How To Clean A Mattress

Keeping your sleep environment sanitized is a crucial step towards ensuring a healthy shut-eye during the one-third of your life spent in bed. Regardless of the type, most mattresses are usually exposed to drool, dead skin cells, dust mites, pet dander, skin oil, bed bugs, and more. Unlike cleaning a pillow and other beddings like bed sheets which you can toss into a washer, cleaning a mattress is procedural.

Notably, regular mattress cleaning is as vital as other lightweight bedding. So knowing how to clean a mattress properly can yield profound results—that will not only leave your bed clean but also ensure you achieve deep restorative sleep to wake feeling rejuvenated and energized. In this DIY mattress cleaner article, we'll explore how best you can clean a mattress to improve your overall sleep health.

The Mattress Cleaning Solution Guide

First, you must check the cleaning and care guide for your mattress since every mattress has its own cleaning method. Similarly, the stain on your mattress determines which methods to use. For example, getting pee out of a mattress will be different from cleaning food crumbs. Before jumping into our cleaning solutions, check out the dos and don'ts of cleaning your mattress. Also, check if your mattress is double or single-sided to determine whether or not both sides require deep cleaning.

Gather Supplies for Cleaning the Mattress

Before getting down to the cleaning process, here are some supplies you'll need;

• A vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment
• Baking Soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Microfiber cloths
• Mild dish soap
• Spray bottle
• Essential oils
• Salt

The good news is you can readily find the above supplies at your local convenient store or supermarket.

Washing Your Bedding

Remove all your bedding and then wash them with hot water. If you have a washer, you can set them on a hot wash and then tumble dry them at a high temperature if possible. The Aim of washing your bedding like this is to get rid of dust mites, germs, and other bacteria.

With clean bedding, you can be sure you won't return germs to your mattress after cleaning it. Check cleaning and care instructions before tossing the bedding into your washing machine. Confirm if your blanket, pillows, and other beddings are machine washable. Cleaning these bedding will add a fresh touch to your overall sleep experience and sleep hygiene.

Airing and Vacuum Cleaning the Mattress

After removing all the bedding from the mattress, open the bedroom windows to let in the fresh air. The natural ventilation will help eliminate odors from the mattress, plus it'll also freshen it up by allowing it to breathe.

Next, you must strip the mattress of its linen before giving it a deep clean. After removing, use the nifty upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean the mattress from top to bottom.

Start with the mattress's head, then move across the entire surface to the bottom. Maintain narrow movements so that you don't miss any sport. Try and stretch the mattress material a little bit while vacuuming to eliminate debris from the seams. And don't forget to move through the sides to remove dust.

If you have a steam cleaner, hold the steamer's nozzle close to the mattress fabric. Steam from this machine will help eliminate dust mites lurking on the mattress surface. Be sure to steam clean the entire mattress surface.

Removing A Mattress Stain

People who like snacking while in bed or individuals with pets most likely have stains on their mattresses. And so, an excellent cleaning solution would be using a carpet and upholstery cleaner. The cleaner has been formulated to remove pet dander, vomit, food, and urine stains.

Spot Cleaning with a Typical Cleaner

Once you have the carpet and upholstery cleaner, you need to spray the stained area lightly, then use a clean cloth to dab it from the external edges towards the center. This helps prevent the stain from spreading across the surface. While dabbing, avoid soaking the stained area excessively, and when the stain vanishes, rinse the affected area using a damp cloth. Keep rinsing until the cleaner's traces disappear as well.

Accidental mattress spills should be addressed immediately after they've occurred. In such scenarios, damp a clean rag in cold water, then use it to blot the spill. Don't scrub the spill very hard, or you risk seeping it deep into the mattress layers. Just ensure you've absorbed all the liquid from the spill.

Spot Cleaning with an Enzyme Cleaner

Aside from the cleaner mentioned above, you can also use the enzyme cleaner to eliminate other biological stains. Spray this cleaner on the stained area using a clean cloth.

Afterward, damp another clean cloth in cold water and fade the stain until it vanishes completely. If you're cleaning a memory foam mattress, remember to use as little cold water and the cleaner as possible to avoid overwetting the mattress. Note that this cleaning method is better applied on blood, vomit, urine, and sweat stains.

Alternatively, you could use a homemade enzyme-based cleaner. Mix equal ratios of cold water and hydrogen peroxide, then apply the resultant solution to the affected area. You can also mix cold water with dish soap and then form a foam on the stained spot.

