While you might enjoy sleeping on your perfect mattress, the thought of cleaning it might not be an enjoyable one. Might it even leave you with a longing thought of how to clean a mattress without any help? Or what are dos and don’ts while cleaning a mattress?
If you are someone who frequently frets how to remove stains out of a mattress, then read on to know how to deep clean a mattress, how often you should clean it, and some pro tips on mattress cleaning.
How to Clean a Mattress
Still, thinking about how to get stains out of a mattress? The best way to clean a mattress would be to do it step-wise. Cleaning a large mattress can baffle you, but you can be smart here. Breaking down the cleaning process would help you do little things at a time and get that mattress clean.
1. Strip the bed
The first thing you need to do is take out all the covers and put them into the washing machine. Removing the covers can help make it easier to clean the mattress. Make sure you keep everything away, the pillows, the toys, and anything on the bed.
2. Dust it
The most common way to start cleaning your mattress before cleaning it with a damp cloth would be to dust it. Dusting the mattress removes all the visible dust particles. Some of the tiny dust particles tend to get trapped in the mattress.
You can start by taking a small to medium cloth and just whip the mattress. Dusting them can get them off the mattress instantly or get them out of the deep holes.
3. Vacuum it
After dusting comes vacuuming. Once the dust settles on the top of the mattress, a smart way would be to vacuum it. A vacuum cleaner allows you to clean the mattress while sucking all the dirt deeply. You can also use small to medium vacuum cleaners for this job.
4. Use baking soda
Sometimes when cleaning a mattress, you’ll come across some stains. Thes best possible way would be to clean the mattress with baking soda. This chemical can easily remove stains in no time.
You have to sprinkle baking soda on the mattress and let it sit for an hour. The baking soda will absorb all the stains and odors. Once you are done, vacuum it to clean it properly.
5. Try steaming
Sometimes, when you are cleaning a mattress, the best way to clean it is with water. Steaming the mattress can help to loosen the tough and stiff stains. You can steam the stain areas for 1-2 minutes and then wipe the stains easily.
This technique helps to get rid of stains that become hard over time or sweat stains on mattresses as well. Once you have steam, the mattress makes sure you dry it out before covering it. Leaving the mattress damp would increase the chances of mold and bacteria growth.
6. Leave it out in the air
You only clean your mattress once in 3-4 months, so you better do it right if you are doing it. Once you are done, cleaning and vacuuming, it’s time to leave the mattress in the air.
Airing the mattress under the sun has multiple benefits. It lets the moisture dry out properly, gets rid of smelly odors, and exposure to the sun makes the mattress soft, and it won’t be a party place for bacteria for sure.
If you have a window above the bed, you can simply open your windows to let the sun rays in, or you can take the mattress out in the sun for 2-3 hours.
7. Don’t forget to flip
Once you are done with the top portion of the mattress, don’t forget to flip the mattress and clean the other side. Who knows what kind of stains or germs are on the other side of the mattress.
This could happen because your bed might be stuck to one side of the wall, and if you drop something, you might not be able to clean it deeply. Leaving things unclean can develop into tough stains.
How to Clean Mattress Stains
Thinking about how to remove stains from mattresses? Don’t worry. You are not alone. Many people who clean the mattress find it hard to get rid of these stains. How you clean and what items you use matter a lot, and what you also spill matters.
If it’s a fresh wine stain, then the water will work wonders for you. Clean the mattress with a damp cloth to get rid of the stain. Any stain on the mattress can be cleaned or reduced by washing it as soon as possible with water. The more time you take to clean it, the more challenging the stain will be.
Here are some ingredients that you can use to clean stains out of the mattress.
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Liquid dish soap
- Baking soda
- Lime water
- Vinegar & water
- Salt
- Stain removal solutions
Homemade Mattress Stain Removers for Different Types of Stains
You can get rid of the mattress stains with homemade stain removers for those who do not wish to hire professional helpers or the do-it-yourself types. These homemade mattress cleaners can clean all types of yellow, red, and sweat stains.
