When all is said and done they say that you’ll have spent nearly a third of your life in bed. But, when was the last time you gave your mattress a good, deep clean?
Since we’re all friends here, I’ll be totally honest. I have never really cleaned my mattress. Sure, I wash the sheets pretty regularly. And if I happen to see anything that needs to be spot treated in the process, I might even give it a quick scrub. But that’s the extent of it.
Turns out that having a clean mattress isn’t just about the ick factor. Dust mites, mold and allergens can interfere with a good night’s sleep. And chemicals, toxins, sweat and oils from your clothes and skin can impact your health. But if you’re like me and you’ve missed a few cleanings, don’t feel like you have to rush out and buy a new mattress. Just implement these quick cleaning tips to remove toxins and get rid of unwanted critters. Then follow up once or twice a year and you’re good to go.
How to Clean a Mattress
1. Wash Your Bed Linens
Before even thinking about cleaning the mattress itself, it’s best to clean your linens – otherwise, what’s the point? Wash your sheets, mattress pad and comforter in the hottest water possible. If it’s been a while since you last washed them, add a cup of vinegar to the wash to get rid of germs and grime. Then tumble dry on high heat to kill any lingering dust mites.
2. Vacuum
With your vacuum’s upholstery attachment, start at the head of the mattress and work your way to down. Spend a little extra time on creases and seams where things like crumbs and mites like to hide. Vacuum the sides the same way. Then, if your mattress is light enough, lift it up so you can vacuum between the mattress and box spring.
3. Freshen with baking soda
To remove odors and oils, sprinkle your mattress liberally with baking soda and gently brush it into the fabric fibers. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then vacuum again. The baking soda will absorb moisture and oils in the top layers of fabric and carry them away when you vacuum.
4. Remove stains
My favorite go-to mattress cleaner is a simple paste made from salt and lemon juice (I use a 1:1 ratio for my paste). Simply apply the mixture to the stain and let it sit for 45 minutes to an hour. The salt physically absorbs the stain while the lemon juice lightens discoloration. Wipe off the paste with a clean towel and vacuum any lingering crumbs.
5. Air it out
Fresh air and sunlight can do wonders for a mattress. If you can’t haul mattress outside, simply toss the windows open and let sunlight hit the surface. The UV rays will help eliminate bacteria and lighten stubborn stains and discoloration.
6. Protect it
Now is a great time to pick up a mattress cover to keep critters and stains at bay. Plus, since they can be thrown into the washing machine on a regular basis, you won’t have to spend nearly as much time cleaning your mattress in the future! A win-win.
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It sounds strange vacuuming a mattress but I started doing so after my Daughters asthma started flaring up at night. I vacuum her mattress at least once a week and her flare-ups have definitely improved. Our Dyson vacuum has an upholstery attachment that is great for the job.
Awesome post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for posting .
Typical scenario: no accidents happen in a long time. Then our boy has an accident and I have to wash the mattress cover. While it is drying our girl promptly throws up over half the bed.
Thanks for the baking soda suggestion, will have to try it asap.
What vacuum do you recommend? We have allergies and a lot of dog fur in our home. We currently have the Dyson Animal and have found I do not like the no bag system. Everytime I empty the canister I breathe it in. Is there a vacuum you like with attachments? Thank you
We have the Dyson Animal and a Miele C3 canister vacuum. The Miele is my favorite for everything but carpet. It’s wonderful for wood floors and the attachments are easy to use on cleanings like this post. The Miele has a HEPA air clean filter and the AirClean filter bags trap over 99% of dust/dirt. I am even considering the Cat & Dog upright now to replace my old Dyson Animal. They are pricey but definitely worth the investment.
Excellent step-by-step + tips! I will definitely follow your natural method for deep cleaning the mattress when it’s time for me to flip my mattress. I make it a point to flip my mattress 4x’s a year at the beginning of each season change.
Once again, great tips!
Good information!