Tips and Tricks on How to Clean a Mattress

Last Updated on February 24, 2023

Despite how clean your home is, you may be overlooking one of the most important areas that can affect your health; your mattress. Cleaning your mattress ensures you get a quality good night’s sleep, ensuring that the mattress lasts longer.
It’s noteworthy to mention that mattresses can harbour dust mites, dead skin cells, and other debris, so you should clean them regularly. Whether or not you suffer from allergies, have pets or love midnight snacking, you should consider deep cleaning your mattress at least once a month. Here are some tips and tricks on how to clean a mattress.

How to Clean a Mattress in Easy Steps

Here are the supplies you will require to clean your mattress stains.

Supplies

• A vacuum cleaner with attachments
• Spoon
• Baking soda

Step 1: Remove Your Bedding

Before cleaning a mattress, remove all the bedding from the bed. Ensure that you include the pillows and fabric mattress toppers in your laundry list.

Step 2: Deodorise the Mattress

Deodorise your mattress using a natural deodoriser such as baking soda. Sprinkle it over your mattress, and then use your hand to rub it into the surface gently. This will not only help it to bind with the surface moisture but also kill any foul odours.

Step 3: Vacuum the Surface

Once you’re done rubbing the baking soda into your mattress, allow it to rest for a few minutes. Then vacuum it up using the upholstery attachment.

Step 4: Flip the Mattress Over

Once you are done cleaning one side of the mattress, flip it over to the other side and repeat steps two and three. Keep in mind that only the pillow top side of your mattress will require stain care.

Step 5: Ensure the Mattress Is Protected

After vacuuming the mattress, ensure that you protect it using a mattress cover and fitted bedsheet.

How to Deep Clean a Mattress

Deep mattress cleaning is not a regular activity. You can opt to do it once a month, but it will only depend on how often you stain the mattress and what stains you’re looking at. Before you get started, here are a couple of supplies you will need.

Supplies:

• A vacuum cleaner with attachments
• A set of cleaning rags
• Spray bottle
• Bowl
• Spoons and cups for measuring
• Dishwashing liquid
• Ice cold and warm water
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Baking soda
• Salt
• White powdered laundry detergent
• White vinegar

Step 1: Check the Care Guide of Your Mattress

Before you start the deep cleaning process, always check the care guide of your mattress to see the manufacturer’s recommendations; different types of mattresses require different cleaning methods. Also, you will be able to know the dos and don’ts during the deep cleaning process.

Furthermore, always check to see if you own a double or a single-sided mattress, as this will determine if you can deep clean both sides or not.

Step 2: Remove and Wash All Your Bedding and Pillows

Start by removing all your bedding and pillows and putting them in a hot wash. Also, consider tumble-drying them at high temperatures, as this will help kill any bacteria and germs that may be lingering on your sheets.

Check their care instructions before you throw your pillows into the washing machine. Remember that clean pillows always add an extra touch of freshness to your sleeping experience.

Step 3: Air Out the Mattress

Once you’re done cleaning the bedding, open your bedroom window to ventilate your room. The fresh air will help in freshening up the mattress, allowing it to breathe. This will eliminate any foul smells and odours.

Step 4: Vacuum the Mattress

Vacuum your mattress in circular motions. This ensures that all dust, dead skin, hair, and dirt are lifted from the mattress. Remember that you can use the upholstery attachment to make the vacuuming process easy, but it’s unnecessary. Ensure that you vacuum your mattress thoroughly since you require a clean surface for the next step.

Step 5: Removing Stains From the Mattress

It’s advisable to tackle any mattress stain as soon as it occurs. But we all know that sometimes that’s impossible. Suppose you are looking for a way to remove a mattress stain easily. Use dish soap or a gentle laundry detergent and warm water. Lightly dab the mixture on the stain using a cloth or sponge to lift off the stain.

Before we look at how to clean tough stains on a mattress, please note that you should never use chemicals to deep clean your mattress, especially foam. Also, please don’t get it too wet, as this may damage the integrity of your mattress.

How to Remove Sweat Stains

Sweat stains are common on mattresses. They are normally caused by your skin’s oils, salt, and moisture. To remove any off-white and slightly yellow stains, you will require some hydrogen peroxide, a spraying bottle, and a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment.

Start by adding 3% concentrated hydrogen peroxide into your spray bottle. Spray it on the stained area and let it air dry for a few minutes. Using a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery brush attachment, vacuum the stained surface to remove the stain completely.

