We spend, on average, 33 years in bed, and yet it is often overlooked in spiritual cleansing practices.
The bed is where we lay our day to rest.
It is where we cry, dream, recover, make love, get sick, heal, and begin again. It is where we are most vulnerable and exposed.
It is also a place where the veil thins for our dreams.
In many ways, the bed is a sacred space.
Yet most people never think to cleanse it.
When I was first told I needed to cleanse my bed, I thought the woman telling me was a little cuckoo. But over time, I came to understand the wisdom behind it. If our homes hold energy, why wouldn’t our beds?
After all, we let everything go there.
Bread Cleanse
That’s right—you read that correctly. Bread.
Take a slice of bread and slowly move it over your bed as though you are wiping the surface clean. You don’t actually touch the mattress with the bread (unless you enjoy vacuuming crumbs later).
Instead, hover it above the bed and move it across the entire surface.
When you’re finished, throw the bread away and take the trash out promptly so the energy you’ve cleansed isn’t lingering in your home.
Smoke Cleanse
I love cleansing with smoke, but I personally do not use white sage for bed cleansing.
I was taught that white sage is traditionally used for ceremony. Since we’re not preparing for a ceremony, I prefer other plants.
My favorite choice is juniper.
Juniper is both cleansing and protective, and it carries associations with happy homes, domestic harmony, and well-being. It is one of my favorite plants to use in home cleansing work.
As always, be mindful of fire safety around bedding, curtains, and other flammable materials.
Broom Cleanse
This one is a little more dramatic—and surprisingly satisfying.
Using a straw broom, firmly beat the mattress to break up stagnant energy. Then flip the mattress and repeat on the other side.
This is a deeper cleansing that I usually do only once a year or after a major life change.
A Note About Breakups
Bed cleansing should always be done after a breakup.
Even if it was “just a situationship.”
Cleanse the bed.
A Few Extra Tips
- Wash your bedding while you’re doing the cleanse.
- Add a splash of Florida Water to the laundry for an extra spiritual refresh.
- For quick weekly maintenance, lightly mist your mattress or fresh sheets with Florida Water when making the bed.
- Open a window if possible to encourage fresh energy and fresh air to circulate.
The Feeling Afterward
When you finally climb into a freshly cleansed bed, you’ll notice the difference.
There is more room to sigh.
More depth to sink into.
Less muck to roll into.
And after all, if we spend 33 years of our lives in bed, shouldn’t it be a space that feels as good as possible?