How to Clean a Mattress
There’s no other feeling like going to bed after a long day to freshly laundered and changed sheets. And we are not even talking about the health benefits of sleeping.
It’s those warm fuzzy feelings you get when you snuggle under the covers and can finally transcend into another dimension that we have in mind. However, did you know that keeping your mattress as hygienic as possible is essential for prolonging its life?
Just like sheets, mattresses can collect stains, smells and lots of dead skin cells. Thus, every so often – you need to give yours some TLC. And if you are now wondering how to clean a mattress, keep reading.
Mattress cleaning steps
Let us give you our Fantastic mattress cleaning tips and describe briefly the steps you need to go over.
- Do the prep work.
Before we walk you through the mattress cleaning steps, let us tell you what products you’ll be needing:
- Laundry detergent;
- Baking soda;
- Sponges or microfiber cloths;
- Vacuum cleaner – with upholstery attachment;
- Lukewarm water;
- Spray bottle.
- Check the manufacturer’s care guide.
Once you’ve collected your supplies, there’s only one thing left to do before you start cleaning – check the care guide. If possible, check what the manufacturer recommends for your specific type of mattress.
That is a necessary step to ensure you won’t do anything that can damage your mattress.
- Remove and wash the bedding.
Is it surprising that our how-to-deep-clean-a-mattress guide begins with removing the bedding and any mattress covers so that it is left completely bare?
Load the laundry and let your washing machine do its magic. It’s best to put your sheets and pillows on a hot wash to eliminate any germs, bacteria and dust mites that may be living on them.
- Turn on your vacuum cleaner.
While your sheets are being washed up, open your window so that your mattress can breathe for a while. After a few minutes, you can start vacuuming the top surface of your mattress.
Don’t forget to go over the sides, as well.
It’s essential that you don’t miss this step, as vacuuming helps you get rid of hair, dead skin, dirt and other small particles that could be otherwise invisible to the bare eye. Be extra careful when going over any seams and crevices.
- Clean any spots or stains from the mattress.
Mattresses are a big investment, so your annoyance when spotting stains is quite understandable. The generic rule that implies getting rid of stains as soon as they occur is not always applicable.
Therefore, it’s a good thing to know a trick or two to tackle spots and stains from the mattresses long after they’ve occurred.
To deal with the stains, use a gentle laundry detergent (preferably one with no harsh chemicals) mixed with lukewarm water.
Use a sponge and gently dab the stain – repeat several times if needed.
Under no circumstances should you rub the stain!
- Deodorize the mattress.
Once all spots are removed, it’s time to get rid of the funky smell.
There are several methods you can try to eliminate the smell, so keep reading to see our suggestions.
- Vacuum the mattress once again.
Remove all excesses of the deodorizer by vacuuming the mattress one more time. That is a final vacuum, so be thorough and don’t miss a spot.
- Let it breathe.
Once you are done with all the cleaning steps, it’s time to let your mattress rest and breathe for a few hours.
Don’t miss this step because if there’s moisture trapped inside the mattress, you’ll probably be looking up how to deal with mattress mould next. Spoiler alert: Mould is difficult to remove.
- Flip and repeat all steps.
If your mattress is double-sided, we advise you to repeat the cleaning procedure so that every inch of it is sanitised and ready to be used again.
Don’t forget to dust and vacuum your bed frame as well before putting the sheets and covers back on.
How to steam clean a mattress
Steam cleaning is an environmentally friendly method to clean surfaces on your property. So we won’t be surprised if you’ve been wondering how to steam clean a mattress at home.
We’ve done our homework though, and thus here are our tips on how to steam clean a mattress.
You will need:
- Steam cleaner;
- Vacuum cleaner;
- Microfiber towels;
- Baking soda;
- Laundry stain remover.
The first few steps are pretty much the same regardless of what cleaning procedure you have decided to follow. Once you’ve removed the sheets and have loaded your washing machine, vacuum carefully the surface of the mattress.
Use a laundry stain remover to tackle the stains if there are any. Now that you have completed all these steps, it’s time to get to the specifics.
- Prep up the steam cleaner.
The first and foremost step you should take is to fill the steam cleaner with water and bring it up to full heat. Let your steamer reach 100°C so that it can kill all bacteria and dust mites.
Don’t let the temperature go higher than that – it can damage both the material and the mattress’ surface. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure everything is properly working.
- Steam clean the mattress.
Hold the steamer head a few inches above the surface and do a small patch test before cleaning the whole area. Wait for about 15 minutes after you’ve treated the specific section before proceeding further. It’s probably best to use a push-and-pull technique while working the steamer across the mattress.
- Let the mattress dry.
When you’ve covered the whole surface, it’s time to let the mattress dry. Leave it over for a couple of hours – the more, the better – to ensure all the moisture is gone before bedtime.
If you are unsure how to determine whether the mattress is completely dry, here’s a trick you could try.