How to Remove Blood Stains

Bloodstains are among the tough stains to get rid of. Also, they are time-consuming to remove since they may take up to an hour of your time if not attended to immediately. So how do you get rid of bloodstains?

Start by making a paste with cold water and baking soda. Apply it to the stain and leave it on for 30 minutes. Using a damp cloth, clean off the paste. If the results are not satisfactory, repeat the procedure.

Alternatively, spray some hydrogen peroxide on the stain. Once the fizzing starts, allow it to die down and wipe it up using a clean, dry cloth. Repeat the procedure if the stain is still visible.

NOTE: Never use warm or hot water to remove blood stains.

How to Remove Urine Stains

Begin by blotting the mattress as much as you can. First, add baking soda and liquid detergent to a bowl and mix it evenly. Then, gently dab the mixture on the urine stain using a clean rag. Finally, simply add the white vinegar solution to a spray bottle and lightly spray it on the stained area.

This helps neutralise the urine odour. Cover the stained area with baking soda and allow it to rest for a few hours. Then hoover the stained area of your mattress thoroughly. If the stain is still faint, repeat the entire process. Remember that you can use this method to remove tough yellowed pee stains.

Using Household Cleaners to Clean Your Memory Foam Mattress

Method 1: Using Baking Soda and White Vinegar

Using baking soda to clean a stinky mattress is one of the greatest methods. Not only does it help in removing the odour, but also it helps to make the mattress smell fresh again. Just sprinkle a generous amount of baking powder on your mattress. Rub it in gently, let it rest for about 10 minutes, and hoover it up.

You can also use a vinegar and water solution to get rid of unwanted odours. But always blot out any excess liquid and air dry the mattress.

Method 2: Using Salt, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Corn-Starch

When cleaning a wet mattress, you can use the magic stain removal potion from hydrogen peroxide and salt. Start by making a paste of salt, hydrogen peroxide, and corn starch in a bowl and apply it to the stained area. Allow the paste to rest for a few hours until it dries up. Scrap off the dried paste and saturate the stained area using cold water. Let it air dry, and then remove the salt using a scraper.

Method 3: Using Meat Tenderiser

Are you wondering how you can tackle stains on your mattress? If yes, then consider using a meat tenderiser. Make a thick paste of it using water and rub it into the stained area of your mattress. Let it rest for about one hour before removing it using a cloth soaked in cold water.

How to Spot Clean a Mattress Using a Stain Remover?

Before you start spot cleaning, keep in mind that the type of stain and the type of mattress will dictate the spot cleaner to be used. An enzyme cleaner will get the job done with no hassle regarding biological stains.

Spray the cleaner on a cloth for spot cleaning, then blot it on the stained area. Apply water to another clean cloth and continue blotting until the unwanted stain lifts. Note that it’s always important to use very minimum product and moisture. This method works well with bloodstains, vomit stains, urine stains, etc.

On the flip side, if you don’t have a mattress stain remover, you can prepare a DIY solution. Mix dish soap with water and use the resulting foam on the stain. Alternatively, you can use water and hydrogen peroxide.

Tips to Keep Your Mattress Clean

Here are some proven tips that can help you keep your mattress clean.

Regularly Wash Your Bed Linen

Consider washing your bed sheets every two weeks. This helps eliminate the microscopic life in your bedding that can make you sick.

Clean Spills Immediately

While most of us love binge-watching our favourite tv shows in bed, accidental spills are inevitable. That’s why it is always advisable to clean the spill immediately. This helps in preventing permanent stains and unpleasant odours.

Protect Your Mattress Using a Mattress Protector

Mattress protectors are covers that fit your mattress like a fitted sheet. They are not only machine washable, but also, they are waterproof. What’s more, you can use these covers to protect your mattress from spills and stains. Plus, they increase the lifespan of your mattress.

Flip and Rotate Your Mattress Often

Ensure that you flip or rotate your mattress every month. This not only keeps your mattress clean but also extends its life.

Can I Use a Steam Cleaner to Clean a Mattress?

Yes, you can use a steam cleaner to clean your mattress to get rid of dust mites, bed bugs, and other allergens from the mattress.

Ready to Clean Your Mattress?

That’s it on how to clean a mattress. So, whether you have a lightly stained mattress, we hope that the above methods will help you tackle both the tough and light stains on your mattress.

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