How To Get a Clean Mattress in 7 Effective Steps

On average, we spend a third of our lives sleeping. During that time, a lot happens to your mattress. It collects dead skin cells, sweat, oil, dust mites, pet dander, and so much more. Your bed may also grow mold and mildew if you live in a humid climate. As such, keeping a clean mattress should be a high priority, and the more often you do it, the better. 

To maintain a clean mattress, it’s good practice to give your bed a thorough cleanse every six months. For the uninitiated, cleaning that often might sound intimidating, but the good news is restoring your mattress isn’t as hard as it sounds. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to protect your mattress for years to come. 

Step 1: Strip the Bed 

To get a clean mattress, you need to ensure everything that’s sitting on top of it is clean, as well. Remove your bedsheets, bedspreads, and pillowcases and put them in the washing machine. Wash your bedding in hot water to kill all bugs and dust mites. 

While your bedding is taking a spin in the washing machine, you’ll have time to properly assess the damage that’s been inflicted on your mattress. Check your bed for stains, spills, and odors so you can provide spot-treatment for effective cleaning. 

Step 2: Get the Right Supplies 

Even though most of us might put it off, cleaning a mattress is easy because you likely already have all the supplies in your household. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need to keep a clean mattress: 

• A vacuum cleaner with attachments 
• Baking soda
• Laundry detergent 
• Dish soap
• Stain remover
• Cold water
• Cleaning towels

Step 3: Vacuum Thoroughly

Before you get to work on deodorizing or spot-cleaning your mattress, give it a thorough vacuum to remove dust, debris, or food particles. Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner for best results, and clean the entire surface of the mattress, including the sides. Be sure to pay extra attention to the seams of your mattress, which is where dead skin cells tend to collect. 

Step 4: Deodorize with Baking Soda

Sprinkling a layer of plain baking soda on your mattress can remove any existing odors that may be clinging to your bed by absorbing moisture and dirt.

Since baking soda doesn’t contain any fragrance, it won’t cause any irritation. But if you want some scent, ditch the fabric spray and combine baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oils. 

Baking soda works its magic when it has time to sit for a few hours, so try to get a headstart on your mattress cleaning by doing it during the day.  In case you don’t have enough time or if the odor is minimal, leave it on for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get a clean mattress. After it’s been sitting for a while, thoroughly vacuum the surface of your mattress until there’s no residue. 

Step 5: Treat Stains

Your mattress can look as new as it did the day you bought it. Whether it’s a wine spill or random spots of discoloration, none of these stains are permanent, and you can easily get them out with a stain remover. The stain remover you choose might vary depending on the stain. A common homemade solution to get a clean mattress is a mixture of cold water and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts. 

When spot-cleaning, be careful not to apply the stain remover directly on the mattress itself. Instead, use the cleaning solution on a rag and then dab it on the stain. Some mattresses, such as memory foam, aren’t supposed to get wet, which means you have to pay extra attention to the amount of cleaning solution you’re using. To stay on the safe side, start small and work your way up. 

Step 6: Flip the Mattress 

One side of your bed may look spic and span, but your work isn’t done just yet. If you’re prone to allergies, it’s important to maintain a clean mattress on both sides. Fortunately, the other side of your mattress may require less work, especially if you haven’t flipped your mattress before. The only thing you really need to do is vacuum it and deodorize it as you see fit. 

Step 7: Post-Cleaning Protection

A clean mattress is certainly a sight to behold, but it’s also one that you’ll need to maintain. The best way to protect your mattress from future damage is by investing in a high-quality mattress protector. 

A mattress protector can make cleaning a lot easier by protecting your bed from dust, stains, and bed bugs. It can also limit the number of times you’ll need to clean your mattress because you only need to focus on keeping the protector clean. 

A clean mattress can not only extend the life of your mattress, but it can also reduce the risk of allergies and maintain healthy indoor air quality in your bedroom. While cleaning your mattress regularly might sound daunting, the process is straightforward and won’t take you longer than a day. 

Happy cleaning!