Bed And Mattress Cleaning Guide

Although there are numerous ways to improve the appearance of your home, nothing beats a thorough House Cleaning. While dusting and mopping are vital first House Cleaning steps, it is essential to know how to clean your mattress.

Sweat, drool, shed skin flakes, hair and skin oil, and numerous bodily fluids are all exposed to your mattress. When you factor in allergens, dust mites, and pet dander, your bed is ready for a deep clean.

Yes, when it comes to House Cleaning, homeowners often overlook mattresses, and the House Cleaning experts are here to change that. Read this House Cleaning tutorial to learn how to clean a mattress and extend its life.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR MATTRESS

Before you get started on your mattress, strip all of the bedding and mattress covers off of the bed and wash them in hot water (over 130 F).  This will kill any dust mites. Add 1/2 -1 cup of vinegar to your wash to remove any extra odors and soften your sheets. If possible, open up the windows to let in some fresh air and light while you clean.

Late winter/early spring is generally the best time to clean your mattress for dust mites as it will kill the dust mites that survived the winter and reduce their numbers in the summer months.  If you use and launder a mattress cover regularly, cleaning your mattress once per year should be sufficient {you may want to clean it more frequently if you have allergies}. Otherwise, you should be cleaning your mattress monthly.

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CLEANING OPTION #1

• Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress and allow it to sit for at least30 minutes {longer is better} to absorb any odors. Using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum, vacuum the mattress paying extra attention to any stitches and crevices.
• If you have any particular stained areas that you are needing to treat, do this prior to the above cleaning options but do vacuum the mattress to remove any loose dirt or dust before working on the stained area.  Remember that the quicker you can treat a stain, the easier it will be to remove!  See below for specific stain treatments.
• After you have cleaned your mattress, ensure that the mattress is COMPLETELY DRY before putting the covers and sheets back on.  Any moisture will encourage the growth of molds, mildew, and bacteria.  Let your mattress dry out in the sun or run a fan over it for at least several hours until dry.  A blow dryer works too if you just spot treated stains. If you can’t get your mattress outside, you can pull it off your bed and prop it up by an open window to get more air circulating.

CLEANING OPTION #2

• If you really need an extra deep cleaning {and the weather permits!} take the mattress out in the morning on a sunny day to allow it to air out. Place a clean tarp or drop cloth down on the ground and place your mattress on top. The sun has a natural cleaning ability and can kill off bacteria hiding in the mattress.
• Now the fun part… Grab a bat, golf club, 2×4, etc. and give your mattress a good beating for 10-20 minutes.  This will get rid of dead human skin cells, dust mites and their feces, and dander and will also give you a good workout!
• Let your mattress sit in the sun for the day remembering to turn it around to the other side half way through the day.  You might want to give it another quick beating before bringing it back in at the end of the day.

HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM YOUR MATTRESS

If you have any stains on your mattress, follow these general stain removal guidelines. For more persistent stains, check out the specific stain tips below.

• When you’re treating mattress stains, keep your cleaning fluid use to a minimum to avoid over-saturating the mattress.  You do not want the interior padding of the mattress to become wet as it can develop mold and mildew or damage the wood inside of the mattress.
• It is important to get to mattress stains as quickly as you can. To avoid spreading the stain, blot {do not rub or scrub!} up any excess liquids or moisture moving from the outsideof the stain inwards.  Use pressure to remove as much of the liquid as possible.
• For general stains, you can use an upholstery cleaner and follow the directions as indicated on the bottle.  Again, ensure that you do not saturate the mattress too much.
• To help remove odors, sprinkle baking soda over top. For a light, fresh scent, you can add some drops of your favorite essential oil to the baking soda and mix it in prior to sprinkling {it’s the same mix I use for freshening our carpets. Let it sit for a couple of hours. Vacuum up any residual baking soda.