You spend a great deal of your life sleeping. But how often do you clean your mattress? Do you know how to clean a mattress? Cleaning your mattress regularly can help reduce allergic reactions, prevent bedbugs, prevent mold and dust mite. Regularly cleaning your mattress will help it last longer.
Here’s how to clean a mattress;
General Cleaning
If you’re just doing a general cleaning, strip your bed by removing all the beddings and protectors you may have. Vacuum the mattress on both sides and be as thorough as possible. Sprinkle some baking soda on the mattress and let it sit for several hours. The baking soda will help get rid of any funky smells and will deodorize the mattress as well. It will also help in breaking up the dirt.
Let your mattress sit in the sun with baking soda for a couple of hours. After several hours vacuum the mattress to get rid of the baking soda. Lightly wipe the mattress if you have any sort of stains on it. The baking soda will have made it easier to clean them. Let it air dry for a couple more hours.
Deep clean your bedroom while the mattress is airing. Open the windows to air out your bedroom. Wipe down and clean the shell of the bed to make sure there’s no dust mites. After cleaning the bed you can now return the mattress and use clean new beddings.
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Removing stains;
Here’s how to clean a matress and remove those stubborn stains;
Urine and Sweat
Here’s how to clean a mattress when it has urine or sweat. Maybe if you have a toddler or a child who soiled the bed or it can also be a mistake. There are 2 ways you can clean urine and sweat from your mattress:
- Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda into a cup of hydrogen peroxide and 4-5 drops of dishwashing liquid or any liquid detergent. Use a spray bottle to generously apply in the affected area. Leave it for a couple of hours until a baking soda residue forms. Vacuum the baking soda. Confirm there are no smells and stains. Repeat until the mattress is clean.
- The second way is to mix equal parts of water and white vinegar. Spray the affected area using a spray bottle and leave it for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle baking soda on the affected area for a couple of hours then vacuum.
Blood
If you get a bloodstain on your mattress, first use cold water to wipe it off. Avoid hot or warm water because this will cause a permanent stain. To remove a blood stain add some hydrogen peroxide to a spray bottle and spray on the affected area. Blot it with a clean cloth until it dissolves. Alternatively depending on the intensity of the stain you can use liquid soap to break it down until it dissolves.
Wine
If you’ve just had a wine accident in your bed, pour some salt into the affected area so it can absorb the wine. Alternatively, soak up a clean cloth with sparkling water and wipe off the area.
Old stains
When dealing with old stains you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, and you may not be sure how long it stayed there. It can be difficult dealing with something you don’t know. There are several ways of dealing with old stains.
- Dilute liquid detergent with water and spray it on the affected area. Scrub the stain using a sponge or a soft brush. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before absorbing it and letting it blot into a cloth. Repeat until the stain disappears.
- Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda into a cup of hydrogen peroxide and 4-5 drops of dishwashing liquid or any liquid detergent. Use a spray bottle to generously apply in the affected area. Leave it for a couple of hours until a baking soda residue forms. Vacuum the baking soda. Confirm there are no smells and stains. Repeat until the mattress is clean.
- Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar. Spray the affected area using a spray bottle and leave it for a couple of minutes. Wipe it off and if the stain is still there you can repeat it a couple of times.
- Spray some enzyme cleaner into a clean cloth and blot the stained area. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth(cold water).
If you try all these methods and the stain still won’t come off, you will want to hire professional cleaners or invest in a steam carpet cleaner.
Deodorizing the mattress
After dealing with all the mattress stains, you will want to deodorize the mattress to make sure it smells great. Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda on the entire mattress. Let it sit for 3 to 4 hours, you can let it sit for longer. The longer it stays the more it breaks down the smells and absorbs moisture. Do this on both sides of the mattress. You can add a personal touch by adding your favorite essential oil to the baking soda, before sprinkling it on your mattress.
Vacuum off the baking soda and lightly brush the mattress to ensure all the baking soda is off the mattress. After vacuuming, let the mattress air out for another couple of hours if you have the time. You can open the windows in your bedroom as well to let the mattress air out.
Tips for Keeping Your Mattress Clean Longer
- Deep clean your mattress every 6 months.
- If you see a stain on your mattress, clean it immediately
- Change your bedsheets often to prevent dust mite and bedbugs
- Invest in a quality waterproof mattress cover to prevent mildew and mold
- Flip your mattress every three months and vacuum thoroughly each time you flip it.