Sweat stain remover
Sweat stains can develop over time and can turn white as they dry. Here’s what you can do in case you wonder how to get rid of sweat stains.
- Spray the area with hydrogen peroxide.
- Let it sink for 2-3 minutes.
- Make sure it’s damp, not soaking wet.
- Let the area dry.
As the area dries, the stain also fades. After this, you can clean the area with a damp cloth infused with water.
Urine stain remover
How to clean urine out of a mattress? You’ll get this thought when you have a small baby or a pet. Urine stains will be common for a while, and there is no need to panic. You can always clean urine stains with a homemade urine stain remover.
- Combine 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 8 ounces of hydrogen peroxide with a tiny amount of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle.
- Spray it on the affected area but do not damp it.
- Take a clean cloth and gently rub the damp area.
- Once you are done with this, clean it with a damp cloth infused with water.
As you are done cleaning, leave the mattress to dry in the open.
Bloodstain remover
Bloodstains are easy to clean when they are fresh. If you encounter bloodstains then you better be quick to clean them.
- Combine 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon of salt and liquid dish soap.
- Spray this on the bloodstain and keep it for 10 minutes
- Then scrape it out with a spoon.
- Use a clean cloth dipped in hydrogen peroxide to clean the residue.
- The stain dries as the solution dries up.
- After that, clean it with a damp cloth soaked in water.
Know more about how to remove blood stains from sheets in our latest blog!
Stubborn stain remover
Some stains are tougher than others, like wine or vomit stains. The homemade cleaner can easily remove these.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of white laundry detergent with 1 tablespoon of water.
- Once the foam forms, spread it on the stain.
- Leave it on for 10 mins and no longer for that.
How Often Should You Clean Your Mattress?
You won’t have to clean your mattress as often as your bedsheet, but you should clean it once every six months, or you can clean them 3-4 times a year. Cleaning the mattress will help you to add life to your mattress.
You can have a routine cleaning habit or can hire professional cleaners to clean your mattress. If you are more likely to pick up on these methods, it looks like you’ll be cleaning your mattress by yourself.
We would advise you to clean your mattress during summer. Why? It is easy to dry them, and you should clean them when you tend to sweat a lot.
On the other hand, cleaning your mattress during the winter & rainy seasons would not be such a great idea. It will take more time to dry out the mattress, and if it remains cold, it won’t be cozy to sleep on wet beds.
Tips to Keep Your Mattress Clean
- Change your bedding regularly: If anything spills on the bed, the first hit happens on the bed sheets. Make you buy quality bed sheets that cover the mattress for good. Apart from that, change your bed sheets 1-2 times every week. Just imagine you sleep for 8 plus hours every night on the same bed sheet. Wouldn’t it be nice to change it often?
- Hurry to clean spills: When you have something spilling on the bed, make sure you clean it right away. This is the best way not to let the stain sink in. Plus, when you remove something instantly, the less impact it makes on the bed sheet and mattress.
- Use a mattress protector: Couples with small children usually use a mattress protector or quick-dry bedding materials under their bedsheets. This way, whatever spills, does not touch the mattress. Plus, it helps to keep the mattress clean and dry. If you are thinking about how to wash mattress protectors, washing them with water would do it.
- Flip it often: Another way to add life to your mattress is to flip it often. This way, you also get rid of the sagging part and keep the mattress clean for more extended periods of time. You should flip your mattress once every 2 months.
- Avoid eating on the bed: No food, no spillage. The best way to keep your mattress clean is to set some boundaries. No eating and drinking on the bed is a good way to keep your mattress spillproof.
Summing It Up
If you follow these steps, then you know how to clean your mattress. To keep your mattress safe and clean, invest in some quality mattress covers that will prevent the stains from sinking in. Making a regular habit of cleaning your mattress makes it a lot easier to keep your mattress spick and span.
