Your guide to a better future

You might not be able to see it, but there are millions of dust mites in your bed.

Taylor Leamey writes about all things wellness. She holds a bachelor's degree in both Psychology and Sociology and is a certified sleep coach.

Your mattress might be the dirtiest thing in your bedroom. And before you ask, washing your sheets won't solve the problem (though it helps). It's what's inside your old mattress that matters. Here's a quick gross mattress fact: Mattresses gain a small amount of weight over time, and it's not from the foam expanding. Your mattress absorbs dead skin, dust, skin oils and moisture. And then there are the dust mites…

Your mattress is kind of like a sponge: When something comes in contact with it, the mattress will absorb it. All the sweat, blood, saliva and other body fluids that touch your mattress leave traces that collect over time. Fluids and moisture in your mattress give way to fungus and bacteria. 

Amerisleep conducted a study that investigated bacteria levels in mattresses of varying ages -- less than a year old, two years old, five years old and seven years old. Results showed that all mattresses tested positive for bacteria. However, only the seven-year-old mattress swabs tested positive for bacilli bacteria. Most rod-shaped bacteria fall under the bacteria class of bacilli. Some bacteria under this category can be harmful, like bacillus cereus, which can cause illnesses like vomiting and diarrhea. Other bacteria in the class bacillus can cause urinary tract infections, sinus infections and pneumonia. 

You lose millions of skin cells every hour. That continues when you sleep and roll around on your mattress. The skin cells don't rest on top of the bed; they make their way into the mattress. The accumulation of skin cells isn't inherently a problem. However, they are the main food source for... 

Gross: Dust mites and mite feces are living in most people's mattresses. An estimated 4 out of 5 American homes have dust mites. Dust mites are different from bed bugs . They're microscopic bugs that aren't visible to the naked eye. They live by eating the dead skin cells collected in the mattress and thrive thanks to the humidity our bodies produce at night. Essentially, mattresses are dust mite heaven -- there is no place they would rather be. 

The good news is that dust mites don't bite and typically don't impact you... unless you're allergic to them. Dust mite allergies are common: Around 20 million people are estimated to be allergic to dust mites. Allergy symptoms to dust mites include a runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat or asthma symptoms. 

If you're not ready to replace your mattress, you can take steps to get control of dust mites .

Cleaning your bed can help keep the dead skin cells and dust mites from building up. It's something you should do roughly twice a year. 

Use your vacuum cleaner's wand or upholstery attachment and do an initial pass-through that collects all the things on the surface. Make sure you pay close attention to all the creases and seams. Next, you can move on to any stains and sweat build-up. Spray your mattress with a combination of warm water and dish soap -- roughly a ratio of 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap to 1 cup of warm water . After you let the solution sit for a few minutes, scrub your mattress with a damp towel. Finally, you want to sprinkle baking soda across the mattress to help absorb moisture and neutralize odors. Leave the baking soda for at least an hour and vacuum the mattress thoroughly. 

Once you've cleaned your mattress, it's a good idea to add a fabric waterproof mattress cover that protects from dust mites. This will make cleaning your mattress easier in the future. Cleaning your old mattress after years of use won't resolve the accumulation of skin cells and dust mites. It will help, but cleaning your mattress is something you want to do across the lifetime of your bed. 

Read more: How to Clean a Mattress: 6 Simple Tips

Mattresses have a shelf life. While the differing materials influence how long a bed will last, they typically have a lifespan of about eight years . Most people don't run off to buy a new mattress the second you hit eight years, though, because mattresses are expensive. And the truth is you might not need to buy one yet. How quickly your mattress wears out depends on how often it's used, your body type and how well you take care of it. 

However, sleeping on an old mattress can significantly affect your sleep quality and overall health. Use these common signs to determine if you should invest in a new mattress :

Understandably, buying a new mattress can be pretty overwhelming. There are a lot of mattresses to choose from, all of which vary in price, material and feel. But it isn't hopeless. When looking for your next mattress, ask a few important questions . Or how much money do you want to spend ? Determining important factors like your body type and firmness preference can easily help you narrow down your options until you find your dream bed. 

Mattresses don't last forever. In addition to possibly keeping you up at night, your mattress may be triggering allergies or impacting your overall health . The average mattress is filled with body fluids, dead skin cells and millions of dust mites. And don't forget about the potential fungus and bacteria multiplying beneath the surface. Once you're approaching around a decade with your mattress, it's time to replace it. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.