How to Clean a Mattress?

CONTENTS

• Step 1: Check the Manufacturer’s Instruction
• Step 2: Gather Your Cleaning Supplies
• Step 3: Strip the Bed
• Step 4: Vacuum the Mattress
• Step 5: Spot Clean the Mattress
• Step 6: Deodorize the mattress
• Step 7: Vacuum Again
• Step 8: Flip the Mattress and Repeat
• Step 9：Putting Clean Bedding and Sheets Back On
• Tips to Keep Your Mattress Clean
• FAQs

Step 1: Check the Manufacturer’s Instruction

✔ protect your rights and benefits

The first thing to do is to check the manufacturer’s instructions and care labels before you attempt to clean. Some mattress covers come with the warnings not to take it off, even though they have zippers. However, mattress covers are very likely to contain flame retardants as required by law and its best to keep the covers on.

Also, please don’t forget the mattress warranty before you wash your mattress. Follow the washing instructions carefully to make sure you don't inadvertently void your warranty or shrink the mattress cover to the point where it can no longer fit over your mattress.

✔ Recognize the Type of Mattress You Own

• Memory foam mattress
• Innerspring mattress
• Hybrid mattress
• Latex mattress
• Gel mattress

Latex is a popular anti-bacteria and anti-mite material, you may not need to clean your mattress that often. Other mattresses can only be cleaned in a simple manner. What you need to pay attention to is to avoid getting them too wet. Water can soak into the mattress, and may become too deep to dry, resulting in the growth of mold and bacteria.

Step 2: Gather Your Cleaning Supplies

You can start to clean your mattress once you are fully prepared, it is best to wear rubber hand gloves to protect your hands when cleaning. If you don’t have an enzyme cleaners, DIY an easy enzyme-based cleaner is not a bad choice.

DIY Enzyme-Based Cleaner:

• One part hydrogen peroxide
• Three parts water
• A few drops of clear liquid dish soap

Mix them in the spray bottle and make sure they are well combined. Also, you can add several drops of essential oil, which helps you to eliminate the smell of some stains.

Step 3: Strip the Bedding

Remove sheeting, blanket, pillowcases, and mattress cover on your bed, and let them spin in the washing machine while you clean the mattress. If you can, washing and drying them in high heat is also a good option, provided all bedding is not affected at high temperatures. It is a significant step in killing mites and germs. Adding some fragrance retention beads in the washing machine will leave you with extra freshness and fragrance to your sleeping experience.

Step 4: Vacuum the Mattress

Vacuum your mattress with your vacuum cleaner, we recommend using it with an upholstery attachment in a small circular motion. Go over the entire surface and the sides. Pay attention to crevices and seams, where the dust, dirt, and dead skin flakes collect. Switching to crevices attachment can help you clean more deeply.

Step 5: Spot Clean the Mattress

The bottom line of removing the stains from the mattress is: never rub your mattress, blot up stains gently with a remover-soaked rag or cloth. Besides, all stains are easiest to clean when they are first caused, the longer they are left to dry, the more difficult they are to clean.

Here are quick tips for cleaning a mattress with what kinds of stain removers:

✔ Clean Food and Drink Stains

Sometimes you may be enjoying your breakfast and coffee in bed, so there may be some food residue and some coffee drips. Especially those stubborn liquid stains that are hard to deal with. You can use dish soap or any detergent to freshen the stain, and then blot the stains with a cloth as soon as possible. When the stain fades, you can dab the area with cold water and allow it to air out.

✔ Clean Sweat Stains

Compared to other types of stains, sweat stains are more subtle type. It appears gradually as you use it, rather than in a particular accident. Over time, it may turn into a dingy and yellowish stain on your mattress. You can lightly spray the cleaner on the yellow, and let it work on for 30 minutes. Finally, you can sprinkle some baking soda on it to deodorize it.

✔ Clean Urine Stains

Urine stains are displeasing stains that not only seep into the mattress but also leave a lingering odor behind. The sooner you start cleaning urine stains from your mattress, the easier it will be to remove them.

