At a Glance:
How Often Should You Clean Your Mattress?
When Cleaning Just Isn’t Enough
You are probably worried about washing dirty bed sheets, but sometimes we forget that underneath all of that is a potential breeding ground for body fluids, dust mites, bed bugs, and skin cells. Sounds disgusting, right? Well, before you get too freaked out and throw your mattress in the burn pile, let’s talk about some different tips and tricks on how to clean your mattress to keep it fresh and odor free.
So, if your mattress needs a little TLC, then let’s jump into the best way to clean a mattress using simple everyday cleaning products. And as an added bonus, our Sleep Better team has included some of the finest mattresses to replace your old one if the mattress has reached the stage of no return.
How Often Should You Clean Your Mattress?
When it comes to how often you should clean your mattress, it is recommended to vacuum it once a month and give it a deep clean every six months. Of course, if there is a big spill or a little one has an accident at night, clean the mess as soon as you notice it.
Tip #1: Invest in a Good Mattress Protector
Before we look at how to clean a mattress, let’s talk about purchasing a good mattress protector, as it will save you many tireless hours of cleaning unwanted dirt, grime, and unknown fluids out of your mattress. This is one of the things you can do to prevent your mattress from being ruined. It also creates a healthier sleep environment for you and your family by reducing the number of allergens, dust mites, and bacteria that can build up over time.
Tip #2: Bust Out the Vacuum
For most mattresses, standard household vacuums will be fine for taking care of your mattress needs. If you have an upholstery attachment, you will want to use it for this, as it is the safest way to vacuum your mattress. To remove the peskiest, most set-in particles, it is recommended to use your vacuum in a circular motion to break up hard-to-reach dirt and grime and go over the edge seams a few different times, as this is the area that seems to catch most of the muck.
➤ Note: If you have a memory foam mattress, be sure to choose the softest attachment you have, as that is the best way to keep your mattress safe during the process.
Tip #3: Baking Soda, Baking Soda, Baking Soda!
Next, we will look at how to clean a mattress with baking soda. Having baking soda in your arsenal of cleaning products is always handy, as it is good for lots of DIY cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc., and that fact doesn’t fall short when it comes to cleaning your mattress.
This process is fairly simple, as you just sprinkle baking soda over heavily soiled areas on your mattress or the whole bed. Then it’s recommended to leave the baking soda on the mattress overnight, but if that isn’t possible, leave it on your mattress for at least a few hours, or however long you can before you need to use your mattress again.
Tip #4: Tackle Those Stains
If any form of body fluid, from blood and urine to vomit and sweat, is not removed immediately from your mattress, they quickly create some pretty hard-to-clean stains. Don’t worry; generally, using things from your already stocked cleaning cabinet can effectively remove these unwanted stains.
There are lots of DIY home remedies to remove stains from your mattress, like mixing one tablespoon of dish soap with ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide and one tablespoon of salt or ¾ cup of warm water, ¼ cup of vinegar, and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap. With this, you lightly, and remember to go easy here, apply the mixture to the stain and allow it to dry, and then simply wipe it and dab at any leftover discoloration.
Lightly dabbing at stains is recommended to clean a memory foam mattress and most other kinds of mattresses because they are not designed to be saturated in moisture and could easily result in mildew and mold.
Ultimately, the goal with using any form of liquid cleaner on your mattress is to use as little as possible, as too much liquid could ruin a mattress, so be careful when performing this step, and always be of the mindset that less is more.
Tip #5: Give it a Sun Bath
This may come as a surprise to you, but Mother Nature has an excellent stain removal right outside our doors, and its name is sunlight. If you are ever trying to remove a stain from your mattress, and household cleaners or DIY mixtures just aren’t doing the trick, the next best thing is to throw your mattress outside to soak in the sun for a few hours. Just make sure you check the weather before doing so. You don’t want to give your mattress the wrong kind of bath! This also helps your mattress air dry faster and more efficiently when cleaning your mattress.
Tip #6: Steam Clean
Another great thing you can do is steam clean your mattress in rotation with the regular cleaning schedule. You can hire a company or individual to do it for you, or if you want to save money in the long run, simply invest in a steam cleaner.
Steam cleaning is an eco-friendly way to rid your mattress of the dust mites, oils, sweat, and more that build up over time because the vapor from the cleaner penetrates deep into the mattress, drawing out unwanted dirt and other invisible bacteria.
How to Clean Your Mattress
Alright, now that we have covered the basic tips for cleaning your mattress, let’s get into the different steps you should take to put those tips into practice.
Key Materials Needed
There are some key materials that you will need to add to your mattress upkeep routine.
