A clean mattress promotes a healthy and sanitary atmosphere. You spend almost one-third of your life sleeping on your mattress, so keeping it clean should always be part of your home cleaning routine. Every night your mattress absorbs sweat and and collects dead skin cells, not to mention the occasional stain from our children and pets. These conditions create the ideal environment for bacteria, dust mites, and other microorganisms that can cause allergies and general discomfort.
The good news is that cleaning a mattress is easier than you might believe. Explore this guide to discover how to clean your mattress and how to help keep it clean in the future.
Mattresses Can Be Steam Cleaned
This safe and natural method breaks down stains, kills bacteria, and removes odors. After warming up a home-use mattress steamer, hold it against the mattress while keeping the nozzle as close to the fabric as possible (without causing the steamer to drip). You can spot clean the mattress with the steamer by holding it against stains for a longer period of time.
The steam will wash the mattress and also kill any dust mites hiding on the surface. Vacuum the mattress once you are done to fully get rid of any remaining debris. While being thorough is important, take care not to overdo it, or overwet your mattress.
Steam cleaning is an easy, chemical-free method of deodorizing, sanitizing, and killing mites/bugs in many mattress types. However, you cannot use this method for any and all mattresses. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations and warranty terms to see if steam cleaning is a good alternative. Before making the bed, ensure your washed mattress has had enough time to completely dry. If you need to, turn on the ceiling fan, open the windows, and bring in a box fan to speed up the process.
How to Clean a Mattress with Baking Soda
If you would like to deodorize your mattress in addition to cleaning stains, try using baking soda. After steaming your mattress in the process above, sprinkle the entire mattress with a light layer of baking soda and leave it to settle for several hours. Next, vacuum off the baking soda, making sure to get into any crevices to remove the powder.
Compared to baking soda, washing soda is more potent and aggressive. Try using baking soda to see if you can get the stains and odors out; If this fails, you can try using washing soda to clean and deodorize the mattress.
Using Enzyme Cleaner On Mattresses
Biological stains can be a little more difficult to remove and may call for an enzyme cleanser. Enzyme cleaners are good at eliminating these types of stains and can even remove oil and grease. To make a DIY enzyme cleaner, try this combination of products, being careful to use gloves:
- Use 8 ounces of hydrogen peroxide and three tablespoons of baking soda
- Add a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender and eucalyptus, to remove any odor-causing stains and make your mattress feel fresh.
- Put your homemade cleaning in a sturdy spray bottle, and thoroughly sprinkle on all stains.
- Let it sit for a couple of hours.
- Gently blot the discoloration with a moist cloth.
- Vacuum the whole bed and let the surface air dry.
For best results, spot-clean the impacted area of the mattress immediately with enzyme cleaners after the stain occurs. A non-bleach detergent or stain remover will remove new stains, and will not harm the mattress’ functionality.
Vacuum Your Mattress To Keep It Clean
Consider vacuuming your mattress once a month to eliminate dust and grime. If any household members have severe allergies, you should consider this each time you replace the linens. Using an upholstery attachment, slowly vacuum the mattress. You’ll want to give the vacuum time to gather the dust and dust mites. For mattress edges and hard to reach areas, use a vacuum crevice tool to help keep it clean.
Spot-Cleaning Mattress Stains with White Vinegar
Stains should be spot cleaned as early as possible, if not immediately after they occur. Add one cup of white vinegar and one cup of water in a spray bottle to create another simple natural cleaning solution. Spray the stain, then blot it. Avoid spraying too much white vinegar solution on the mattress stain; you may need to let it rest there for 10 to 15 minutes before blotting.
Antibacterial Spray for Mattresses
A basic disinfectant spray removes sweat stains and kills microscopic organisms and germs. Avoid any products containing bleach because they can harm the fibers in a mattress. The mattress surface should be lightly misted, not soaked, and then blotted with a damp cloth. Before making the bed, open a window to let the mattress air dry.
It is time to protect your mattress now that you know how to clean it. Here are three tips to help you keep your mattress clean:
Use a Mattress Protector
The best way to keep your mattress clean and stain-free is to cover it with a washable, detachable mattress pad. For individuals who suffer from allergies, one of the most crucial ways to prevent dust, pollen, dust mites, and other irritants from gathering on the mattress is to cover it with mattress protectors.
Use Fitted Mattress Sheets
Protect your mattress from dust, grime, and dead skin by using fitted sheets. It will help manage your allergies and prevent dust mites from making your bed their new home.
Air Your Mattress to Reduce Odors
Fresh air and UV rays are some of the best solutions to help keep your mattress clean. It’s a great approach to getting rid of bacteria naturally. Keep the smell fresh by removing the covers and opening a few windows to control odors. If there is a strong odor, you should sprinkle baking soda on the cover, vacuum it up, and then replace the sheets.
Find the Perfect Mattress at Star Furniture
A dirty mattress aggravates your symptoms of allergies or asthma. And obviously, stained mattresses are unhygienic and can even take on unpleasant smells. Therefore, we recommend proper mattress cleaning to keep your mattress smelling good, looking new and stopping microorganisms from deteriorating the materials.
Any type of mattress can be cleaned quite well following the tips described here, but you should avoid using harsh solutions that could harm the material. Now that you know how to clean your traditional or memory foam mattresses, visit Star Furniture today to browse our extensive mattress selection.
For more tips on care for your mattress, see this guide.