First, use a paper towel, microfiber cloth, or old bath towel to blot as much urine as possible. Press the towel against the mattress to soak up as much excess urine. Avoid scrubbing, as this will only spread the stain and push it deeper into the mattress. Then use a rag or cloth to spot the cleaner onto the stains, but don’t drench it. And then, switch to a clean cloth, and wipe off the moisture. Repeat these actions until the stain is cleaned. Once the stain is gone, go over the area with a cloth dampened with cold water and let it air dry.

✔ Clean Vomit Stains

Vomit stains as the same as urine stains, both of them can be soaked into the mattress and leave an odor behind. So clean it as soon as possible and avoid scrubbing it into the mattress. Start by removing the filth, then mix laundry detergent with warm water. Spot-clean the surface of the mattress with a damp cloth. Then allow the mattress to air dry, and repeat the above steps until the stain is completely cleaned.

✔ Clean Blood Stains

Spray the cleaner onto a clean cloth, then blot the stain with the cloth. After that, you can dab at the stains with a little cold water. This is because cold water breaks down the proteins in the blood faster than warm water. And remember, blot the stain with a damp cloth, not dripping wet. Be aware of the soaked cloth not to rub the mattress unless you want to spread the blood further.

✔ Clean Mildew Stains

If the room is damp, there is a good chance your mattress is moldy. If there are a few moldy spots, spray the dish soap onto the moldy area, and gently scrub it with dampened cloth several times. After that, leave the mattress in the sun for a period of time. Sunlight will take away the residual moisture in the mattress.

If the moldy area is way too big, we strongly recommend replacing it. Sleeping on a mattress with a large amount of mold can lead to a series of health-related problems. We don't recommend sleeping on a moldy mattress at all.

Step 6: Deodorize the mattress

At the end of all cleaning steps, sprinkle baking soda all over the mattress, don’t be afraid to empty an entire baking soda box if this is your first cleaning. The longer the baking soda stays on your mattress, the better. It can be left for up to 24 hours, so cleaning your mattress before your overnight trip is the best. Also, you can open the window at the right time; and the UV rays of the sun will add the sanitizing power to kill germs and bacteria.

Step 7: Vacuum Again

Now you’ve left the baking soda for enough time, it’s time to vacuum the baking soda away. Thoroughly vacuum the mattress again, and still remember the clean the seams and crevices as it is your last time to vacuum the mattress. Now is also a good time to vacuum your fabric headboard if you have it.

Step 8: Flip the Mattress and Repeat

Now one side of your mattress is spotless, flip the mattress and repeat steps 4-7, then you will get a mattress that is clean and fresh on both sides. Flipping your mattress should be a regular task, and we recommend that you flip your mattress every three months, which can prevent the mattress from sagging. This is because the innerspring coil mattresses would sink over time. Now, more and more specialized mattress manufacturers are instead making use of the flip feature to create mattresses with different firmness levels on both sides. SweetNight that contains contouring curve^TM design can be flipped and rotated to meet the needs of different sleep postures, no matter if you are a back, side, stomach, or a toss and turn sleeper.

Step 9：Putting Clean Bedding and Sheets Back On

Finally! You' ve cleaned your mattress from top to bottom, now it is time to put your clean bedding and sheet back on the mattress. It will give you a fresh feel. A clean, fresh and cozy bed would be perfect for falling asleep.

Tips to Keep Your Mattress Clean

✔ Use protection

Mattress protectors are designed to keep dirt, dust, and other contaminants away, which fit onto the mattress under the fitted sheet. Many mattress protectors are waterproof or water-resistant, which is designed to prevent the liquid from spilling on the mattress.

✔ Changing Your Sheets and Bedding

Keeping your sheets and bedding in a clean state also keeps your mattress hygienic. If bedding and sheets are not changed regularly, they would accumulate body oils, sweat, dead skin, etc., which can gradually seep into your mattress.

In general, it is best to wash your sheet and pillowcase weekly or biweekly, and the frequency should be increased if you sleep with your pets.

By the same token, airing your pillows, quilts, and mattress regularly also helps to keep them clean.

✔ Flip and Rotate Your Mattress Regularly

Flipping and rotating your mattress regularly is also a way to keep your mattress clean, you can flip it by the side and rotate it from head to foot(180 degrees), which can prevent the mattress from sagging and becoming worn.