- Vacuum with an upholstery attachment
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Clean Cloth
- Warm Water
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Dish Soap
1. Strip Your Bed
Gather up all your bedding, pillows, and pillowcases and throw them in the wash. We might as well get clean sheets along with our newly cleaned mattress.
2. Vacuum
Take the time to vacuum your mattress and get any loose debris or dirt.
3. Spot-Clean
Using your DIY cleaner or store-bought stain remover, go around your mattress and spot-clean any stains you see. Repeat as many times as necessary.
4. Sprinkle Baking Soda
Sprinkle your baking soda on your mattress and allow it to sit for as long as possible.
5. Vacuum Again
After letting the baking soda sit for as long as possible, take your vacuum and remove all the baking soda and any additional dust or dirt you may have missed the first time.
When Cleaning Just Isn’t Enough
We all know that sleep is a huge part of a human’s well-being, especially when it comes to physical and mental health. Even if you are diligent in your mattress upkeep, most manufacturers recommend replacing your mattress every seven to ten years. Here are a few key things to consider if you are questioning replacing your mattress:
- Is there an increase in allergens or asthma attacks even after regular mattress cleaning?
- Are you experiencing increased joint, neck, or back pain?
- Has your sleep quality decreased?
- Are the mattress springs noisy?
- Are there signs of obvious wear?
➝ Learn More: How Often Should You Rotate Your Mattress?
Our Top Mattress Picks
If you have stumbled here because you are considering replacing your mattress, we have a few of our top favorite mattresses that we will be highlighting. Considering any of these mattresses as a possible replacement will hopefully bring you some clarity in your mattress-shopping experience.
King Koil Natural Almond Wrapped Coil Euro Top Firm Queen Mattress
Sleep tested and designed for a perfect night’s sleep; this King Koil mattress provides you with supreme comfort and cooling with temperature-regulating materials such as Joma Wool and Natural Cotton.
- Model: 7579KK-1050
- Mattress Size: Queen
- Mattress Construction: Wrapped Coil
858 ContourFlex Pro Encased Coil System
Designed to reduce motion disturbance and body pressure points, the 858 ContourFlex Pro Encased Coil System consistently provides comfort and support throughout the night without waking your partner.
Beautyrest® Harmony Lux™ Carbon Series Plush Queen Mattress
Designed with four different pressure-relieving foams, this Beautyrest mattress should rank high on your possible replacement mattress options. Beautyrest® has put its best technology into this mattress, creating optimal levels of comfort, support, and cooling, all to deliver a better night’s sleep.
- Model: 700810907-1050
- Mattress Size: Queen
- Mattress Construction: Hybrid
Precision Support System™
Invented by Beautyrest®, the T2 Pocketed Coil™ Technology is a dual-strand coil design placed right in the center of your mattress to create more support for an improved night’s rest.
➝ More About This Brand : 3 Top Beautyrest Mattresses for Quality Sleep
Restonic Deer Valley Euro Top Full Mattress
Since 2011, Restonic mattresses have been awarded the Women’s Choice Award for Excellence in Brand Experience, so you know that they create high-quality, comfortable mattresses. Take a quick glance at this Restonic mattress for a possible replacement for your current mattress.
- Model: 3000013-3030
- Size: Full
- Mattress Construction: Euro Top
Marvelous Middle Technology
As a part of Restonic’s ComfortCare line, this mattress features the Marvelous Middle technology, which delivers 25 percent more support to the middle of the mattress, since the middle tends to sag after years of sleep-filled nights.
If you’re looking for a new mattress in the Midwest, stop by our Sleep Better store in Utah or browse online for a new mattress if cleaning your old one isn’t working. You can also shop for mattress protectors and toppers, bedding, foundations, and bedroom furniture to give your mattress and room a makeover. And if you need more help with mattress care, our Sleep Better team is more than happy to help.
Why Trust Sleep Better Mattress Store?
The Sleep Better Mattress Store sticks to what they know best - the right mattress for you. With a specialized SleepCast mattress fitting system, they take the guessing game out of finding a new mattress by using technology to identify painful pressure points unique to you. With expert advice backed by technological solutions to sleep, they ensure everyone who shops at Sleep Better can go home to - Sleep Better. Complete with Haul Away services and white-glove delivery services, your best night’s sleep is one visit away.
Shop Mattresses at Sleep Better Mattress Store
At the Sleep Better Mattress Store, we provide quality mattresses for a better night’s sleep. Shop mattresses online or visit us today at our mattress store in Santa Clara. In the meantime, browse our website to shop by mattress brands and check out our bedroom furniture selections to upgrade your bedroom decor. More available than ever, our experts at Sleep Better Mattress Store are always happy to help you learn more about how to clean a mattress, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Contact us today!
Learn More: How to Get Sweat Smell Out of Mattress