Accidents can happen daily, and even our precious mattress is no exception to these accidents. Mattresses are investments for our well-being, so we are expected to take care of them and preserve their lifespan to make them last longer by cleaning them regularly.
It is no surprise that mattresses can acquire dust mites, bed bugs and even stains if not regularly maintained and cleaned. And if we take good care of our mattress, our mattress will not take good care of us in return. But fear not, because this article will provide you with 10 easy steps on how to clean a mattress and remove stains for a more comfortable nightly sleep and safer well-being. So, let's start the cleaning process!
Step 1: Gather All Necessary Cleaning Supplies
To keep cleaning your mattress, you'll need these mattress cleaning supplies or cleaning products at hand:
- A vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment for removing dust mites and allergens.
- Mild liquid detergent as a cleaning solution for stained areas.
- Warm and cold water for spot cleaning
- A soft brush or cloth
- A spray bottle to sprinkle baking soda
- Of course, a baking soda
- Enzyme cleaner
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Dish soap (optional)
Step 2: Strip the Mattress or Remove All Bedding
Before you clean your mattress, you have to remove all bedding or strip your mattress to see the stained area and assess how to clean your mattress. Start by removing your pillowcases, linens, and bed sheets. And while you are busy cleaning your mattress, it is better to wash bedding and linens through machine washing and get them cleaned so you can put them back together once your mattress is cleaned.
Step 3: Vacuum Your Mattress
To further clean your mattress, get your vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment and carefully vacuum the entire mattress surface to eliminate any loose dirt, dust mites, and other dirt from your mattress's surface. Pay special attention and focus on seams, creases, and every corner of your mattress where dust and allergens usually hide.
Step 4: Spot-Clean the Stains in Your Mattress
Now, it's time to focus on how to remove mattress stains. Stains are caused by different reasons: yellow stains, blood stains, biological stains, bodily fluids like sweat stains, urine stains, and food stains or spills. There are also different ways to remove these stains, and the stain remover you choose depends on the kind of stains you have on your mattress.
The first thing you have to do is examine your mattress for any signs of stains, and once you locate the stain, start mixing or creating a cleaning solution. You can mix mild detergent or dish soap with cold water, enzyme cleaner, or hydrogen peroxide with water. Moist a clean cloth or sponge with the cleaning solution you mixed, then carefully blot the stained spot. Avoid rubbing your mattress surface to prevent damage, and use at least a gentle pressure to lift or remove stains without saturating the mattress. Keep blotting the stained area until the stain disappears, and after that, rinse the cloth with clean water and blot the area again to remove any detergent residue.
It is also important to remember that no matter how hard it is to clean mattress stains, do not soak your mattress in water, especially if the type of mattress you have is a memory foam mattress, because they are not supposed to get wet.
Step 5: Sprinkle a Think Layer of Baking Soda to Your Mattress
Baking soda helps to absorb moisture and odours, and if you let it sit for at least 15 minutes or before your overnight trip, it's even more effective. Mix baking soda with water and put it in a bottle, then sprinkle in a thin layer. While the baking soda sits on your mattress, consider opening bedroom windows and allowing natural light and sunshine to enter because the sun's UV light can help eliminate mould growth and kill bacteria present on the mattress.
Step 6: Brush or Vacuum Off Baking Soda from the Mattress
After the baking soda sits on the entire surface of your mattress, get a soft brush or set up your vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove all the baking soda residue on your mattress.
Step 7: Flip or Rotate Your Mattress (optional)
In this step, flipping or rotating your mattress is optional, but it helps a lot to maintain and protect your mattress. Flipping your mattress regularly distributes wear and tear evenly to your mattress, which maintains your mattress and helps extend its lifespan. However, keep in mind that it is still important to check the manufacturer's care instructions for guidance if your mattress is flippable or rotatable.
Step 8: Put a Mattress Cover or Mattress Protection (optional)
To prolong your mattress even more, consider using a waterproof mattress protector. Mattress protectors help prevent future stains and dust mites and keep your mattress clean. They safeguard your mattress because they act as a barrier between your mattress and the outside, where spills may stain your mattress. So, if you constantly suffer from urine stains because of your little ones or pets, opt for waterproof mattress protectors to save your mattress from any stains.
Step 9: Air Out Your Mattress
After using the baking soda, relocate your mattress to a well-ventilated area or bedroom windows and allow your mattress to air out for a few hours to remove any lingering odours because fresh air cleans and helps a mattress to freshen up.
Step 10: Replace with Clean Bedding and Remake the Bed
To complete the process, and once the mattress is dry completely, it is now time to remake your bed. Put on fresh, clean sheets, a duvet cover, pillowcases, and a mattress protector. Arrange the pillows, and you may add any additional bedding or blankets according to your preferences to make your mattress a clean and inviting bed, ready for your restful night's sleep.
Additional Mattress Cleaning Tips
How to Clean a Mattress to Remove Blood Stains?
If you notice period stains on your mattress, act quickly! Gently blot the stain with a clean, damp cloth to remove as much blood as possible. You can directly apply hydrogen peroxide or mix it with cold water, let it bubble, and then blot again with a clean cloth. Remember to work gently to avoid saturating the mattress.
How to Clean a Mattress to Remove Yellow Stains?
Mix water and white vinegar to create a cleaning solution for yellow stains. Use a damp or clean cloth with this mixed solution and gently blot the yellowed area, starting from outside the stain towards the centre, to prevent it from spreading. Alternatively, you can create a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water. Apply it to the yellow stain and let it sit for at least 15–30 minutes before gently scrubbing with a soft brush or cloth. Afterwards, use a vacuum cleaner to remove residue and ensure the mattress is completely dry before remaking the bed.
How to Remove Mattress Odour?
Mattress odours can be disturbing, especially if you're in the middle of your sleep and suddenly interrupted by an unwanted smell from your mattress. It is no surprise that regularly cleaning your mattress is essential to remove dust and dirt that makes your bed smell. So, to remove odours from your mattress, here are the two steps that you can take:
- Strip off all your bedding and expose the mattress to fresh air and sunlight because UV light from the sun can help kill bacteria and eliminate odour.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda evenly over the entire surface of the mattress and leave it for several hours or overnight.
A few drops of our favourite essential oil can also save our mattress and make it odour-free. You can use different essential oils suitable for your bedding and linens.
How to Kill Dust Mites?
Dust mites are threats to our nightly comforts. So, it is important to machine wash your bedding with hot water and use allergen-proof covers on your mattress and pillows. It is also helpful to kill dust mites through regular sun exposure on your mattress and pillows.
We cannot just shrug our shoulders at dust mites because they might cause a series of allergies and can lead to skin conditions for anyone sensitive to them. So, it is important to regularly check our mattresses and perform the cleaning process we discussed above for a healthier sleep.
Takeaway
Keep in mind that regular mattress cleaning must be performed every 1-2 months to remove stains and all the allergens, dirt, and dust mites lingering on our mattress. A clean mattress is essential for our well-being. After all, who wouldn't want a clean mattress? How can we achieve a healthier and more comfortable night's sleep if we do not pay attention to our mattress?
How to clean a mattress is not a difficult task, and with the cleaning process we discussed to deep clean your mattress properly, you can ensure your restful and comfortable sleep and assure that you are only a step away from your dream slumber.