Removers for Eliminating Different Mattress stains

If you have a dirty mattress stained with blood, sweat, and urine, there are DIY cleaning solutions that can help eliminate them and other stubborn stains. If left unattended to, these stains can damage your mattress leaving you with only one option - throw away the mattress. Therefore, let's see how to attend to stains and keep your mattress clean and strong.

Urine Stain Remover

A mixture of a tiny amount of liquid dish soap, 16 and 3 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda, respectively, can help treat stains from fresh and old urine. Using a rag, dab the mixture on the stain—but without drenching it— then blot the excess liquid with another cloth. After lifting the stain, damp another cloth in cold water, go over the area again then let the affected spot dry out.

Blood Stain Remover

Like urine stain remover, Bloodstain remover can also eliminate old and fresh blood stains. Mix one tablespoon of dish soap and salt with 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide. Spread it on the Bloodstain and let it sit for about 10 - 15 minutes. Scrap it off, then remove any residue from the affected area using a cloth dipped in hydrogen peroxide. Let it dry, and Incase of any brown discoloration, as a result, lightly spray the affected spot with hydrogen peroxide.

Sweat Stain Remover

Yellow stains are a clear indication of sweat stains. An ideal sweat stain removal solution would be light spraying 3% hydrogen peroxide on the affected area. A technical alternative would be replacing the peroxide bottle top with a clean spray bottle nozzle. Leave the stain to air dry after spraying and repeating enough times depending on the size of the stain.

Sprinkle Baking Soda on the Mattress

The next step is to sprinkle baking soda on the entire mattress to deodorize it. Afterward, it's advisable to let the baking soda sit for several hours to absorb odors and any remaining liquid. Before laying it on the mattress, remember to add a few drops of your favorite essential oil in the baking to give the mattress a cleaner, fresher scent.

Vacuuming the Mattress again

After letting the baking soda sit long enough, vacuum the mattress for a second time to remove the baking soda. By vacuuming the bed, you'll be eliminating the acids; the baking soda has broken down, and moisture and odors it has also absorbed.

More importantly, don't forget to vacuum the edges and the seams since they are potential spots for collecting allergens. You can use a cordless or an upholstery-attached vacuum cleaner during this second vacuuming.

Let the Mattress Air Dry

Letting the mattress air dry ensures the complete elimination of any moisture remaining on it. Preferably, it would be best to let the mattress sit overnight for about 8-10 hours. If you need to use the mattress that might, you can speed up the drying process by pointing the fan directly at it. Alternatively, you can also leave the bedroom windows near the mattress .

If the sun is shining, open the drapes and allow maximum UV light penetration into the house to the mattress. Not only will the sun dry the mattress faster, but the UV rays will also eliminate any mold, odor, and bacteria left on it.

Tips for Keeping your Mattress Clean

Once the mattress is ready, you can maintain its freshness by dressing it up with clean fitted sheets and a mattress protector. A stain-resistant and waterproof mattress protector is the ideal choice for your mattress if you're prone to bed spills. More importantly, you won't have to struggle with doing laundry if you have kids with bed-wetting problems.

Using the mattress cover, dress up the mattress with it, then add a fitted sheet. If you have a matter topper to customize your comfort, place it before the fitted sheet. Wash the mattress cover at least once a month. At the same time, it's in the washer; air out your mattress when it's shining. Not only will it receive fresh air but also, the UV rays from the sun will eliminate hidden mold and weird mattress odors. You should also wash your fitted sheets regularly to maintain a healthy sleep surface and improve your sleep quality. Feel free to read our comprehensive guide on how often should you wash your sheets to learn more about maintaining a clean sleep environment.

Related Content: Where to buy a cheap mattress

Closing Thoughts

Proper mattress maintenance can significantly extend its lifespan, and routine mattress cleaning is one such practice. It would be best to clean your mattress every 3 to 6 months. If you can't stick to this cleaning routine regularly, vacuum the mattress to clear the dust. Also, don't forget to wash your sheets once weekly to prevent dead skin cell accumulation.

Generally, getting rid of mattress stains is relatively easy and cost-effective. In cases where there's stain persistence, even after a deeper cleaning, you should seek the services of a local mattress cleaning company. But if you spot signs beyond stains, such as dips, protruding sprigs, and sags on the mattress, it's high time you buy a new one.