Since you spend so much time on your mattress (roughly a third of your life), it is essential to maintain and clean it often. A clean mattress is the key to a good night’s sleep. But doing so doesn’t always seem easy, which may make you wonder, ‘How can I clean my mattress at home’ or ‘how to wash mattress at home instead of always depending on professionals? This blog post will answer all those questions, and more so you can get your mattress sparkling clean in no time.
The good news is that you can clean your mattress without resorting to fancy or pricey methods. A few products you can use are baking soda, vinegar, and regular laundry detergent.
Pro Tip: If you’re reading this, it’s probably too late to preserve your mattress with a water-resistant cover, but for future reference, you can use the trick for your foam mattress, organic mattresses, or a luxury mattress.
How Often Should You Clean Your Mattress?
Even the best cot bed mattress needs to be cleaned at the very least once every six months; you should give your mattress a thorough cleaning to get rid of the dust, skin cells, and other allergens that might build up over time. You may need to clean it more frequently if you have children or a four-legged friend in the house. Maintaining a regular cleaning routine is another great way to lengthen the life of your mattress.
How to Clean Your Mattress
Two main ways to clean a mattress are by hand or machine. Machine washing is the most effective way to deep-clean your mattress, but it’s not always possible if your mattress is too large or too heavy to fit in your washing machine. If that’s the case, you can clean your mattress by hand using the following steps:
- Vacuum the mattress’ entire surface to remove any loose dirt, dust, and hair. Pay special attention to the seams and crevices where dirt tends to accumulate. If your vacuum has an upholstery attachment, use that for the best results.
- Next, mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 10 drops of lavender essential oil. Spread the mixture evenly over the surface of the mattress and let it sit for 30 minutes to absorb any odours.
- After 30 minutes, vacuum up the baking soda mixture.
- To disinfect the mattress, mix 1 cup of water with 1/4 cup of white vinegar in a bottle and mist the entire surface of the mattress. Let the mixture air dry completely before putting it on fresh sheets.
Types of Stains and How to Get Rid of Them at Home
For certain stains, you need to use a particular cleaning approach. Here are a few answers to how to clean a dirty mattress at home:
1. Urine
Pee stains on a mattress have a persistent stink. Thankfully though, they are simpler to remove if treated quickly. You want to start by blotting as much urine as possible. Paper towels, microfiber cloths, and old towels can help with this. Press the towel into the mattress instead of scrubbing, as that will spread and deepen the stain. After that, spray 2 tablespoons of laundry detergent, 1 cup of white vinegar, and 2 cups of cold water. If your mattress has urine, it’s already damp, so a little additional moisture won’t matter. Let the cleaning solution soak for 15-20 minutes. Vinegar neutralizes the smell of urine. After removing the stain, cover it with kitty litter or baking soda. Overnight, it will absorb liquid and smell.
2. Food
As with any spills on fabric, the first step is always to blot as much of the food as possible. Use a paper towel and press down firmly, working from outside the stain towards the centre. If the spill is dry, you can try using a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to remove any residual crumbs.
For a wet food stain, mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with 2 cups of lukewarm water in a bowl. Use a clean cloth to put the mix to the stain and blot gently until the stain is lifted. Clean the area with water, then blot it dry.
3. Vomit
Like urine, vomit stains can seep deep into mattresses and create a bad smell. Due to this, they have to be cleaned properly. Start by cleaning up the vomit while ensuring you don’t spread it around the mattress. Use an old bath towel to clean the mess, then paper towels or a microfiber cloth to absorb moisture. Mix two cups of warm water with laundry detergent. The detergent will remove the vomit stain, and your mattress will be spotless. Dampen a clean towel with the solution to avoid soaking the mattress, and spray white vinegar diluted with water on the stains. Vinegar’s fragrance will fade eventually, so let the mattress air dry.
4. Blood
Blood stains can be difficult to remove, especially if it’s had time to dry. Cleaning them as soon as possible is important. To do so, use cold water instead of hot water, as hot water lets the blood stains set more quickly. Use a microfiber cloth to blot as much blood as possible. Next, apply hydrogen peroxide to the discolouration. Once it stops fizzing, blot it dry. If needed, repeat. Next, apply cold water and baking soda paste or hydrogen peroxide again. After 30 minutes, wipe with a wet towel.
Get Your Mattress Professionally Cleaned
If you don’t have time to clean your mattress, you have the option to have a reputable cleaning service handle it. Most professional cleaners will use a combination of vacuuming, steam cleaning, and spot-cleaning to get your mattress looking and smelling like new again. The entire process usually takes less than an hour, and the price varies based on the type and size of your mattress, like super single mattress size, queen size foam mattress etc.
Conclusion
The ideal method for cleaning a mattress is to vacuum it and then spot-clean any stains with a combination of laundry detergent, vinegar, and water. The easiest strategy to preserve your mattress’s cleanliness and stain resistance is to use a detachable mattress pad and wash it frequently. Mattress covers are a great method to prevent allergens like dust, pollen, dust mites, and more from settling into your bed and keeping you from getting some much-needed shut-eye.