Place a dry paper towel on the surface and press it down with force. If the towel gets wet somewhere, give your mattress more time to dry up. Turn some fans on to speed up the drying process.
How to clean a memory foam mattress
Thanks to their properties to eliminate neck and back pain, memory foam pillows and mattresses have done wonders for people.
The petroleum-based material used for developing memory foam products doesn’t require a specific cleaning process. The steps are generally the same as every other type of mattress.
However, while the same steps apply, it is crucial to notice and keep track of a few things:
- Avoid using chemical cleaning solutions – they can be harmful to the foam in the mattress;
- Vacuum cleaning is so essential that it’s advisable you do it every time you change your bedsheets;
- Don’t wash memory foam pillows and mattresses. Washing will reduce the support and comfort the products provide. However, most memory foam products come with removable, machine washable covers, so make sure you launder those whenever necessary;
- When cleaning a memory foam mattress, always check the manufacturer’s instructions for the do’s and don’ts;
- A valuable tip for memory foam mattress cleaning is leaving the product to breathe.
How to deodorize a mattress
Another inseparable part of giving your mattress the TLC it deserves is getting rid of that funky smell that has been there for quite some time. Luckily, there are several ways to neutralize odours, so there’s no need to wonder how to deodorize a mattress.
How to remove bad mattress odour with baking soda
Sprinkling baking soda over the mattress is perhaps one of the most popular yet effective methods to this day. It successfully absorbs smells of vomit, urine and sweat.
Don’t be shy, use the whole package for best results, especially if this is your first time deodorizing the mattress.
Once there, leave the soda to absorb the surface for at least 30 minutes. However, if possible, leave it for longer – the more the baking soda stays on, the better the final result will be.
Removing odours with white vinegar
Another inexpensive and effective solution is deodorizing the mattress with plain white vinegar. Thanks to the fact that it’s highly acidic, vinegar is an excellent choice for sanitation.
And the best thing is that you won’t even have to rinse it afterwards, as the vinegar doesn’t leave a residue.
How to remove bad mattress odour with baby powder combined with essential oils
The combination of baby powder and essential oils absorbs smells and moisture, leaving your mattress both fresh and dry. Different essential oils can help with the various smells.
While mint oils are good for removing sweat odours, citrus oils work great for dealing with urine odours.
If you don’t know how to remove the smell from a mattress with this technique, keep in mind that you need 15-20 drops of essential oil per pack of baby powder. Sprinkle the solution over the surface, leave it for at least an hour, vacuum, and that’s it!
Can rubbing alcohol help with removing odours?
The truth is that the mixture of water and rubbing alcohol in equal proportions can help with dealing with body oils and sweat odours. Spray the mixture over the area and air dry it for best results.
How to protect your mattress
Once you’ve cleaned your mattress, the next thing that is probably on your mind is how to protect it? Mattress protectors have been mistaken for just another cover.
However, high-quality protectors turn out to be the next big thing that can prolong the life expectancy of your mattress. They will gently cover and protect your mattress while allowing you to sleep comfortably.
Why should you clean your mattress?
While sleeping, we spend nearly eight hours a day snuggled up in our beds. And if we do the math, that adds up to ⅓ of our day.
Regardless of how much you shower before going to bed or how often you change your bed linen, dirt, sweat and dead skin cells are always there to make your mattress as unsanitary as possible.
The bad thing is that it doesn’t end there. Thanks to that, mattresses become a breeding ground for bacteria that are difficult to exterminate. The more often you clean your mattress, the less risk of allergies and itching there is. And don’t even get us started on how cleaning your mattress prolongs its lifespan.
How often should you clean a mattress?
It’s advisable to deep clean your mattress once every six months. Using a high-quality mattress protector may help you maintain the mattress sanitised for longer, but that won’t last forever. If you spill a glass of liquid on the mattress, it would be best to clean it immediately.
Is mattress cleaning too much of a hassle? Contact the professionals!
Even if you clean your mattress regularly, some stains are difficult to tackle at home regardless of how much time and effort you put into them. Instead of getting irritated, try booking a professional mattress cleaning service. The certified technicians can remove stains and unpleasant odours from the mattresses in no time.
Additionally, feel free to combine mattress cleaning with Fantastic Service’s deep upholstery cleaning service if your upholstered furniture needs some TLC as well!
Do you need help with cleaning your mattress?
Get your mattress professionally cleaned by Fantastic Services today!
Takeaways
- Mattresses should be cleaned at least twice yearly to ensure they are as hygienic as possible.
- Always vacuum the surface from all sides to remove dirt, dead skin cells, hair and other small particles.
- The longer you leave the mattress to dry after cleaning, the better.
- Steam cleaning is an eco-friendly way to sanitise a mattress.
- Baking soda, white vinegar, baby powder and rubbing alcohol are budget-friendly and effective methods for smell removal.
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What is your method of choice when it comes to mattress cleaning? Let us know in the comment section below!
Image source: Shutterstock / FotoDuets
