How to Clean a Mattress in 9 Steps + 12 Expert Tips You Haven’t Heard Before

It’s not often that we think about cleaning our mattresses, but it’s something that should be done on a regular basis.

Not only is it important to get rid of all the built-up dirt and dust, but vacuuming and spot cleaning can help keep your mattress in good condition and extend its life.

Here are 9 steps to clean your mattress along with 12 expert tips you may not have heard before!

How to Clean Your Mattress in 9 Simple Steps

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There’s nothing quite like a good night’s sleep on a freshly cleaned mattress. Ideally, you should clean your mattress once a month to keep yourself healthy – and your bed as cozy as possible.

Though it might not seem like it, your mattress is probably one of the dirtiest places in your home. Not only does it provide the perfect environment for dust mites to thrive, but it also accumulates dead skin cells, sweat, and other bodily fluids over time.

As a result, it’s important to clean your mattress on a regular basis – and not just when you spill something on it. Here are 9 simple steps that will help you get your mattress clean and fresh.

1. Get Your Supplies Together

Most people don’t think about cleaning their mattresses very often, but it’s actually something that should be done on a regular basis. After all, we spend a third of our lives sleeping on our mattresses, so it’s important to keep them clean and free of dust mites, mold and other allergens.

Your first step in the process is to gather your equipment. Here are the supplies you need to clean your mattress:

  • A vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. This will help to remove any dust and dirt from the surface of the mattress.
  • A mild detergent for spot-cleaning any stains.
  • Some baking soda
  • A clean cloth or sponge for applying the detergent.

With these simple supplies, you can easily keep your mattress clean and fresh – ensuring a good night’s sleep for many years to come!

2. Take Off the Bedding

Start by stripping the bed. This means removing all the sheets, blankets, and pillows. You’ll be laundering these as you clean your mattress, so don’t put on a fresh set of linens quite yet. Keep that mattress naked!

3. Launder the Bedding

While you’re cleaning your mattress, you should be washing your bedding and bed skirt at the same time.

To do this, start by considering what type of fabric your bedding is made from. Machine-washable fabrics like cotton can be washed on the warm cycle, while delicate fabrics like silk should be hand-washed or dry-cleaned.

Pre-treat any stains before washing. For example, you might treat a grease stain with dish soap before laundering.

Once the bedding is ready to wash, be sure to follow the care instructions on the label. This will help ensure that your bedding comes out of the wash looking and feeling its best.

Finally, don’t forget to dry your bedding thoroughly after washing. If possible, tumble dry on low heat or air dry; high heat can damage delicate fabrics.

4. Deodorize the Mattress

Over time, mattresses can become stained and start to develop an unpleasant smell. Deodorizing your mattress will help eliminate these odors and can freshen up your dirty  mattress in no time.

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that can help remove odors from your mattress. To use, simply sprinkle baking soda over the entire surface of the mattress and let it sit for an hour.

Then, vacuum up the baking soda using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner – more on this in the next step.

5. Vacuum the Mattress

Although mattresses are designed to be comfortable and long-lasting, they can quickly become a breeding ground for dust mites, mold, and other allergens. To help keep your mattress clean and fresh, it’s important to vacuum it as part of the cleaning process.

The best way to do this is to use an upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner.

First, remove all of the sheets and blankets from your bed. Then, starting at the top of the mattress, move the vacuum slowly back and forth across the surface.

Be sure to pay special attention to any seams or folds, as these are often where dust and dirt accumulate. While you’re vacuuming, keep an eye out for any stains or spills that may need to be cleaned.

6. Get Rid of Stains

To remove stains on the mattress, start by vacuuming the mattress once more to remove any surface dirt and debris. Then, use a mild soap and warm water to spot clean any areas with visible stains.

For tougher stains, you may need to use a commercial cleaner or even call in a professional upholstery cleaning company. If you’re looking for more tips on how to treat stains, head to the bottom of this post, where we’ll give you a bit more details.

7. Flip the Mattress

Flipping your mattress may seem like a lot of work, but it’s actually quite simple. And, more importantly, it’s an important part of extending the life of your mattress.

When you sleep on your mattress, body oils and sweat are transferred to the fabric. Over time, these oils will break down the fabric and cause permanent damage.

By flipping your mattress every few months – or even once a month, when you clean it – you can help to prevent this type of damage. In addition, flipping your mattress will help to distribute the wear evenly, so that one side doesn’t become too worn out.

8. Protect the Mattress in the Future

A mattress is an important investment in the bedroom, and it’s important to take steps to protect it – especially after you’ve finally gotten it clean!

One way to do this is to use a mattress cover. A cover helps to keep your mattress clean and free of dust, and it also provides an extra layer of protection against spills and stains.

In addition, a cover can help to extend the life of your mattress by protecting it from wear and tear. When choosing a cover, look for one that is made from durable material that can be easily wiped clean.

Be sure to choose a size that will fit snugly over your mattress, and make sure that the cover has a zipper or other closure to keep it in place.

A few more tips for keeping the mattress clean and in good condition?

For one, don’t allow pets on the bed. Pets can carry dirt and allergens on their fur, which can quickly damage a mattress. Vacuum regularly and follow the cleaning steps listed above, and spot clean spills as soon as you see them. The sooner you treat a stain, the better. Oh – and don’t forget to flip!

9. Repeat As Needed

If you have any lingering stains or odors on your mattress, you may find that you need to repeat the steps listed above a few times. And that’s okay! Take as many times as you need to get your mattress looking great again.

