Good mattresses are an investment, but just like all other objects, they can get dirty fairly easy. If you would like to clean it yourself, we can offer you some tips on how to clean a mattress easily and efficiently, depending on each type of stain.
But firstly, let’s have a look at why we need to clean our mattresses.
Dust mites and dead skin
Studies have shown that we lose about 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells every hour! This number is even higher if you have certain skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. And guess what feeds on dead skin cells? Dust mites! And there are so many of them of them in your bed, these little house pests feeding on them daily. We are talking thousands and thousands. This is one reason why it’s important to clean your mattress regularly.
Mould and mildew
If the dust mites and dead skin hasn’t convinced you to give your mattress a clean yet, perhaps this point will. We sweat in our sleep, and the humidity absorbed in the mattress is a great environment for all sorts of household bacteria and mould growth which can be very detrimental to your health. So, if you wake up one day with a new rash on your skin, it’s probably time to deep clean the mattress.
Accidents
If you have kids, dogs or went to bed drunk, you are prone to have some accidents happened on your mattress. Here we talk about all sorts of bodily fluids that could’ve accidently found their way on your poor mattress, and sometimes just changing the bed sheets is just not enough. What is the best way to clean your mattress when these kinds of accidents happen? This blog posts will give you all the tips and cleaning hacks you need.
How to clean a mattress in 3 steps:
If there are no stains on your mattress, cleaning it is fairly easy, you will just need to follow these 3 easy steps:
- Firstly, you will need to remove the bedsheets and wash them accordingly to their washing instructions, so you don’t ruin them. If you are feeling extra fancy or have guests staying over, you may even want to iron them once they’re dry!
- Take the vacuum out and attach the upholstery attachment to it (all vacuums should come with one). Then start cleaning the mattress by vacuuming the surface of your mattress. This will get rid of the dust and dead skin cells which have been sitting on it for a while. Make sure you turn your mattress around and clean both sides.
- Let it air for a few hours so the fabric can breathe, then make your bed with the fresh bed sheets!
Image credit: puhhha/Shutterstock
Here are some tips on how to clean a mattress with stains:
Blood
What do you need to remove dried blood from mattress?
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Liquid dish soap (1 tbs)
- Table salt (1 tbs)
How to clean blood off a mattress:
- In a small container, combine the salt and liquid dish soap with two ounces of hydrogen peroxide.
- Simply pour the mix onto the mattress stain and let it dry.
- Scrap away the residue.
- If there is still a stain left on your mattress, take a clean cloth, damp it in the hydrogen peroxide and scrub the remaining blood stain on the mattress.
- Let it air dry.
Urine
What do you need to remove urine from mattress?
- Powdered laundry detergent (3 tbs)
- Water (about 1 tbs)
- Hydrogen peroxide
How to clean urine off a mattress:
- Whisk all the ingredients together in a small container.
- Spread the solution all over the urine stain on your mattress.
- Use a spoon to scrape your mattress from all the residue. (Don’t forget to give that spoon a good wash before using it for soup!)
- Again, if there’s any stain remaining, take a clean cloth, damp it in the hydrogen peroxide and scrub.
- Let it air dry.
Vomit
What do you need to remove vomit from mattress?
- Unscented ammonia
- Baking soda
How to clean vomit out of a mattress:
- Firstly, before you begin cleaning vomit stains from your mattress, you will need to open the windows as you are using ammonia.
- Get a clean cloth and lightly dump into the ammonia, then start scrubbing away at the stain. Make sure you don’t get your mattress too soaked in ammonia – use small amounts.
- Get another cloth and soak it in water. Use that on the freshly cleaned area to rub away the ammonia. Redo the steps if the stain hasn’t lifted.
- To completely neutralise the ammonia, sprinkle some baking soda on the damped area. Once it’s completely dried, use a vacuum to clean the baking soda from your mattress.
How often do you need to clean your mattress?
While there is not a set time when you should give your mattress a clean, it is recommended to clean it every 6 months, such as when you are planning on deep cleaning your house. While cleaning your mattress at home can be fairly easy if you follow the steps above, there are other ways to clean your mattress, such as hiring a professional cleaning company to do the job for you.
Feature image credit: Dima Sidelnikov/Shutterstock
