While most people are good about regularly washing their bedding, deep cleaning the mattress is a different story. In today’s blog, the mattress experts at Star Furniture offer one of our favorite spring-cleaning tips: how to clean a memory foam mattress.
Vacuum Your Mattress
The first step to cleaning your memory foam mattress is vacuuming it. While we recommend vacuuming your memory foam mattress at least four times a year, incorporating it into your spring-cleaning routine is a great start.
Once you’ve used your handheld vacuum or standing vacuum attachment to remove all the hair, dust, dead skin, and dirt that may have found its way onto the mattress, you can move on to spot cleaning.
Spot Clean Any Visible Stains
While you’re hopefully using a waterproof mattress protector, the reality is that accidents happen. Whether it’s a spilled glass of soda or a pet accident, stain removal is important because in addition to being unsightly, stains can also foster mold and microbe growth.
To spot clean, we recommend a homemade cleaning solution made of 1-part gentle dishwashing or laundry soap to 2-parts warm water. Spray your solution onto the stain and rub the stain in small, circular motions. For the best results, start from the outermost border of the stain and move inward until the stain is gone. Be careful not to soak the mattress or apply heavy pressure, as this can cause more damage.
Apply Baking Soda
For more general deep cleaning, you’ll want to sprinkle a box of baking soda over the entire mattress. While you don’t necessarily need to do this every time you vacuum the mattress, it can freshen up any odors that might be developing and can help dry out any moisture that’s made its way into the mattress. If you want to add an extra dose of freshness, choose a scented box of baking soda, or add a few drops of your preferred essential oil.
Once the baking soda has been sprinkled over the bed, massage it into the mattress. Then, let it sit for at least an hour before thoroughly vacuuming it up.
Dry Your Mattress
Because memory foam retains moisture, it’s incredibly important to dry out your mattress after spot cleaning. If you have a hair dryer, use a low heat setting to thoroughly dry the wet area. If you don’t have a hair dryer, setting up fans and putting the mattress in direct sunlight can help it dry out. Just make sure you don’t put on the sheets until the mattress is fully dry.
Ready for a new mattress? At Star Furniture, we’ve completely revolutionized the mattress buying experience! Visit a Star Furniture & Mattress store near you to browse our huge selection of innerspring, hybrid, and memory foam mattresses. In the meantime, check out our mattress blog, where we cover everything from how to take care of your new mattress to what you need to know about adjustable beds.