Whatever you do, allow the mattress to air out for at least an hour before putting fresh bedding back on. This will help to eliminate any lingering odors. You may want to open a window or place a fan near the mattress to help freshen the air and the mattress even further.

12 Expert Tips for Cleaning Your Mattress – and Keeping it Clean!

clean mattress
A clean mattress is a healthy mattress. No matter what kind of bedding or what size mattress you have, there are simple tips you can follow to easily clean (and keep clean!) your mattress.

Your mattress is probably one of the dirtiest places in your home. But it’s also one of the most important, as you spend about a third of your life sleeping on it! So how can you keep your mattress clean and healthy? Follow these expert tips!

1. Use Fitted Sheets to Keep Out the Dust

A fitted sheet helps to keep out dust and other particles that can accumulate on the surface of the mattress. Be sure to wash the sheet regularly to prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for dust mites.

2. Invest in a Quality Mattress Protector

Invest in a quality mattress protector. This will help to prevent spills and stains from reaching the mattress itself.

3. Clean the Mattress on a Monthly Basis

Cleaning your mattress on a monthly basis will help to keep it in good condition and extend its lifespan. It will also help to create a healthier sleeping environment by preventing dust mites and other pests from taking up residence in your bed.

4. Be Sure to Flip and Rotate the Mattress

In addition to making it difficult to get comfortable, an unkempt mattress can also be a breeding ground for dust mites and other allergens. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps that can be taken to ensure that your mattress stays clean and comfortable.

Perhaps the most important step is to flip and rotate the mattress on a regular basis. This will help to prevent body impressions from forming, and it will also help to distribute wear evenly over the surface of the mattress.

5. Avoid Steam Cleaners and Carpet Shampooers

To keep your mattress in tip-top shape, there are a few things you should avoid doing. First, you should never use a steam cleaner or carpet shampooer on your mattress. The heat from the steam can damage the fabric and the chemicals in the shampoo can be harmful to your skin.

Second, you should avoid using harsh cleaning products. These products can damage the fabric and leave behind harmful chemicals. Instead, opt for gentle, natural cleaning products.

6. Don’t Use Essential Oils – Please!

Many people are tempted to use essential oils on their mattresses, but this isn’t a great idea.

Essential oils can actually attract dust mites and other pests, which can lead to problems with allergies and asthma. They can also leave stains behind on the fabric. Essential oils can potentially interact with the fabric of your mattress, causing it to break down more quickly.

Finally, the fragrance of essential oils can be overwhelming and disruptive to sleep.

If you’re looking for a natural way to improve the smell of your mattress, try using a combination of baking soda and water instead.

7. Get Rid of Sweat Stains With Hydrogen Peroxide

If you’re looking for an easy and effective way to clean your mattress, hydrogen peroxide is a great option. Simply mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle, and spritz the solution onto any sweat stains.

Let it sit for a few minutes, then blot the area with a clean cloth. You might need to do this a few times to remove all of the stain, but hydrogen peroxide is a gentle and effective cleaner that won’t damage your mattress.

For best results, be sure to use fresh hydrogen peroxide that’s less than six months old.

8. Don’t Be Afraid of a Little Elbow Grease

While there are plenty of products on the market that claim to clean and refresh your mattress, sometimes the best way to get it looking like new again is to simply put in a little elbow grease.  You may have to scrub in order to get out some of the most stubborn set-in stains!

9. Try Vinegar for Set-in Stains and Odors

If you’ve had the same mattress for a while, it’s probably accumulated a few set-in stains and odors. To get rid of these, mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spritz the solution onto the problem areas. Let the mattress dry completely before remaking the bed. You can also use this solution to clean your mattress cover or pillowcases.

10. Hit it With Sunshine

One of the best ways to clean a mattress is to hit it with sunshine. The ultraviolet rays from the sun kill dust mites, bacteria, and mold spores. If you can’t put your mattress outside, try putting it in front of an open window on a sunny day. You can also vacuum your mattress regularly with the upholstery attachment to remove dust and other allergens.

If your mattress is stained, you can spot-clean it with a mild detergent and a soft brush. Be sure to let the mattress air out afterwards to prevent mold growth.

With a little care and attention, you can keep your mattress clean and fresh for years to come.

11. Address Spills ASAP

If you spill something on the mattress, it’s important to clean it up immediately. Otherwise, the spill could attract dust and dirt, or even lead to mold growth. To spot clean a spill, simply blot the area with a clean cloth or paper towel. You may need to use a mild detergent if the stain is particularly stubborn.

12. Consider Using an Enzyme Cleaner for Tough Biological Stains

We won’t sugarcoat things here – if you’re wondering what biological stains are, they are any kind of stain that comes from the human body. Think blood, sweat, etc.

When it comes to cleaning a mattress, one of the most important things to consider is the type of stains you’re dealing with. For example, tough biological stains can be best removed using an enzyme cleaner.

Enzyme cleaners work by breaking down the proteins that make up the stain, which makes them ideal for removing things like blood and sweat. To use an enzyme cleaner, simply apply it to the stained area and allow it to sit for 15-30 minutes before blotting it up with a clean cloth. You may need to repeat this process a few times to completely remove the stain.

Can You Actually Clean a Mattress?

So, can you actually clean a mattress? The answer is yes! It’s not difficult, but it does require a little effort. By following the tips we’ve outlined in this post, you can clean your mattress and keep it looking and smelling fresh for years to come. Have you tried any of these methods for cleaning your mattress? Let us know how they worked for you in the comments below.

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