founder and CEO of GoCleanCo

Related: The Icky Reason You Shouldn’t Make Your Bed As Soon As You Wake Up

Why You Should Clean Your Headboard More Often

Just like germs and dust mites can accumulate on your bedding, the same can happen to headboards. Your skin, hair, and body oils come into close contact with your headboard throughout the night. This opens the door to bacteria growth, especially in high-temperature, high-humidity climates.

A study conducted by microbiologist Amy-May Pointer in partnership with mattress review site Mattress Clarity found that headboards contain a diverse species of fungus, as well as mold and bacterial colonies. Pointer’s bacterial findings include Staphylococcus aureus , which can lead to dangerous skin infections.

The reason headboards are so germy? Because they are often neglected in cleaning routines, according to Pointer. With that in mind, it’s imperative to consistently dust , vacuum, and wipe down wooden and hard-surface headboards, as well as thoroughly clean fabric ones.

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How to Clean Your Fabric Headboard

“You should dust your headboard using your vacuum and a horsehair brush about once a month—and deep clean it twice a year,” explains Sarah McAllister, a cleaning expert and founder and CEO of GoCleanCo. “To deep clean it, spot treat any stains with stain remover (we love Tide Rescue) and then use an upholstery cleaner on the entire headboard.”

It’s key to use upholstery cleaner on the whole headboard; otherwise, you run the risk of water staining parts of the fabric. (Just make sure your fabric is safe to clean with upholstery cleaner in the first place!)

Disinfecting is another key step to preventing the development of bacteria, fungus, and mold. “You can disinfect your fabric headboard using a steam cleaner or a disinfecting spray,” McAllister says.

If you didn’t know about the inherent grossness of headboards before, now you do. So, the next time you wash your bedsheets, add a headboard-disinfecting step into your cleaning routine. It could save you from a staph infection, and it’ll certainly deliver peace of mind.

Related: The Best Upholstery Cleaners We’ve Ever Tested

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